NationStates Jolt Archive

Coming from the increasingly derailed discussions of another thread, the idea of mentioning this struck me. I'm not a Christian, and have always found parts of their belief system (such as the idea that when a man commits adultery, his wife is more to blame than he is) to be distinctly iffy. That said, I think parts of the Bible are just glorious - notably some of the Psalms - and that, if you get past Leviticus, it's a bloody good read. It is one of the more entertainingly written historical texts.

Anyway, what are people's views on the Bible as something to be read? I appreciate many will have very strong opinions on the merits of its meaning, but are there those who aren't Christians who quite like the Bible? In fact, this could be a more general point: any capitalists, for example, who still find the Communist Manifesto riveting. Thoughts from all sides welcome; if an obvious 'question' emerges, I'll add a poll.

Coming from the increasingly derailed discussions of another thread, the idea of mentioning this struck me. I'm not a Christian, and have always found parts of their belief system (such as the idea that when a man commits adultery, his wife is more to blame than he is) to be distinctly iffy. That said, I think parts of the Bible are just glorious - notably some of the Psalms - and that, if you get past Leviticus, it's a bloody good read. It is one of the more entertainingly written historical texts.

Anyway, what are people's views on the Bible as something to be read? I appreciate many will have very strong opinions on the merits of its meaning, but are there those who aren't Christians who quite like the Bible? In fact, this could be a more general point: any capitalists, for example, who still find the Communist Manifesto riveting. Thoughts from all sides welcome; if an obvious 'question' emerges, I'll add a poll.

Job, Psalms, the Gospels (Luke especially), and some of the Pauline texts are some of the greatest literature ever. Some others aren't quite as much, but nevertheless, still something people should read, if for no other reason than to smack down those goofy fundies.

Yes I like the Bible. I have never seen where it says if a man commits adultry then its his wifes fault.Where does it say that?

Yes I like the Bible. I have never seen where it says if a man commits adultry then its his wifes fault.Where does it say that?

As far as I can recall that's a doctrinal belief rather than an actual scriptural one.

In the same way that Eve not being the first woman and there being a woman made out of the dust in the same way Adam was that wouldn't submit so God was like "Uh-uh *****," and was all like excommunicated! And then she went on to have sex with a bunch of demons and such and spawn a bunch of monsters. That's not scriptural at all, at least not in the protestant Bible anyway. All I know about the Catholics is that they either have another book of Daniel or a much larger one.

As a Catholic I can safely say that I, at the very least, appreciate the Bible in whole, but my absolute FAVOURITE books are Genesis (can't explain it beyond the fact that it's the first "book" I ever read on my own as a small, small child), Psalms, Proverbs, Canticles, Lamentations, and I really can't help but say that I thoroughly enjoy reading and studying Apocalypse of John.

Eeeyah.

From what I've read of the Bible, I'm generally unimpressed, with a few exceptions. There are a few vivid scenes and some interesteing characters, but if it were written today no reviewer on the planet would give it a passing grade, even as a collection of stories. Hell, I'm not sure it'd even make it to press.

From what I've read of the Bible, I'm generally unimpressed, with a few exceptions. There are a few vivid scenes and some interesteing characters, but if it were written today no reviewer on the planet would give it a passing grade, even as a collection of stories. Hell, I'm not sure it'd even make it to press.
I'd almost tend to agree with that last part, except you just know that with that many co-authors, they'd be able to cough up enough money to independently print ;)

From what I've read of the Bible, I'm generally unimpressed, with a few exceptions. There are a few vivid scenes and some interesteing characters, but if it were written today no reviewer on the planet would give it a passing grade, even as a collection of stories. Hell, I'm not sure it'd even make it to press.

Oh, no, as a fictional text or a historical account, it wouldn't get anywhere. Having read some pretty crappy pseudo-philosophy, parts might make it as 'self-help guide'. I wasn't suggesting that by the standards of great literature or great history it is good, but merely that it is interesting, and that its style interests me far more than its message is ever likely to. It also does the whole resurrection thing way better than Star Wars.

