goat37

First of all, I would like to apologize in advance if the final product that I am writing is a little erratic...

I have been pondering this for a while. I have seen many debates go back and forth on contradictions of the bible, and should the bible be taken literally etc...
Looking at the period in time in which the bible (new testament) was written, the people only knew of the small area of the world in which they lived. They still believed the Earth was flat, they believed the sun revolved around Earth etc... They knew nothing of natural history (dinosaurs is a large example), they did not know that there were humans on different continents of the world, and such the Bible was written with that thinking.

My question is...how would the Bible look if it were written today as opposed to 2000 years ago? Would the writers still claim the world is only 6,000 years old... would they make note of dinosaurs, would they still exlude people that weren't from their region from going to heaven because Jesus didn't visit that area?
(I know that the humans of that area didn't know about the other humans on the planet, so does that mean that God didn't realize they were there as well? To only send Jesus to that small part of the world, and exlude everyone else from Heaven because they didn't know of him, seems a little unfair)
Would women be treated any better?

I do not believe in the bible (I do believe it was created with good intentions in mind, but I don't believe any of it is filled with any truth to life at all). I believe that if the Bible were written today, it would be written with today's mentalities. These being that the Earth is 4.5 billion years old, that evolution was a big part of the process of life, etc... The bible was written 2000 years ago with things that they thought to be true and right, but time has proven many of those things wrong... why is that so hard to accept for many people? Many books written in the mid 1900's were filled with 'facts' that have been proven wrong. Why can't you accept the same about a book that is 2000 years old? Because the people that wrote it were trying to give meaning to their lives, and created an idea that almost everyone would WANT to believe in?
I would like to believe that there were no starving people in the world, but even if I did believe it, I would still be wrong.

Is it any coincidence that 99% of those with 'genius' IQ's are atheist or agnostic? Ever think they might know something you don't? I would take a scientists word over any religious persons word any day of the week. Why? Because scientists seek truth and proof... The latter does not, they think they do, but they don't. They accept all scientific findings that don't contradict the bible, but once something comes along that does contradict the bible, it is immediately dismissed as wrong just because a 2000 year old book says so.

Peter Kirby

A bible written today would look something like The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. Any good holy book has a good deal of fiction in it and is open to interpretation and re-interpretation. Remember that the "catechism" or manifesto is not the same thing as a holy book.

best,
Peter Kirby

Kilgore Trout

I would say that the bible couldn't be written today. Very few people today would be stupid enough to accept some new book that claimed to speak for a "god". The only reason the bible is accepted today because it is so old a tradition that people are used to it, like any other superstition.

If the bible was written today, it would probably be for some weird cult so it could be really strange instead of being more "factual."

goat37

are you referring to Mormonism?

I agree, it could not be written today. Even if it were, the outcome wouldn't be the same. We don't crucify people for writing works of fiction these days. (in the USA anyhow, and most other places)

I believe that fundamental christianity will be dismissed in the future to the likes of roman and greek mythology. We will advance to the point where it can no longer even be feasible or rational. (I am at that point already)

I would like to quote some one of my favorite song lyrics here:

"I had a lovely brunch with Jesus Christ, he said two words about inanity "fundamental christianity"
The food was very nice, but then he had to go and die for my sins and stick my ass with the check."

BioBeing

What about the Book of Moroni, and whatever the "Book of Scientology" is called? Modern bibles? And how about the Book of the SubGenius

CX

I disagree. Just take a look at Scientology. I often wonder what L. Ron and his adherents will look like 2000 years hence.

Or consider the book of Mormon. That didn't show up that long ago.

bocajeff

You disagree Scientology is a weird cult? Anyway, I doubt Scientology will last that long. It's already reached its peak and has been going slowly downhill with adherents ever since.

goat37

doesn't a belief system have to be around for 1000 years for it to be a religion? I thought before that, it was just considered a cult.
Kool-aid anyone?

You want an example of how bad an idea Religion is? Turn on CNN and read about all of the killing and suicide bombing in the middle east, and the so called 'holy land'. If you support religion, you support terrorism.

YHWHtruth

Goat wars, killings, have been in the name of Religion.


Didnt Jesus say:

“YOU heard that it was said, ‘You must love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44_However, I say to YOU: Continue to love YOUR enemies and to pray for those persecuting YOU

_“All things, therefore, that YOU want men to do to YOU, YOU also must likewise do to them; this, in fact, is what the Law and the Prophets mean.


Max