Have you read The Bible?

[xer0s]

I think it's safe to say most people here would consider The Bible to be a work of fiction. But nonetheless, it's the most popular book in world and I was wondering how many of you had actually read it. I started to read it back when I was a youngster, but didn't make it very far. I'm thinking I'll try it again, since it's such a popular book. Might as well see what all the fuss is about...

[seremtan]

read the Silmarillion instead. it's the same kind of thing, only better written, less preachy, and it has elves

[Captain]

It's also more believable.

[EtUL]

Reading and understanding the bible is important even if you don't believe it, from a historical and literary point of view. It's more interesting when looked at as a historical compilation and not a holy book. It's also key to english literature, not because it's good, but because it's referenced constantly.

I read a bit of the old testament and all of the new when I was trying to figure out my belief system. It's worth reading, but not the kind of book you read front to back. You have to understand the history of the stories and the motivations of the author to understand the stories properly.

[EtUL]

Well, that's part of reading and understanding it.

the "genuine, original bible" you refer to doesn't exist.

[fKd]

sorted

[xer0s]

That's one book I wish I would have read before I saw the movie...

[Ryoki]

What Etul said, the bible is pretty much obligated reading if you want to appreciate classical art and literature... a good reason to read it. I read all of the old testament ages ago but when i got to the new i sort of gave up before i got halfway, all the jesus stuff got heavily on my nerves.

[Eraser]

I've never read the bible, but I did read books that condensed the actual story lines out of all of the other bullshit. I don't see how one can enjoyably read the actual bible as is. As a mythology, the underlying stories are interesting in a non-religious way, but actually reading the bible itself seems like something few people can actually enjoy to me.

[brisk]

The undisputed, undiluted word of God, as written by man, 70+ years after the events supposedly occured.

I grew up and studied at a primary/middle school that had mandatory bible studies, so I got to read quite a lot of it. It was a chore then and now i'm old enough to see the blatent fallacies contained in it, I have zero motivation to read it any more. It always amazes me how otherwise smart, questioning individuals just completely lose their senses when it comes to this book. I'm glad it is no longer taught in public, English schools, because indoctrinating kids with this bullshit (and not teaching them to question any of it) is testament to abuse in my eyes.

[4days]

tantamount? - and i had the same experience/eventual viewpoint.

i guess if you plan to live in an area where most of the people are religious and potentially dangerous with it (i.e. parts of north america or the middle east), then it would be useful to have working knowledge of the local religious text - but you don't need to read every verse/ayah unless you actually want to be bored stupid.

there are plenty of other books that will hold a door open just as well as the bible and be much more rewarding to read.

[brisk]

Organised religion is a crutch for weak willed individuals, afraid to live their lives in fear of the consequence of their actions (or "afraid of the dark", as Stephen Hawkings nicely puts it). The funny thing is, if you actually read the bible, especially the old testament, you'll find better moral guidence in Ed Geins diary. Just read Sodom and Gomorrah for instance. Any true, "original" account from God has been so bastardised and distorted by men with alternative agendas over the years that the Bible is nothing more that a compilation of texts designed to control, manipulate and ultimately create a submissive, fearful society. The fact it brings in fucktonnes of money doesn't hurt either. It's fucking terrifying that our world leaders all openly admit to believing in this bullshit too, especially when they justify their actions by it. The sooner the world bins religion, the better.

[scared?]

I love how Christians try to disown the old testament by saying Jesus ushered in a new law. when these morons do this...tell them to check their silly book Matthew 5:17:19

then of course...more idiotic rationalizing occurs as they grasp for straws....

[scared?]

fuck u...

[scared?]

wtf is up with this double posting pos phone?...

[Captain]

iPhone

[bitWISE]

I have not but being an atheist on the internet I know of a lot of the ridiculous parts.

[Captain]

[seremtan]

vidya

quality

he makes an interesting point about the christian sects all joining together to fight secularism. in britain (a way more secular country than the US) even that hasn't been enough and it's now become fashionable to use the term 'faith-holder' - a catch-all term for all kinds of christians, muslims, jews, hindus, sikhs etc - and to talk of these 'faith-holders' belong to 'the faith community' (as in, THE faith community, not A faith community)

(blair was an exponent of this species of bullshit. he once said, apropos huntington's phoney 'clash of civilisations', that "we're all children of abraham" )

also, lol @ the mormon 'magic underpants' i'd forgotten about that

[GONNAFISTYA]

I read most of the Old Testament and about half of the "new and improved cause God aint so angry this time" version.

It's horribly written and I think the butler did it.

[EtUL]

Not a lot of readers of classic literature here I see

[duffman91]

I read quite a bit when I was younger. I'm not a theist, but I prefer the Koran.

[werldhed]

I've read most of it. I never sat down and read it cover-to-cover. Definitely some interesting bits to it, and of course a lot of tedious parts too.

[4days]

http://images.4channel.org/f/src/589217 ... hanced.swf

[HM-PuFFNSTuFF]

http://images.4channel.org/f/src/589217_scale_of_universe_enhanced.swf

Cruithne