From what I've read of the Bible, I'm generally unimpressed, with a few exceptions. There are a few vivid scenes and some interesteing characters, but if it were written today no reviewer on the planet would give it a passing grade, even as a collection of stories. Hell, I'm not sure it'd even make it to press.


Why not? Dianetics did. :-p

I find some parts of the bible relatively entertaining, mostly just because of the language. I've heard the Quran is better, but I've never read any of it.

What I really like are books with alternate/more complex Christianities. Stuff like the His Dark Materials Series, or Dante's Commedia, or Memnoch the Devil. There's just some sort of epic-ness something gets by discussing the basic questions of Christianity, and I like mythical epic-ness.

Coming from the increasingly derailed discussions of another thread, the idea of mentioning this struck me. I'm not a Christian, and have always found parts of their belief system (such as the idea that when a man commits adultery, his wife is more to blame than he is) to be distinctly iffy. That said, I think parts of the Bible are just glorious - notably some of the Psalms - and that, if you get past Leviticus, it's a bloody good read. It is one of the more entertainingly written historical texts.

Anyway, what are people's views on the Bible as something to be read? I appreciate many will have very strong opinions on the merits of its meaning, but are there those who aren't Christians who quite like the Bible?
The Bible is history, poetry, drama, wisdom, and food for thought. Over my lifetime I've read it cover-to-cover about five times and have great swaths of it memorized. Where I part company with fundamentalists is in claiming that it's to be taken literally.

BTW ... the "adultery" definition includes male perpetrators ( Leviticus 20:10, Hebrews 13:4 ).

It also does the whole resurrection thing way better than Star Wars.
Ergo proving George Lucas is at least one step BELOW God.

Yea, I like the Bible. Burns really well :) .

Yea, I like the Bible. Burns really well :) .

All books burn well if you soak them in petrol. ;)

I'm reading it right now, and I have to say Genesis is really, really creepy. I mean, really really creepy.

Although I am a Christian, before I converted I always liked Revelation, even some of my non-Christian friends are amazed at the (supposedly) vivid description of a nuclear war.

Although I am a Christian, before I converted I always liked Revelation, even some of my non-Christian friends are amazed at the (supposedly) vivid description of a nuclear war.

I dunno, I think Good Omens is better. The horsemen ride motorcycles, for one.

I'm a methodist (and a hardcore right-winger politically) and I definatly like the bible. I'm partial to revelations myself...shows us how the world might end...however, thats up for interpretation

*ducks to dodge ensuing flames* *readies sniper rifle* :sniper:

I dunno, I think Good Omens is better. The horsemen ride motorcycles, for one.
Dude, that book was AWESOME.

I tried reading the Bible a couple of times, but I got so bored. I'd rather read good ancient texts like Iliad, Odyssey, Aeneid, or Beowulf. The creatures are so much cooler, and the Gods are much more interesting. Jeebus is cool in a way, but not as cool as Odysseus.

Nekrovoria, I highly doubt that you will be flamed for liking the Bible. You do realize that there is no atheist conspiracy and that Christians are in complete control, right?

I like the Bible, it's the best book ever. However, I only read like 30 pages. I like genesis better because it's more about punishing people and how god could be cruel. :)

I'm reading it right now, and I have to say Genesis is really, really creepy. I mean, really really creepy.

Phil Collins doesn't do it for you?

'Tis a cracking story to be sure. And most of the message isn't bad, either, if you run it through a filter or modern morality and common sense.

I tried reading the Bible a couple of times, but I got so bored. I'd rather read good ancient texts like Iliad, Odyssey, Aeneid, or Beowulf. The creatures are so much cooler, and the Gods are much more interesting. Jeebus is cool in a way, but not as cool as Odysseus.

Oh dear God, you like Beowulf? Ugh. I agree Biblical characters are mostly pretty shallow, though...although some of the Apostles are quite good. Paul too.

If I want to read a fiction book about the divine I'll take American Gods over the bible any day.

