# Anybody interested in a SDMB weekly Bible study? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [July 24, 2013, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-interested-in-a-sdmb-weekly-bible-study/664376 "2013-07-24T12:59:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2013, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-interested-in-a-sdmb-weekly-bible-study/664376/21 "2013-07-24T16:59:10Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Probably better in Cafe Society. I might participate - it depends on my level of tolerance for the inevitable thread shitting. I expect it will be closed in about six minutes because of the inevitable thread shitting. Having said that, if non-angry atheists are allowed to play I think it would be a cool idea. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2013, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-interested-in-a-sdmb-weekly-bible-study/664376/22 "2013-07-24T17:03:36Z")
> [@Kable](#): > > Good idea and I might, but I am curious why he OP would shy away from it. My wild ass guess would be personal preference. The OP might not find it the most fascinating verse to start with. ---
**Author:** ![DirkGntly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d9b06d/32.png) [@DirkGntly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DirkGntly)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2013, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-interested-in-a-sdmb-weekly-bible-study/664376/23 "2013-07-24T17:17:59Z")
> [@Kable](#): > > OK, but why not start with Elisha and the she bears? Aren’t you at all curious as to what would cause the spirit of the Lord to tear up children with bears? Or does that already make sense to you? Starting a new thread may be appropriate; however, the answer is pretty simple: the Lord doesn’t take kindly to young persons disrespecting their elders, and especially not a Prophet, and there are consequences if they do. Keep in mind that these were not necessarily “children” - that’s an interpretation thing. In Jewish custom, “children” were anyone not “of age,” and that age was fairly advanced. Also, rebellious children (teenagers) who did not comply were stoned by their parents in this society. The lesson here is, “Don’t disrespect your elders or the Lord will send a bear to eat you!” ---
**Author:** ![DirkGntly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d9b06d/32.png) [@DirkGntly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DirkGntly)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2013, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-interested-in-a-sdmb-weekly-bible-study/664376/24 "2013-07-24T17:21:37Z")
I think a scholarly discussion of biblical topics could be enlightening, if, as Shodan pointed out, the threadshitting is kept to a minimum. Further, I propose that those that wish to discuss non-biblical “myths” start their own study thread, but not engage in it in a bible-focused study, except where discussion of similarities between biblical stories and other myths would be appropriate. For example, “We are studying the Noah story. There are many similarities with the Gilgamesh tale, and other cultures also have similar stories. Why do we think this is the case?” ---
**Author:** ![simster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simster/32/1047_2.png) [@simster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simster)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2013, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-interested-in-a-sdmb-weekly-bible-study/664376/25 "2013-07-24T17:24:36Z")
so is it ‘bible study’ or is it a ‘study of the bible as literature’ ? the second can be fascinating, the first is not. ---
**Author:** ![stpauler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@stpauler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stpauler)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2013, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-interested-in-a-sdmb-weekly-bible-study/664376/26 "2013-07-24T17:36:12Z")
> [@Kable](#): > > Good idea and I might, but I am curious why he OP would shy away from it. 😕 Are you asking why I would want to choose a random passage in the Bible to start from as opposed to go from soup to nuts where it would be eventually hit anyway? Is that what you’re asking? ---
**Author:** ![stpauler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@stpauler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stpauler)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2013, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-interested-in-a-sdmb-weekly-bible-study/664376/27 "2013-07-24T17:57:07Z")
> [@simster](#): > > so is it ‘bible study’ or is it a ‘study of the bible as literature’ ? the second can be fascinating, the first is not. I’m hoping for more of the latter (I’m an atheist, so while I approach it from a critical viewpoint, the other part of me wants to understand why someone would choose to believe X as well). I’d want to keep the hijacking of other things outside of the chosen chapter and verse to a minimum unless it contributes to the understand of the current chapter and verse. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2013, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-interested-in-a-sdmb-weekly-bible-study/664376/28 "2013-07-24T18:16:21Z")
> [@stpauler](#): > > Are you asking why I would want to choose a random passage in the Bible to start from as opposed to go from soup to nuts where it would be eventually hit anyway? His choice of verses wasn’t random. He wants to concentrate on verses that offer him the maximum opportunity to repeat “The Bible is stupid” a couple of dozen different ways. That’s all that some people have to say on the subject, and by God they’re going to get it in one way or other. Which is why a Bible study probably isn’t going to work. It is hard to study something when every other post to the thread is telling you the subject is worthless. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![simster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simster/32/1047_2.png) [@simster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simster)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2013, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-interested-in-a-sdmb-weekly-bible-study/664376/29 "2013-07-24T18:34:33Z")
