Freethought & Rationalism Archive

EssEff · 08-02-2007, 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Magdlyn

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scifinerdgrl

This should be a poll. Yes, I've read the Bible. I was a believer until I read it for myself and realized what a heap of steaming *** it was.

Parrot droppings? :blush:

Something like that. :Cheeky:

Poll here: http://www.iidb.org/vbb/showthread.php?t=216187

xaxxat · 08-02-2007, 01:27 PM

I spent 12 years in a parochial school where I read it, studied it, memorized it and was tested on it almost every day. Plus, I attended devotions twice a day and church services 3 times a week. And then I attended an xian college for awhile and had to attend bible classes and services there too. One of my high school bible teachers went on to become a professor of theology at that college. He's considered to be quite knowledgable about the book of Mark. Whoopee...

So, yeah, been there, done that, got the scars to prove it...

jemand · 08-02-2007, 02:15 PM

yep. Cover to cover. 4 times. Parts much more than that.

Boro Nut · 08-02-2007, 02:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JetBlckNewYr03

By "the Bible", do you mean "the world's best cure for insomnia"?

You're not wrong there. That was pretty much my motivation for ploughing through it the second time. It's the source of the two greatest lies ever told. In the words of Cecil Beadermill, it's also the greatest story ever told.

That was one of them as I recall.

Boro Nut

mitschlag · 08-02-2007, 02:33 PM

As a Catholic, I was never encouraged to read the Bible. It's like it was a reference book, an encyclopedia. Scholarly persons like the Pope or his Curia presumably were steeped in it. But we lay Catholics didn't have to be concerned, because all of the important parts had been quoted in The Liturgy, the day-by-day (and beautiful it is) ceremonial quotations in the Mass. (These are mainly New Testament and Psalm quotations, as I recall, with a spicy smattering of Prophecies.)

Anyway, as a grown person, I've delved in it more deeply, but never cover-to-cover. It has some great poetry.

My favorite parts are Job, Genesis, Exodus, Daniel, the Gospels, some Psalms.

Devotional reading? No way. For what reason? Would I read Beowulf or the Iliad devotionally? Not hardly.

post tenebras lux · 08-02-2007, 02:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by afdave

I would say that there are more people than I expected that have read it, yes. There are still some I wonder about who have not posted yet.

Care to name names?

Gawen · 08-02-2007, 04:37 PM

Twice all the way through. NT one extra time all the way through. The book The Lost Books of the Bible (or via: amazon.co.uk). And a bunch of articles and websites...

...and all the nice, informed people on this website.

08-02-2007, 05:23 PM

I think the people who are calling it crap are trying to read it as if it were true. Or have childhood traumas. I mean, you don't rag on the Brothers' Grimm by saying that gingerbread is a totally stupid material to make houses from, now do you?

As a collection of Bronze/Iron age middle eastern poetry and mythology, it rocks. There are some really irredeemably dull bits - the begats, of course - but even some of the narratively dull bits like the laws & the instructions for making priests' clothes & such are fascinating from an anthropological point of view.

As an aside, it's curious how often magic is embedded in fruit. It's all over Europe. The golden apples of the Hesperides. Idunn's apples of youth. The magic apples of Avalon. Even Snow White...

biblethumping · 08-02-2007, 05:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by afdave

I would say that there are more people than I expected that have read it, yes. There are still some I wonder about who have not posted yet.

If you are wondering about me, yes i've read it "cover to cover". I also enjoy reading and following the leviticus codes strictly.

Boro Nut · 08-02-2007, 06:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cajela

As an aside, it's curious how often magic is embedded in fruit. It's all over Europe. The golden apples of the Hesperides. Idunn's apples of youth. The magic apples of Avalon. Even Snow White...

Ah yes, Snow White's prized cherry.

Boro Nut

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08-02-2007, 01:27 PM	#122
xaxxat Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Space Station 33 Posts: 2,543	I spent 12 years in a parochial school where I read it, studied it, memorized it and was tested on it almost every day. Plus, I attended devotions twice a day and church services 3 times a week. And then I attended an xian college for awhile and had to attend bible classes and services there too. One of my high school bible teachers went on to become a professor of theology at that college. He's considered to be quite knowledgable about the book of Mark. Whoopee... So, yeah, been there, done that, got the scars to prove it...

08-02-2007, 02:15 PM	#123
jemand Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Michigan Posts: 540	yep. Cover to cover. 4 times. Parts much more than that.

08-02-2007, 02:33 PM	#125
mitschlag Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: United States east coast Posts: 58	As a Catholic, I was never encouraged to read the Bible. It's like it was a reference book, an encyclopedia. Scholarly persons like the Pope or his Curia presumably were steeped in it. But we lay Catholics didn't have to be concerned, because all of the important parts had been quoted in The Liturgy, the day-by-day (and beautiful it is) ceremonial quotations in the Mass. (These are mainly New Testament and Psalm quotations, as I recall, with a spicy smattering of Prophecies.) Anyway, as a grown person, I've delved in it more deeply, but never cover-to-cover. It has some great poetry. My favorite parts are Job, Genesis, Exodus, Daniel, the Gospels, some Psalms. Devotional reading? No way. For what reason? Would I read Beowulf or the Iliad devotionally? Not hardly.

08-02-2007, 04:37 PM	#127
Gawen Contributor Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Cylon Occupied Texas, but a Michigander @ heart Posts: 10,326	Twice all the way through. NT one extra time all the way through. The book The Lost Books of the Bible (or via: amazon.co.uk). And a bunch of articles and websites... ...and all the nice, informed people on this website.

08-02-2007, 05:23 PM	#128
cajela Guest Posts: n/a	I think the people who are calling it crap are trying to read it as if it were true. Or have childhood traumas. I mean, you don't rag on the Brothers' Grimm by saying that gingerbread is a totally stupid material to make houses from, now do you? As a collection of Bronze/Iron age middle eastern poetry and mythology, it rocks. There are some really irredeemably dull bits - the begats, of course - but even some of the narratively dull bits like the laws & the instructions for making priests' clothes & such are fascinating from an anthropological point of view. As an aside, it's curious how often magic is embedded in fruit. It's all over Europe. The golden apples of the Hesperides. Idunn's apples of youth. The magic apples of Avalon. Even Snow White...

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