Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Plastic Jesus · 09-02-2004, 01:35 AM

I've heard claims that the Bible talks about creatures that Christians don't believe in (I may be wrong, but was it "Satyres"?)...

Does anybody know what I'm talking about? Does anybody have any information (verses) about this?

I'm wondering, if the Bible does say this, if Christians should have to revise their beliefs to fit the Bible, or if their is an excuse for not believing in these creatures.

I'm terribly sorry I'm so uninformed

Dean Anderson · 09-02-2004, 02:12 AM

The Bible contains (in some translations) references to Unicorns, Lamias, Satyrs, Angels, Demons, Dragons, Giants, Talking Snakes, Talking Donkeys, Leviathan, Behemoth, and a couple of really funky beasts in Revelation...

Many of these are artefacts of translation into English - it is hard to tell what the original authors meant when they used the terms that got translated into these mythological creatures.

Did they mean the mythological creatures, or mundane ones?

If they did mean the mythological creatures, did they believe in them or simply use them as metaphore?

Even things that sound unambiguously tied into Christian mythology - like references to 'Angels' may well have been references to 'messengers' in the original texts.

Try this post for the verse in Isiaih that contains reference to 'satyrs' (in some translations).

This thread also discusses the various mythological creatures that pop up around the bible...

Plastic Jesus · 09-02-2004, 05:54 AM

Lots of help. Thanks

Heathen Dawn · 09-02-2004, 07:12 AM

The Bible does not mention unicorns. This is faulty KJV translation. The original Hebrew has a wild ox in those places. And there are more of those gaffes in the KJV (cockatrices, fiery serpents etc).

MortalWombat · 09-02-2004, 08:58 AM

I heard that there's a story in the New Testament about a confused zombie who wants people to eat his flesh and drink his blood.

llDayo · 09-02-2004, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MortalWombat

I heard that there's a story in the New Testament about a confused zombie who wants people to eat his flesh and drink his blood.

rofl, quoted! :notworthy

09-02-2004, 01:35 AM	#1
Plastic Jesus Regular Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Kentucky, USA Posts: 133	Fey Creatures I've heard claims that the Bible talks about creatures that Christians don't believe in (I may be wrong, but was it "Satyres"?)... Does anybody know what I'm talking about? Does anybody have any information (verses) about this? I'm wondering, if the Bible does say this, if Christians should have to revise their beliefs to fit the Bible, or if their is an excuse for not believing in these creatures. I'm terribly sorry I'm so uninformed

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09-02-2004, 02:12 AM	#2
Dean Anderson Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Brighton, England Posts: 6,947	The Bible contains (in some translations) references to Unicorns, Lamias, Satyrs, Angels, Demons, Dragons, Giants, Talking Snakes, Talking Donkeys, Leviathan, Behemoth, and a couple of really funky beasts in Revelation... Many of these are artefacts of translation into English - it is hard to tell what the original authors meant when they used the terms that got translated into these mythological creatures. Did they mean the mythological creatures, or mundane ones? If they did mean the mythological creatures, did they believe in them or simply use them as metaphore? Even things that sound unambiguously tied into Christian mythology - like references to 'Angels' may well have been references to 'messengers' in the original texts. Try this post for the verse in Isiaih that contains reference to 'satyrs' (in some translations). This thread also discusses the various mythological creatures that pop up around the bible...

09-02-2004, 05:54 AM	#3
Plastic Jesus Regular Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Kentucky, USA Posts: 133	Lots of help. Thanks

09-02-2004, 07:12 AM	#4
Heathen Dawn Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 4,656	The Bible does not mention unicorns. This is faulty KJV translation. The original Hebrew has a wild ox in those places. And there are more of those gaffes in the KJV (cockatrices, fiery serpents etc).

09-02-2004, 08:58 AM	#5
MortalWombat Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: St Louis area Posts: 3,458	I heard that there's a story in the New Testament about a confused zombie who wants people to eat his flesh and drink his blood.

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