Coming from the increasingly derailed discussions of another thread, the idea of mentioning this struck me. I'm not a Christian, and have always found parts of their belief system (such as the idea that when a man commits adultery, his wife is more to blame than he is) to be distinctly iffy. That said, I think parts of the Bible are just glorious - notably some of the Psalms - and that, if you get past Leviticus, it's a bloody good read. It is one of the more entertainingly written historical texts.

Anyway, what are people's views on the Bible as something to be read? I appreciate many will have very strong opinions on the merits of its meaning, but are there those who aren't Christians who quite like the Bible? In fact, this could be a more general point: any capitalists, for example, who still find the Communist Manifesto riveting. Thoughts from all sides welcome; if an obvious 'question' emerges, I'll add a poll.
It's a hell of a cultural document, and a fascinating view into a number of societies. My favorite parts are still the Gospels--the teachings of Jesus are a terrific philosophy and his use of metaphor is fantastic. Don't have much use for Paul, and I think that the fact that Christianity is based more on his teachings than Jesus's is a shame.

I'm reading it right now, and I have to say Genesis is really, really creepy. I mean, really really creepy.
OK? i just recently started my read of genisis. got to chapter 20. to bad there are about 50, but im getting 10 a night. and for the first time I am the one to learn about the first S*** a pharaoh ever took from a Holy Man. :D but it is about wars, mass destruction, and deception. and is it me or does it say that Abraham was going, "its 45! you dont have to do it for lack of 5! its 30! you dont have to do it for lack of 20! it 20! you dont have to do it for lack of 30!" etc. and talked God out of killing those people somehow.... but it isnt real new.

Anyone here like the Bible?
<*ahem*>

Which one?

Oh dear God, you like Beowulf? Ugh. I agree Biblical characters are mostly pretty shallow, though...although some of the Apostles are quite good. Paul too.
About Beowulf, I had a really cool professor teaching it and that makes a hell of a lot of difference. Almost everyone in the class that had read the poem before this class had hated it, but after the course everybody loved it. He spent most of the time in class teaching us about Anglo-Saxon culture and its oral history and only walked us through the more difficult parts such as Hrothgar's stories. But for the most part he'd teach us what we needed to know so that we could fully understand what was happening in the poem and why some things were so important (Grendel taking over Heorot, the importance of the Comitatus ethic, weregeld and its importance, the survivor's account, and people randomly bursting into song, etc.). If you can get that whole world in mind its a very deep, deep story.

Hmm, maybe. I've never been taught it, and I barely understood half of it. I just found it very, very dull.

i only like the good parts of the bible... the sex and violence... the smiting and the turning into condiment sculptures ect...

OK? i just recently started my read of genisis. got to chapter 20. to bad there are about 50, but im getting 10 a night. and for the first time I am the one to learn about the first S*** a pharaoh ever took from a Holy Man. :D but it is about wars, mass destruction, and deception. and is it me or does it say that Abraham was going, "its 45! you dont have to do it for lack of 5! its 30! you dont have to do it for lack of 20! it 20! you dont have to do it for lack of 30!" etc. and talked God out of killing those people somehow.... but it isnt real new.

Ok, here's an excerpt from the Bible showing how utterly creepy Genisis is.

Lot and his Daughters

" 30 Lot and his two daughters left Zoar and settled in the mountains, for he was afraid to stay in Zoar. He and his two daughters lived in a cave. 31 One day the older daughter said to the younger, "Our father is old, and there is no man around here to lie with us, as is the custom all over the earth. 32 Let's get our father to drink wine and then lie with him and preserve our family line through our father."

33 That night they got their father to drink wine, and the older daughter went in and lay with him. He was not aware of it when she lay down or when she got up.

34 The next day the older daughter said to the younger, "Last night I lay with my father. Let's get him to drink wine again tonight, and you go in and lie with him so we can preserve our family line through our father." 35 So they got their father to drink wine that night also, and the younger daughter went and lay with him. Again he was not aware of it when she lay down or when she got up.

36 So both of Lot's daughters became pregnant by their father. 37 The older daughter had a son, and she named him Moab [g] ; he is the father of the Moabites of today. 38 The younger daughter also had a son, and she named him Ben-Ammi [h] ; he is the father of the Ammonites of today.