# What good is the Bible? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 5, 2014, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-is-the-bible/687718 "2014-05-05T16:01:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2014, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-is-the-bible/687718/82 "2014-05-31T00:39:05Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > The actual Bible - without the fanfic the Christians consider its second half - is my country’s national epic. It is to Israel what Homer is to Greece and Shakespeare is to England. We don’t even have to believe anything of it is true to see its importance. Fanfic - I like that. And enough retconning to shame George Lucas. We have an expanded character called Satan - you see he was really in the serpent in Genesis. Kind of like Bobba Fett, actually. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2014, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-is-the-bible/687718/83 "2014-05-31T00:41:06Z")
> [@dougie\_monty](#): > > “Fanfic”? Maybe I could regard the records of your parents’ marriage the same way… Only if they were written 50 years after the marriage by people who had never even met his parents. ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2014, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-is-the-bible/687718/84 "2014-05-31T04:06:20Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > The actual Bible - without the fanfic the Christians consider its second half - is my country’s national epic. It is to Israel what Homer is to Greece and Shakespeare is to England. We don’t even have to believe anything of it is true to see its importance. But, seriously, how important is Homer to Greece or Shakespeare to England? I have the uncomfortable feeling that the Harry Potter books are (currently) England’s national epic literature. (I have no idea what’s hot in Greece today.) The U.S. is even more benighted; I don’t think we have a national epic in the form of literature. We rely on movies! ---
**Author:** ![Dave\_Hartwick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7feea3/32.png) [@Dave\_Hartwick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dave_Hartwick)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2014, 7:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-is-the-bible/687718/85 "2014-05-31T07:45:11Z")
> [@dougie\_monty](#): > > I did not ask for the blather or links present in the last few postings on this thread. As far as I am concerned, people who post such things are themselves woefully ignorant. If you can’t give me a direct answer you shouldn’t bother trying. Are you asking for examples of contradictions in the Bible? ---
**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2014, 8:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-is-the-bible/687718/86 "2014-05-31T08:04:09Z")
> [@Dave\_Hartwick](#): > > Are you asking for examples of contradictions in the Bible? Now that is a stupid question worthy of an Al Jaffee answer… :rolleyes: And don’t bring up George Lucas to me. For all I care he can take a flying leap for the moon and get bent. :mad: ---
**Author:** ![Steken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@Steken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steken)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2014, 9:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-is-the-bible/687718/87 "2014-05-31T09:43:47Z")
> [@dougie\_monty](#): > > Now that is a stupid question worthy of an Al Jaffee answer… :rolleyes: Well that was uncalled for. ---
**Author:** ![Dave\_Hartwick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7feea3/32.png) [@Dave\_Hartwick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dave_Hartwick)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2014, 11:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-is-the-bible/687718/88 "2014-05-31T11:38:02Z")
> [@dougie\_monty](#): > > Now that is a stupid question worthy of an Al Jaffee answer… :rolleyes: > > And don’t bring up George Lucas to me. For all I care he can take a flying leap for the moon and get bent. :mad: A snappy answer would be an improvement. Would you like a list of contradictions from the Bible or no? I can think of a couple. ---
**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:** [May 31, 2014, 11:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-is-the-bible/687718/89 "2014-05-31T11:39:02Z")
> [@dougie\_monty](#): > > Now that is a stupid question worthy of an Al Jaffee answer… :rolleyes: Then what the hell _are_ you asking for? ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2014, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-is-the-bible/687718/90 "2014-05-31T12:18:19Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Then what the hell _are_ you asking for? I’m thinking coco puffs. ---
**Author:** ![Erdosain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/erdosain/32/7284_2.png) [@Erdosain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Erdosain)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2014, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-is-the-bible/687718/91 "2014-05-31T12:52:27Z")
> [@dougie\_monty](#): > > “Fanfic”? Maybe I could regard the records of your parents’ marriage the same way… > > I did not ask for the blather or links present in the last few postings on this thread. As far as I am concerned, people who post such things are themselves woefully ignorant. If you can’t give me a direct answer you shouldn’t bother trying. You know who else’s parents weren’t married? Man, for someone who supposedly just LURVES the New Testament, you really missed the whole point, huh? ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2014, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-is-the-bible/687718/92 "2014-05-31T13:51:27Z")
> [@Captain\_Ektar](#): > > Well as a Christian I would say that if the Bible were just a set of moral guidelines it wouldn’t be terribly valuable. There is no shortage of religions with lists of rules to follow. So it’s like, get in line, you know? But in fact the Bible tells us that man already has the basics of morality written in his heart - a Natural Law, so to speak. I think we see this manifested in the many common, core morals across diverse cultures. > > But getting back to the point, the Bible is not merely another list of do’s and don’ts, whereby we can make sure we have more tallies in the do column to avoid a firey fate. But rather, it is the story of God’s redemption of a mankind that is much more adept at the don’ts than the dos. A story of hope and forgiveness for people who have noticed that they are much better at selfishness, pride, greed, lust, and hate, than they are at sacrifice, humility, generosity, chastity, and love. It is the story of mankind consistently failing to live morally, and what God did about it. > > (Note: I have no illusions about this being a popular viewpoint on these boards) I’m not religious at all, but I really like this post, and I think it’s as good a summation as any for what the Bible means to serious believers. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Ed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Just\_Ed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Ed)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2014, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-is-the-bible/687718/93 "2014-05-31T16:08:13Z")
