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Old 04-05-2004, 03:51 PM   #51
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Originally Posted by spin
I get the idea you don't like religions and religious literature. Does this mean that, because you don't, you can't read a text for its literary merit because it conveys a religious message?


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Would you read a 600-page book on Atheism and evolution? That's more worthwhile for a xtian than an atheist reading the bible.
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Old 04-05-2004, 09:43 PM   #52
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SO Atheism is a doctrine now? Who is the messiah? Darwin? Did he die for your apes?

Honestly I think most atheist think that The Bible is a science book or a newspaper and then attemp to read it a such, thus arriving to the conclusion that it is crap.

Saying that a Christian gains more by reading an atheism book than an atheist reading The Bible is obviously a biased statement.
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Old 04-05-2004, 10:57 PM   #53
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Originally Posted by IAsimisI
Honestly I think most atheist think that The Bible is a science book or a newspaper
This is profoundly absurd. I have never thought of the bible as a science book or a newspaper, and I don't know a single atheist who ever has.

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Old 04-05-2004, 11:01 PM   #54
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Perhaps the inability to understand metaphors explains the inability to appreciate literature.

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Old 04-05-2004, 11:56 PM   #55
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Originally Posted by pope fiction
Would you read a 600-page book on Atheism and evolution? That's more worthwhile for a xtian than an atheist reading the bible.
I don't have such scales.

And such a subjective evaluation doesn't bear on the thread, does it? Perhaps you might conclude one more "worthwhile" according to your criteria, but is the other necessarily "crap" as per the thread subject?


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Old 04-06-2004, 12:34 AM   #56
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Perhaps the inability to understand metaphors explains the inability to appreciate literature.
Oh, I can appreciate literature. I just don't think that the bible qualifies as decent literature.

Stop projecting your intolerant view of what is and isn't good literature onto me, please.

Sincerely,

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Old 04-06-2004, 01:04 AM   #57
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Originally Posted by Goliath
I just don't think that the bible qualifies as decent literature.
Why do you suppose your view of the Bible differs so much from that of Matthew Arnold? What was he missing?

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Stop projecting your intolerant view of what is and isn't good literature onto me, please.
Unfortunately, your remark does not follow.
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Old 04-06-2004, 01:12 AM   #58
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Originally Posted by Goliath
Oh, I can appreciate literature. I just don't think that the bible qualifies as decent literature.

Stop projecting your intolerant view of what is and isn't good literature onto me, please.
Intolerant! You crack me up Goliath. My view simply acknowledges that ancient literature be judged by standards different fom modern literature, something you continuously refuse to do, or to acknowledge. Since you have never read very much ancient literature, I suggest you're not in a position to judge it.

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Old 04-06-2004, 01:47 AM   #59
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Originally Posted by IAsimisI
Honestly I think most atheist think that The Bible is a science book or a newspaper and then attemp to read it a such, thus arriving to the conclusion that it is crap.
Actually I read it as a work of fiction. The main character is very interesting; if I were a psych major I'd be tempted to write my thesis paper on his character. One big problem is that there's waaay too much suspension of disbelief required even for fiction and there's a whole lot of Deus ex Machina. That's not at good technique to use in quality literature.
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Old 04-06-2004, 05:55 AM   #60
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This is profoundly absurd. I have never thought of the bible as a science book or a newspaper, and I don't know a single atheist who ever has.

Well, good for you. I have meet them and I too was one of them.



Quote:
Actually I read it as a work of fiction. The main character is very interesting; if I were a psych major I'd be tempted to write my thesis paper on his character. One big problem is that there's waaay too much suspension of disbelief required even for fiction and there's a whole lot of Deus ex Machina. That's not at good technique to use in quality literature.

That is another problem. The Bible is a collection of books written at different times by different persons and for different purposes. The Bible contains many things like history, poetry, prophecy, songs and many other all written in different styles and of different themes.

So considering The Bible as a single book of fiction or trying to read it as one is erroneous.
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