NationStates Jolt Archive

The purpose of this thread is simple:

If you were on a committee to determine what literary works (fiction, non-fiction, legal, erotica, &c.) should go into a "Modern Bible", which ones would you select and why?

There are few regulations, but the books should generally be representative of your culture and of 'modern' times. The only books that are strictly off limits are those which are already of a religious nature, ie: The Bible (or any books thereof), the Q'uran, Buddhist Sutras, &c.

Kindly, do not attack each other (a hopeless request, I know), but if you feel that a book you proposed is better than the book someone else proposed, you can certainly state why that book is better. Moreover, you can out-and-out say why a book should not be included with everything up to and including personal attacks on the author.

And, who knows, maybe if this gains enough momentum (unlikely), we might actually see a 'modern Bible' in print.

I wouldn't select anything. To raise any text to the level of absolute or divine authority is a mistake.

Well, how about Orwell's "Animal Farm". Moreso than 1984, it'd be relevant to a work like this, because it tells the story of a grand idea, and how people perverted it.

So various chapters from that should definitely go in.

I wouldn't select anything. To raise any text to the level of absolute or divine authority is a mistake.

Ah, but we wouldn't be the ones elevating it thus. Our ancestors would. They would also add more books and remove some as they see fit for a while.

But I'm thinking that in order to be Biblical we should have tales that incorporate the following:

Some sort of legal code, perhaps the Consititution of the US or the Charter of the UN
A book of erotica. Just because the real Bible has some....
A creation story. Because everything starts somewhere. "In the beginning there was Chaos and from Chaos, sprang the Big Bang which...."
An apocalyptic tale. Perferably one that involves the modern world, but is so lacking is specifics that our descendents can foolishly mistake them for an apocalypse in their time.

The only books that are strictly off limits are those which are already of a religious natureSo, no Principia Discordia? Or even Chronicles of Narnia, considering it can be considered a religious allegory?

It also depends on what group you belong to. I'd consider the Hitchiker's guide to the galaxy and Discworld required reading for my peer group, but not so much for people far outside it.

So, no Principia Discordia? Or even Chronicles of Narnia, considering it can be considered a religious allegory?

It also depends on what group you belong to. I'd consider the Hitchiker's guide to the galaxy and Discworld required reading for my peer group, but not so much for people far outside it.

Ah, but shouldn't everyone be part of your group? ;)

But by religious, I meant religious canon. Like the books I mentioned. As far as I know, no one takes the Chronicles of Narnia as a source of their spirituality, or even their philosophy.

Ah, but shouldn't everyone be part of your group? ;)Not part of my peer group.
Besides, some books just aren't for everyone. I think many people wouldn't get the point of the Principia Discordia.

Not part of my peer group.
Besides, some books just aren't for everyone. I think many people wouldn't get the point of the Principia Discordia.

Ah. I see.

Well....

I think Robert Heinlein's Starship Troopers should be included. Because it gives us action and violence wrapped around a politico-philsophical shell.

I think Robert Heinlein's Starship Troopers should be included. Because it gives us action and violence wrapped around a politico-philsophical shell.I hope it's better than the movie ;)

How about
"Cat's craddle"
"Catch-22"
"Alice in Wonderland","Through the looking glass"
maybe, "Jennifer Government"

No, the most appropriate "sacred text" for today's society is TV Guide.

Also, Stephen Hawking's work, as an accurate representation about what we think of the existential questions at this point in time: Mathematics...and that's it for now.

No, the most appropriate "sacred text" for today's society is TV Guide.And all those "for Dummies" books. :p

Channel surfing for Dummies
Tying your own shoelaces for Dummies

For fiction I'd say discworld.

For politics/fiction I'd say The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists by Robert Tressell.

Definitely Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy should be included. I think I would also include The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery just for overall philosophical and spiritual content.

I think I would also include The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery just for overall philosophical and spiritual content.
I never got that book. :confused:

Also, Stephen Hawking's work, as an accurate representation about what we think of the existential questions at this point in time: Mathematics...and that's it for now.

Hawking is about as existential as my backside, sorry.

Hawking is about as existential as my backside, sorry.
Bah. He's a symbol for what one could call modern metaphysics...and since string theory is not really cemented just yet, I thought he'd make a good addition.

Chapter 1: How the pigs stole the revolution.
Chapter 2: Tying shoelaces for dummies.
Chapter 3: Hawking says the universe is round.
Chapter 4: The little prince drew a snake with an elephant in it.

Makes sense to me.

We could use the creation story from "the science of Discword"
It neatly explains why our world makes so much less sense than discworld ;)