> [@stpauler](#): > > I’m hoping for more of the latter (I’m an atheist, so while I approach it from a critical viewpoint, the other part of me wants to understand why someone would choose to believe X as well). I’d want to keep the hijacking of other things outside of the chosen chapter and verse to a minimum unless it contributes to the understand of the current chapter and verse. its really hard for me to remember you’re an atheist with that username - so I immediately assumed this would be a ‘preachy’ discussion. I think the idea has merit - I do not think it will fare well. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2013, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-interested-in-a-sdmb-weekly-bible-study/664376/30 "2013-07-24T18:36:30Z")
> [@simster](#): > > I think the idea has merit - I do not think it will fare well. On the other hand, a _lot_ of threads don’t fare well. I say go for it. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2013, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-interested-in-a-sdmb-weekly-bible-study/664376/31 "2013-07-24T18:44:02Z")
FWIW I’d be interested in reading it. Don’t think I’d be able to contribute much, other than ask questions. ---
**Author:** ![simster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simster/32/1047_2.png) [@simster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simster)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2013, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-interested-in-a-sdmb-weekly-bible-study/664376/32 "2013-07-24T19:00:15Z")
> [@Spice\_Weasel](#): > > FWIW I’d be interested in reading it. Don’t think I’d be able to contribute much, other than ask questions. asking questions is the best way to contribute most of the time - just be sure to ask the _ **right** _ questions… ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2013, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-interested-in-a-sdmb-weekly-bible-study/664376/33 "2013-07-24T20:28:32Z")
> [@DirkGntly](#): > > …In Jewish custom, “children” were anyone not “of age,” and that age was fairly advanced. … I thought Jews considered you an adult after the bar/bat mitzvah. That happens at age 12 or 13, not especially advanced. Where did you get that idea from? ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2013, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-interested-in-a-sdmb-weekly-bible-study/664376/34 "2013-07-24T20:45:50Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > No one’s stopping you from starting your own thread. Splitter! ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2013, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-interested-in-a-sdmb-weekly-bible-study/664376/35 "2013-07-24T20:55:55Z")
> [@RitterSport](#): > > I thought Jews considered you an adult after the bar/bat mitzvah. That happens at age 12 or 13, not especially advanced. Where did you get that idea from? Jewish mothers. In their eyes, their child is not an adult until he graduates from medical or law school. ---
**Author:** ![Age\_Quod\_Agis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d07c76/32.png) [@Age\_Quod\_Agis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Age_Quod_Agis)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2013, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-interested-in-a-sdmb-weekly-bible-study/664376/36 "2013-07-25T00:21:58Z")
I’d be interested in stopping by. I’m not sure I could offer anything worthwhile, but I’m sure I’d be able to learn quite a bit from the other posters here with more knowledge and/or different perspectives than me. As others have suggested, it’s probably inevitable that the thread will get drive-bys. But if there are enough people trying to actually have a fruitful discussion, then I might be able to ignore the trolls. Hopefully. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![DirkGntly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d9b06d/32.png) [@DirkGntly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DirkGntly)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2013, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-interested-in-a-sdmb-weekly-bible-study/664376/37 "2013-07-25T00:35:08Z")
> [@RitterSport](#): > > I thought Jews considered you an adult after the bar/bat mitzvah. That happens at age 12 or 13, not especially advanced. Where did you get that idea from? There are two milestones of which I’m aware: the Bar Mitzvah which you mention (did this exist in Elisha’s time?), but then also the age of 30, when a Jewish male could assume the mantle of his father’s household. In either case, these weren’t “children” as we think of them; these were likely late teens or young adults. ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2013, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-interested-in-a-sdmb-weekly-bible-study/664376/38 "2013-07-25T03:17:02Z")
I also would be really interested. I do fear that it will be hard to keep threadshitting out. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2013, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-interested-in-a-sdmb-weekly-bible-study/664376/39 "2013-07-25T03:20:45Z")
> [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](#): > > That’s a lot more ground than I like to cover in just one week. In the first week alone, you have creation, Adam & Eve, and all the events leading up to the flood. Have a friend\* whose Hebrew Bible discussion group has been going, in order, for thirty-some years. “Sometimes we spend the meeting discussing a single phrase or word.” “How far have you gotten?” “Judges.” “You’re not expecting to finish this in your lifetime, are you?” “It’s the journey, not the destination.” I like the idea in the OP, as long as we could keep the thread shitting–by all sides–to a minimum. And I can see it luring in evangelists from across the internet who don’t follow the rules of a simple, friendly, educational discussion. I propose an Instaban[sub]TM[/sub] for the first mention of Hell or Jesus outside the context of the topic. - - He’s Jewish, his wife’s Lutheran, and her last name is the same as a Norse god. Mixed up, but good people. ---
**Author:** ![lel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8797f3/32.png) [@lel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lel)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2013, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-interested-in-a-sdmb-weekly-bible-study/664376/40 "2013-07-25T03:32:17Z")
Do you think there might be opportunity to review literature of other religions also? At this point I’d probably be more interested in the Qu’ran than the Bible due to my own psychological baggage, but I might well lurk along. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-interested-in-a-sdmb-weekly-bible-study/664376.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-interested-in-a-sdmb-weekly-bible-study/664376.md?page=3)