NationStates Jolt Archive


Apocrypha: Enoch, yay or nay?

Slinao
02-04-2005, 07:50
I was reading through some information about one of the books of 'apocrypha' and found the book of Enoch. I am trying to figure out why its not more mainstream then it is, and if there was anyone out there that could tell me of their opinions of it. Should it be included or taught in modern churches? I think it holds some interesting points of view, and would make a good addition to many of the teachings found in the bible. Am I alone in this thought?
Slinao
02-04-2005, 07:56
I think many of the first christians were exposed to the book of enoch, and I think Jesus was even very close to it, and those that he taught. I would go as far as to say their are quotes from the book of enoch in the bible.
Slinao
02-04-2005, 08:02
I'm betting that no one is saying anything about this because they don't understand it or don't know what the hell I am talking about, so I think I'll just let this thread stay in its grave.
Patra Caesar
02-04-2005, 08:02
Excuse us ignorant people, but what is a Apocrypha and Enoch?
Slinao
02-04-2005, 08:06
Excuse us ignorant people, but what is a Apocrypha and Enoch?

apocrypha are books that are much like biblical books, and sometimes were once held in with biblical texts, but for some reason over the years were removed. The Catholic bible has some books that are considered apoccrypha, like the book of wisdom and such in their bibles, and many churches feel that its wrong to add to the bible.

the book of enoch is said to have been written by the famous Enoch of the bibe, who was like Noah's father or grandfather, can't remember which. They think that part of it was rewritten by Noah. Rabbi's stopped teaching the book of Enoch because they felt it bordered on things that didn't need to be taught.

It talked about the first fallen angels, the angel/human offspring and why the flood happened in the first place.
Roxacola
02-04-2005, 08:13
I had heard a bit about this. It was actually more from reading fiction than religious studies. I'm not a very religious person. But I do feel that all of the religious writings should be made available and taught. It disturbed me when I first heard of people sitting around, deciding which books should be in the bible. Apparently, Revelations almost didn't make the cut for the New Testament.
Slinao
02-04-2005, 08:16
I had heard a bit about this. It was actually more from reading fiction than religious studies. I'm not a very religious person. But I do feel that all of the religious writings should be made available and taught. It disturbed me when I first heard of people sitting around, deciding which books should be in the bible. Apparently, Revelations almost didn't make the cut for the New Testament.

I find it rather amuseing that people took the book of enoch out, but left quotes from it in the bible, Jude makes a big quote about it, and uses it to back his statements in the book of jude. Oversight, or maybe I'm just looking too much into something here.

It seems anything that puts power into the person and the divine is threatened to be removed, be it by religious 'leaders' or anti-religious 'leaders' Maybe the world is just scared of the understandings that have been lost of the years.
Patra Caesar
02-04-2005, 08:17
Ok, now that I know what it is: I think it should be their choice if they teach it/learn it. I still don't know it well enough to say what I would choose one way or another. I think it should at least be preserved for historical purposes.
--Kyrie Eleison--
02-04-2005, 08:20
Enoch is a true piece of apocrypha, not to be confused with the Deuterocanonical books, those thrown out of the Bible by some Protestant "reformers" as part of their own agenda. The apocrypha is not to be taken as inspired in any such way.
Slinao
02-04-2005, 08:20
Ok, now that I know what it is: I think it should be their choice if they teach it/learn it. I still don't know it well enough to say what I would choose one way or another. I think it should at least be preserved for historical purposes.


I think that modern churches should at least let their members know about these books. I mean, what good does it do to keep things hidden, when they are found they are either going to ignore them, or feel that the church is just trying to control them. Both are not things that are needed in a faith.

People should be free to understand and seek out their own path in faith, and have have their faith dictated to them by someone who feels that years at a college studying the bible and peoples views of the bible means that they are better then other people about the bible
Slinao
02-04-2005, 08:21
Enoch is a true piece of apocrypha, not to be confused with the Deuterocanonical books, those thrown out of the Bible by some Protestant "reformers" as part of their own agenda. The apocrypha is not to be taken as inspired in any such way.

so are you saying the book of enoch should be included in biblical teachings or not?