How much of the Bible have you read? (POLL)

Read it as literature. Waste of time if you ask me. Not a very good read, long and boring. Reminds me of Tolkien's books really.

TheOddQuantum

Tolkien's books are worlds better.

And despite the many despicable, unforgivable acts and ideas described, there are also quite a few lessons in the Bible that would make the world a better place if people followed them.

pianist

Hello there. :)

I think the problem is that even one dispicable act in the midst of what is supposed to be a book of morality, is one dispicable act too many. People tend to notice those kinds of things, I suppose.

To the sane reader, the book loses it's credibility as a supplier of moral fiber, once they realize that it lends a disturbing amount of support to atrocity.

But you probably knew that already. :)

*

The entire thing many many years ago. It turned me atheist.

Oh and I read bits of the muslim and jewish desert texts when I wrote one of my term papers against abrahamic religions

htekemerald

The Dead Sea scrolls, you mean?

[QUOTE="biggest_loser"][QUOTE="pianist"]All of it several times. But I haven't done the run-through for a while now.pianist

I found it rather interesting. Even though I don't believe the supernatural aspects of it are real, it does give you a peek into ancient civilization - and perhaps a better appreciation for how far we've come. And despite the many despicable, unforgivable acts and ideas described, there are also quite a few lessons in the Bible that would make the world a better place if people followed them.

As others have wrote, it's not an especially compelling read, nor is it especially beautifully written, but then it was never intended to be entertainment. It was more like the diary of a faith.

The entire thing many many years ago. It turned me atheist.

Oh and I read bits of the muslim and jewish desert texts when I wrote one of my term papers against abrahamic religions

I have read the entire Bible.

And this thread goes to show that alot of Bible-critics on this site don't know what they are talking about.

Of coarse I respect thier right to not believe in the Bible. But when they start criticizing it based on a few out of context verses, that bothers me. They really have no idea what they are talking about.

To be fair, I am aware that some Christians try to refute evolution with scientific evidence, when they actually don't know a whole lot about science.

[QUOTE="Video_Game_King"]No, but I do know more about it than your average Christian, oddly enough.Bloodbath_87

Because of OT, I know that it's a sin to accidentally walk in on your naked, drunk, yet somehow not immoral dad :P.

I'm surprised how many people here do not read the Bible but in religous topics claim they understand what Christianity is.foolio_67

[QUOTE="Video_Game_King"]No, but I do know more about it than your average Christian, oddly enough.Bloodbath_87

Because of OT, I know that it's a sin to accidentally walk in on your naked, drunk, yet somehow not immoral dad :P.

[QUOTE="pianist"]

[QUOTE="biggest_loser"] What did you get out of it? danwallacefan

I found it rather interesting. Even though I don't believe the supernatural aspects of it are real, it does give you a peek into ancient civilization - and perhaps a better appreciation for how far we've come. And despite the many despicable, unforgivable acts and ideas described, there are also quite a few lessons in the Bible that would make the world a better place if people followed them.

As others have wrote, it's not an especially compelling read, nor is it especially beautifully written, but then it was never intended to be entertainment. It was more like the diary of a faith.

Ok, I have a question about your sig (or mabey it's not a sig I don't know). Do you realize that the link on your sig actually says that his reaction was the actual sin? And also, this part of the Bible is a historical account. Not everything they do is condoned by God. This is a good example of taking the Bible out of context.alphamale1989

First, it wasn't my sig. It was my post. I have no idea what the relation between Noah and my sig is, if there is any. And I never knew the reaction part, just "daughters get Noah drunk, Ham walks in on him naked, gets sent to slavery, slavemasters use this story in the 1850s to justify their work". And from what I've read, it just seems to say that Ham said his father was a dick afterward, which was justified when his father sent him to slavery. Yea, there's the 5th Commandment (which I remembered from an episode of King of the Hill :P), but still, Noah was a bit of a dick about that. And if God didn't condone it, why was Ham punished and not Noah? Was it that whole Ark thing?

[QUOTE="alphamale1989"]Ok, I have a question about your sig (or mabey it's not a sig I don't know). Do you realize that the link on your sig actually says that his reaction was the actual sin? And also, this part of the Bible is a historical account. Not everything they do is condoned by God. This is a good example of taking the Bible out of context.Video_Game_King

First, it wasn't my sig. It was my post. I have no idea what the relation between Noah and my sig is, if there is any. And I never knew the reaction part, just "daughters get Noah drunk, Ham walks in on him naked, gets sent to slavery, slavemasters use this story in the 1850s to justify their work". And from what I've read, it just seems to say that Ham said his father was a dick afterward, which was justified when his father sent him to slavery. Yea, there's the 5th Commandment (which I remembered from an episode of King of the Hill :P), but still, Noah was a bit of a dick about that. And if God didn't condone it, why was Ham punished and not Noah? Was it that whole Ark thing?

