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Post by redura on Oct 2, 2007 13:16:30 GMT -5
Why would you need to understand Christianity drom the Bible? Look it up on wikipedia. But where is the need to understand Christianity in the western world? Jews live in America, and they do pretty fine. At least on the assumption that they only know Christian ideas because the rest of America goes crazy over it (Christmas). Maybe you're right that people should read the Bible. But wouldn't that be a disgrace to it if people just read it like a history book? The Bible is a book of religion. Not a book of history.
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Fizzywig
Teo
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Posts: 445
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Post by Fizzywig on Oct 2, 2007 15:26:35 GMT -5
Well for one the old testement of the bible is very much a book of history, it tells the history of the abramatic people in their own words. that is huge. even given there are a lot of Jews in europe and America the western world was created culturally from the beginning of the roman catholic church. the leaders of the western world have been almost entirely christain and hence, the christian belif structure has been a huge influcince on western culture for the last 1500 years. and to understand that system, a wikipedia enry just wont do, reading the bible and attending a church service at least once regardless of your belief will dramatically increase your awareness and understanding of the basis of Western culture.
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Post by redura on Oct 3, 2007 10:46:57 GMT -5
The Wikipedia thing was a joke. But I still don't understand what you're saying.
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Teoji
Meng
Teo's #1 fangirl
My OTP!
Posts: 285
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Post by Teoji on Oct 6, 2007 2:37:49 GMT -5
alright, I'm going to post my opinion, even though I will most likely get flamed for this (I've been attacked before, so don't conclude until the whole post is over)
The bible that is currently in circulation now (most commonly called the King James version) is a wonderful storybook. The original texts had been altered and mistranslated so many times by this point that it's all it could possibly be, a story. Anyone who's actually found the original texts translated correctly would tell you the same. For example: "Thou Shalt Not Suffer A Witch To Live" (a passage thrown at me MANY times) was originally "Thou Shalt Not Suffer A Poisoner To Live" Big difference there, Huge even. I do not judge people based on religion as a rule, but I have found more hypocrites that throw bible quotes at me for being of different beliefs when in their own bible it says "Judge not, lest ye be judged" All in all, I've written off the majority of the bibles in circulation as a poorly translated joke. Only because I've seen the better translations, and you wouldn't believe how many errors I found in the current translations compared to the better translations.
Great story, don't believe in it.
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Post by Blind Bandit on Oct 7, 2007 15:34:34 GMT -5
alright, I'm going to post my opinion, even though I will most likely get flamed for this (I've been attacked before, so don't conclude until the whole post is over) The bible that is currently in circulation now (most commonly called the King James version) is a wonderful storybook. The original texts had been altered and mistranslated so many times by this point that it's all it could possibly be, a story. Anyone who's actually found the original texts translated correctly would tell you the same. For example: "Thou Shalt Not Suffer A Witch To Live" (a passage thrown at me MANY times) was originally "Thou Shalt Not Suffer A Poisoner To Live" Big difference there, Huge even. I do not judge people based on religion as a rule, but I have found more hypocrites that throw bible quotes at me for being of different beliefs when in their own bible it says "Judge not, lest ye be judged" All in all, I've written off the majority of the bibles in circulation as a poorly translated joke. Only because I've seen the better translations, and you wouldn't believe how many errors I found in the current translations compared to the better translations. Great story, don't believe in it. Teoji very nicely said and I agree there are many interesting stories in the bible. Also flaming will not be tolerated if anyone is flamed please pm a staff member (me if I'm on) and we will take care of it. presenting ones opinion about something is not grounds for someone attacking you personally. Back on topic. The bible was written by men not by god and as such as with everything it has bias and that is fine. But this also shows that ones religion should be a personal view not what some book tells you. The bible is a book of stories and ideas that was supposed to help people live there lives according to how there faith interrupted that. Thats fine but they are not a history of the world as fact and lore are mixed. The bible should not be literally interpreted or used a historical source even though it can be considered a primary source its not provable in its entirety. I'm also disappointed people use the bible as backing to do terrible things or to give there cause support. The bible is an awesome book but it should not be taken as literal or a road map for your life as the bible is just another very good book to take inspiration and spiritual ideas from.
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Post by redura on Oct 7, 2007 16:58:37 GMT -5
Fizzywig! Bandit, that's kind of like insults to people who actually do take the Bible as a road map? I do, because I'm Jewish, and if someone were to say I shouldn't follow the Torah (in other words, the Bible), I'd be pretty darn insulted. That's not to say it should really be taken literally though. I just have a problem with the "road map" thing.
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Post by Blind Bandit on Oct 7, 2007 17:19:00 GMT -5
Fizzywig! Bandit, that's kind of like insults to people who actually do take the Bible as a road map? I do, because I'm Jewish, and if someone were to say I shouldn't follow the Torah (in other words, the Bible), I'd be pretty darn insulted. That's not to say it should really be taken literally though. I just have a problem with the "road map" thing. I understand and I meant that in a general sense in that people should find there own path and that your religion is your choice and you need to find what works for you and what you believe in. There is nothing wrong with fallowing the bible but its always good to read and look at many sources as it helps you maintain a balanced opinion and perspective. Just for the purpose of full disclosure I'm agnostic but that doesn't mean I haven't read the bible or haven't seen several different perspectives on it. My statement was my personal bias and thats fine. I don't find books written by various authors with various motives and little proof to be something that one should base their life around. This again is my opinion and I fully acknowledge that everyone doesn't feel that way. Do I find the bible interesting along with other religious texts yes I do. Do I base my life around something that I don't feel is right for me , has little proof and dose not match my spiritual beliefs no I don't.
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