Actually, I would agree that it’s not necessary to read it all, and certainly not necessary to study it all in depth. Certain sections are much more widely read and influential than others (though which sections are more important can change over time).
I’m simply saying that you can’t be ignorant of the Bible if you want to study Western lit or history in depth. Sometimes, it’s more important to understand how the Bible is misread than to understand the original intent.
And again, even if one doesn’t believe in God, there’s a tremendous amount of wisdom, beauty, lore, and even humor if you know where to look, to be had there.
Certainly, though, the Bible isn’t enough. Especially these days. For instance, if you want to get all the juice out of the Matrix films, it’s worthwhile looking into the basics of several mythologies (eg Hindu and Buddhist).
I reckon my point is just this – don’t go 'round ignorant. (I think you would agree with this, Marley23, so it’s not a dig at you, btw). Scripture and religion are so important to human history and culture that anyone with an intellectual or curious nature can’t afford to ignore them.
Well, Sample_the_Dog, can’t really argue with that. Of course it’s true that religion has greatly influenced history and literature. It seems to me that understanding that so-and-so did such-and-such because he was religious is enough. Yes, it would be better to know more about it and understand it better. I’m just not terribly interested in it, so I don’t seek out knowledge about it with some exceptions. I will never be willfully ignorant, though.
Thanks Wolfian. As to why I’m not a Dukie or a Terp: I’m not really a fan of any sports teams.
I would strongly disagree with that notion. But then, you’re a young fellow and I’m not. So I’ll let you discover for yourself whether you ever come to agree with me. I doubt anything I say will change your mind right now.
I think it’s more complex than that. Do you really see it as that simple or are you being flip because you’re feeling a bit on the defensive?
I have to say I’m kinda disappointed, because the OP was “ask the athiest,” but I’ve received only very short and sometimes curt answers. This is a topic in which I’m very interested.
Religion, faith, athiesm are very complex issues. Do you disagree?
I think it’s something everyone should read (or at least try to read, with the exception of Genesis, perhaps) in full. I didn’t read it when I was an Episcopalian, but I did read it while I was an athiest.
I don’t think it’s possible to have a good understanding of the bible - or any book - without actually reading it.
I too was hoping for more detailed discussion, but while you see religion as a complex issue, I see it as a huge mess caused by peoples willingness to believe, thus deserving only as much time as a person wants to spend discussing it, not needing complex answers at all.
Try Genesis: Translation and Commentary, by Robert Alter (Editor). Nothing I’ve seen even comes close to rendering the Book of Genesis in English with the accuracy and poetic force of Alter’s translation. And his commentary is some of the best I’ve seen in making the ancient ideas comprehensible to non-scholars.
Sorry for the hijack,hoosiers, but where many see poetry, I see a badly done mishmash of legends from many cultures. I can almost see how you can like the book, but for every part that seems beautiful, I say as badly rendered in the original hebrew/aramaic/whatever, having read a lot of the old testament/torah in my jewish Sunday school equivalent. I also am able to see some quite odd imagery, for a book atributed, or inspired by a “god”, for example the first words:
“In the beginning created God…” as in the original language, “Let* us* make man in our image.”, the almost editing out of god’s wife “Yahweh and his Asherah,” , slaughter of natives, etc.
Re: “Genesis: Translation and Commentary” being beautiful, I don’t see myself reading it, except at the library, and a quick search reveals it is not available there.
Not really, what with three years of my life studying for my bar mitzvah, realizing what an absurd book it is, and all the time after that spent being bored to death every time I am asked to attend holiday services at my parent’s shul. The time I was willing to put into it did not get me anything! Yes, I know what you mean, but some “poetic” english book is not going to convince me of the “beauty” of a book I have wasted so much time over the original text of. Once you have reread and reread so much, there is no rereading of it that puts it in a good light.
Oh, and this link allows me to read the first few pages of the book your recommend. I am unimpressed.
I can understand that. I had much the same reaction to what I was forced to read for church. Absurd and boring.
All I can say is, that changed when I got some distance from it and started diving into it on my own, in the same way I’d dive into any book of mythology, poetry, and tradition.
Granted, much of what was of vital interest to the ancient redactors is dull as dirt. But it turned out that a lot of it began speaking to me in ways I did not expect. To paraphrase Twain, I was surprised how much the old guys had learned.
Well, you go your way, and I’ll go my way. I also reread the torah, this time in english, ignoring all the commentary and apogetics, and then read the christian bible, and well, I am sure what people know what my reaction has been.
Um, yeah I guess so. I suppose I don’t really know much about religion or faith so I could quite easily be wrong about that, but there really is no complexity to my athiesm. There is no evidence for god. It makes sense to me that there is no god.
I may be only nine years older than you are, and perhaps none the wiser, but it seems to me that it’s a lot more complex than that, as Large Marge suggested.
Then again, I’m of the opinion that there is both evidence suggesting God exists, and that He doesn’t. It’s up to us to evaluate the evidence and decide for ourselves if we think God’s there or not, or if we just can’t decide either way.
Have you ever noticed that the light in Fort Wayne is perpetually gray, even on sunny days? Have you ever noticed that the light in the Lafayette area is harsh? Have you ever noticed that Perry County smells funny?
