Samhain

In this thread I'd like to discuss the differences of belief and non-belief in the Christian doctrines.

As we can see by the multiple sects of the Christian religion, the Bible itself is open to interpretation, and wide interpretations. All of these religious sects are based upon the same book; many differ from the others in great and numerous ways, others seem so similar that it's hard to tell the difference between them.

Some religious sects, while they may or may not hold that their interpretations are the "True" interpretation, will even hold other religious sects with some kind of respectful regard.

Now, what is the only thing that sets one of these religious sects apart from another if they are all based upon the same book? Obviously the only thing possible is various and different interpretations of either cryptic or clear passages in the Bible.

Now for the question posed. What separates these interpretations from the interpretation that the Bible is just a clever story book?

post-it

I was not aware there were any "clear" verses in the Bible. Could you point to one so that I may see what you mean?

And with that begins the division of interpretations and denominations. A question that opens the Liberal view is that everything is colored with gray; nothing is Black and White in the Bible except that the Bible is not Black and White.

Jayhawker Soule

Samhain

post-it:

The clear verses, IMO, would have to do with the things such as the Ten Commandments, areas of Leviticus, various passages which can be interpreted as something along the lines of divine law. Those areas which don't leave much room for interpretations or contextual divergence. While a rather ambiguous commandment is the commandment of do not kill (for, as different denominations have protested, war is an acceptable exception to the rule, as it can be interpreted to different "types" of killing, such as murder). A less ambiguous commandment, less open to interpretation, more "clear" IMO would be a commandment such as "Thou shalt not worship any god over me". Unless you wish to ignore the nuances of language in this commandment, the law itself does not allow for interpretation because of its simplicity.

Of course, and that is exactly the point. I apologize, my OP was somewhat incomplete, but I will hopefully clarify that now:

It should be noted that I wish to explore the differences of interpretation through a literary perspective. For what reason makes the claim of the OP any less valid than any other claim of the multiple JC sects and denominations if we can agree (for the most part) that the Bible is open to interpretation?

Samhain

Well, yes, and there is verses such as this one. Thanks ReasonableDoubt.

Pomp

Samhain,

Not to drag your thread off topic, but I don't think that this:

A less ambiguous commandment, less open to interpretation, more "clear" IMO would be a commandment such as "Thou shalt not worship any god over me". Unless you wish to ignore the nuances of language in this commandment, the law itself does not allow for interpretation because of its simplicity.

...is a good example of a simple or clear-cut commandment. Witness the numerous interpretations that various actions, such as caring more than "appropriate" for one's self, one's friends, or one's material possessions count as worshipping another god.

Samhain

Would you not agree that this ignores the nuances of language within the statement, though? Like I said, the problem is the idea and definition of worship. It's true, you can play semantics games with the verses all that you'd like, and when I was raised I was taught the same way when I was a brainwashed cult member ( ), but it does not take away from the fact that the statement itself is rather clear and to the point. For the sake of moving along with the argument, though, perhaps a better one would be "Thou shalt not steal"?

[ May 29, 2002: Message edited by: Samhain ]</p>

wordsmyth

Even better than that would be "Thou shalt not believe in silly-ass ideas"

Samhain

Well, there are strong arguments against God as the source of that statement. It seems that Moses was strung-out on peyote and made that commandment up himself. Unfortunately that, along with the other four missing commandments were dropped by Moses on the way down from Mount Sinai. Thus making it "Fifteen!....Ten, Ten commandments!"

HRG

Or how about: "Thou shalt not believe that thou hast a personal wideband connection to Absolute Truth" ?

regards,
HRG.