ltasey

I have a question. Why does the bible sound like a fairy tale? I mean, back in the ancient and medieval times, the bible probably wasn't all that unbelievable. But with the advent of contemporary science and biblical criticism--to say nothing of the horrors of the 20th century--the bible seems like some irrelevant Iron Age book.

I'd like to believe in these fairy tales, but the way the world has grown in knowledge--and suffering--it's just too impossible to believe anymore. Perhaps God could wind back the clock; God could take our knowledge of the sciences and biblical criticism away, so that we can once again believe in fairy tales. Then more people would believe and go to heaven--which, the last time I read the bible, is God's wish.

So believers, pray for me; pray that God will help me to believe in absurdities. Pray that I can jam the crazy creed into my head, so that God will be happy and I can go to heaven.

And unbelievers, tell me to give Fundyism up for good and move on with my life. I know it sounds crazy, but sometimes I wonder if I'm in "big trouble" with God becasue I can't believe in biblical nonsense. I just hope that, if there is a God, God will reward me because I followed the *way* of Jesus and not because I couldn't believe ridiculous things *about* Jesus.

I hope it's not the latter, because if so, I'm fucked. Satan and the demons will bend me over and rip me good. But hopefully God can turn back the clock, thus making it easier to believe in these Neanderthalish things.

ltasey

Thief of Time

Maybe the clock doesn't need to be turned back: and your God wishes for there to be progress away from (In your own words) 'fairy tales'
Don't believe what people tell you, believe what you know to be true...
And if you believe something to be true, make sure its your belief.

youngalexander

Try the following references:
Holy Writ as Oral Lit : The Bible as Folklore Alan Dundes
Also In Quest of the Hero that should get you started, and Carrier excited.:thumbs:

Julian

[MOD]
Sounds more like GRD to me, so... <punt>

Julian
Moderator BC&H
[/MOD]

youngalexander

Hmmm, not so sure about that. If you extend the meaning of fairy-tales to folklore which includes them, and ignore some of the waffel in the OP, then BC&H is right on the money. Particularly in the light of Carrier's recent conversion.
Taken from Carrier Converts to Mythicist Position
How about sending it back to BC&H?:huh:

ltasey

Dear Theif of Time,

This is a good point, something I've thought about.

ltasey

ltasey

Youngalexander,

I'll check these out.

thanks,

ltasey

Julian

I sent it here because, although the OP dealt with the bible, it seemed more like general comments and a personal response to the bible. Also, the inital responses were of an equally general religous nature. Such a thread is not likely to receive much attention in BC&H whereas here it it would find much more traffic here, being the General Religious Discussions area.

If the focus shifts to a more narrow discussion of the bible or its history and not so much about personal religous views, I will certainly ask for it back, but for right now I just see personal, general observations on christianity.

Julian

Lilyofthevalley

I think you say what a lot of us feel: We would quite like to believe the Jesus story (God becomes incarnate on this planet because God loves us - let's face it: it's a beautiful idea) - but we can't accept it. It's just too implausible. It belongs to another era.

If we had all been born centuries ago maybe the story would have rung true as the only story available. But we know differently. It's just too hard to believe. I personally feel a real sense of loss that I can't believe it.

Nevertheless, fundy-that-you-were, you shouldn't be fucked. If we do have a creator, then one assumes He likes His creatures - and he doesn't mind us thinking about things. Even if we doubt His Bible or his scheme of salvation I imagine he can take it with equanimity.

Yahzi

Because it is.