...And he drank of the wine, and was drunken; and he was uncovered within his tent. And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brethren without. And Shem and Japheth took a garment, and laid it upon both their shoulders, and went backward, and covered the nakedness of their father; and their faces were backward, and they saw not their father's nakedness. And Noah awoke from his wine, and knew what his youngest son had done unto him. And he said: Cursed be Canaan; a servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren. And he said: Blessed be the LORD, the God of Shem; and let Canaan be their servant. God enlarge Japheth, and he shall dwell in the tents of Shem; and let Canaan be their servant..[1]

About what Noah did: He drank a little too much wine and passed out naked. This is a common mistake for any human being to make, he drank a little too much. Now Noah, obviously isn't a perfect human being. Noah, David, Abraham, Moses- all central figures of the old testiment - made mistakes.

What Ham did: He saw his dad passed out nacked and he is like "hey guys check this out, our dad is passed out nacked on the ground." (again my interpretation, but it makes alot of sense.) Now his brothers were careful not to look at the nackedness of thier father and they coverd him with a garment- clearly this was a much more respectful thing to do.

The point: Now, God is really big on respecting authority. Even when they don't deserve it. And Noah is not just Ham's father, he is the leader of thier clan. Ham's brothers chose to respect thier father despite, despite him making a fool of himself. Ham chose to exploit his father, and so he got punished.

I hope I explained that adiquaitly (Explaining things is not one of my talents). Sorry my spelling is terrable, and I now realize that wast your sig...

I have yet to try and understand the people who say it turned them into atheists, did it appal you so much that you dismiss any kind of Holy book or revalation from another religion and determine that only christianity or Judaism could be the only truthful religion with the only true God, if it was true? 123625

They make the most sense. Unless you think I should take an elephant god, an illiterate prophet and magic volcanoes seriously. (Hinduism, Islam and Scientology)

[QUOTE="123625"]I have yet to try and understand the people who say it turned them into atheists, did it appal you so much that you dismiss any kind of Holy book or revalation from another religion and determine that only christianity or Judaism could be the only truthful religion with the only true God, if it was true? dracula_16

They make the most sense. Unless you think I should take an elephant god, an illiterate prophet and magic volcanoes seriously. (Hinduism, Islam and Scientology)

Lol, I'm not sure whether or not to take this as a complement :P

And there are more religions out there,. I just don't think we should dismiss God or gods based on the qualities of one book which might be completely wrong.

Ok, the Wikipedia page offers some explanations but here is mine: First I will post the text in question:

...And he drank of the wine, and was drunken; and he was uncovered within his tent. And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brethren without. And Shem and Japheth took a garment, and laid it upon both their shoulders, and went backward, and covered the nakedness of their father; and their faces were backward, and they saw not their father's nakedness. And Noah awoke from his wine, and knew what his youngest son had done unto him. And he said: Cursed be Canaan; a servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren. And he said: Blessed be the LORD, the God of Shem; and let Canaan be their servant. God enlarge Japheth, and he shall dwell in the tents of Shem; and let Canaan be their servant..

About what Noah did: He drank a little too much wine and passed out naked. This is a common mistake for any human being to make, he drank a little too much. Now Noah, obviously isn't a perfect human being. Noah, David, Abraham, Moses- all central figures of the old testiment - made mistakes.

What Ham did: He saw his dad passed out nacked and he is like "hey guys check this out, our dad is passed out nacked on the ground." (again my interpretation, but it makes alot of sense.) Now his brothers were careful not to look at the nackedness of thier father and they coverd him with a garment- clearly this was a much more respectful thing to do.

The point: Now, God is really big on respecting authority. Even when they don't deserve it. And Noah is not just Ham's father, he is the leader of thier clan. Ham's brothers chose to respect thier father despite, despite him making a fool of himself. Ham chose to exploit his father, and so he got punished.

I hope I explained that adiquaitly (Explaining things is not one of my talents). Sorry my spelling is terrable, and I now realize that wast your sig...

alphamale1989

Still says that seeing your dad naked is the main problem. Doesn't that seem a bit weird? And who knows, maybe Ham didn't have a garment. Maybe they brought one when they came to see him naked.

[QUOTE="danwallacefan"][QUOTE="pianist"]

I found it rather interesting. Even though I don't believe the supernatural aspects of it are real, it does give you a peek into ancient civilization - and perhaps a better appreciation for how far we've come. And despite the many despicable, unforgivable acts and ideas described, there are also quite a few lessons in the Bible that would make the world a better place if people followed them.

As others have wrote, it's not an especially compelling read, nor is it especially beautifully written, but then it was never intended to be entertainment. It was more like the diary of a faith.

Funky_Llama

I've read the controversial parts - Genesis and Revelations.Lord__Darkstorn

[QUOTE="Lord__Darkstorn"]I've read the controversial parts - Genesis and Revelations.danwallacefan