> [@Larry\_Borgia](#): > > I’m not religious at all, but I really like this post, and I think it’s as good a summation as any for what the Bible means to serious believers. I’ll agree with this but also note that it is not in any way an objective interpretation of the text itself; it’s a rose-colored-glasses view of what people of faith _want_ the Bible to be. ---
**Author:** ![jerez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c68b51/32.png) [@jerez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jerez)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2014, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-is-the-bible/687718/94 "2014-05-31T16:47:13Z")
> [@Trinopus](#): > > The U.S. is even more benighted; I don’t think we have a national epic in the form of literature. We rely on movies! The Adventures of Tom Sawyer? IMO, another could be Louis Armstrong’s autobiography “Swing That Music.” > [@ralfy](#): > > It’s a collection of works consisting of different genres and coming from different historical periods and regions. Given that, it has many functions. This, to which I’ll add that those functions will also depend on one’s age. The concept of turning the other cheek is highly sophisticated. ---
**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2014, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-is-the-bible/687718/95 "2014-05-31T17:42:25Z")
Let me put it this way: I don’t need another thread (after so many more on this board) to convince me that so many of the Teeming Millions are impudent atheists who don’t mind attacking others’ beliefs. It’s just painting the lily as far as I am concerned. But it’s still a stimulus I will respond to, just the same as if you kick a bulldog in the gut he will bite you. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2014, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-is-the-bible/687718/96 "2014-05-31T18:12:03Z")
> [@dougie\_monty](#): > > Let me put it this way: I don’t need another thread (after so many more on this board) to convince me that so many of the Teeming Millions are impudent atheists who don’t mind attacking others’ beliefs. It’s just painting the lily as far as I am concerned. But it’s still a stimulus I will respond to, just the same as if you kick a bulldog in the gut he will bite you. **Alessan** is Jewish. He jokingly called the New Testament “fan fic” because it’s something added on later to the original Jewish bible (which Christians call the “Old Testament”) ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2014, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-is-the-bible/687718/97 "2014-05-31T18:17:05Z")
> [@dougie\_monty](#): > > Let me put it this way: I don’t need another thread (after so many more on this board) to convince me that so many of the Teeming Millions are impudent atheists who don’t mind attacking others’ beliefs. It’s just painting the lily as far as I am concerned. But it’s still a stimulus I will respond to, just the same as if you kick a bulldog in the gut he will bite you. The only one attacking anyone’s beliefs is YOU. Last time I checked, **Alessan** is Jewish, so he doesn’t believe in the New Testament. Nobody is attacking your beliefs, so settle the fuck down already. You really need to start chilling out. ---
**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:** [May 31, 2014, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-is-the-bible/687718/98 "2014-05-31T18:19:39Z")
When **Monavis** wrote > [@monavis](#): > > I doubt that a God had anything to do with the Bible, if a supreme being did it would not have so much contradictions. The God of the Bible is not at all like some people think he is, because if reading and thinking about they way he is portrayed it would be an insult. > > As i read the Bible it showed me that the God of the Bible was not just, loving , or all powerful, and a human father would be put in jail if he treated his children as the all knowing powerful being some say that he is. > > Because the belief in the Bible is really the work and words of other humans who is just claimed to be inspired by a supreme being. you replied with > [@](#): > > Put your money where your mouth is, Smart Guy. What exactly were you asking him to do? ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2014, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-is-the-bible/687718/99 "2014-05-31T18:47:08Z")
My bible made for making great flip-book cartoons done in the margins during class or church. Some got pretty “Song of Solomon”… It killed the time… ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2014, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-is-the-bible/687718/100 "2014-05-31T21:20:59Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > When **Monavis** wroteyou replied withWhat exactly were you asking him to do? Stop being impudent, I think. **Dougie\_Montie** impudent is pretty much what we do around here. If you are the type to get your knickers in a twist because people keep pointing out facts that upset you, are these boards really the place for you? You’d probably be better off somewhere you can be cosseted by people who believe the same as you and where you won’t be bothered by irritating people who keep pointing out actual facts. ---
**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2014, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-is-the-bible/687718/101 "2014-05-31T21:36:52Z")
> [@Captain\_Amazing](#): > > **Alessan** is Jewish. He jokingly called the New Testament “fan fic” because it’s something added on later to the original Jewish bible (which Christians call the “Old Testament”) Jokingly? Sorry, I didn’t see the great big sign in 20-point bolded type that said that. And I’m not particularly good at high-grade rhetoric. :rolleyes: _Originally posted by Princhester:_ … irritating people who keep pointing out actual facts. Oh, be my guest. Go ahead and point out some actual facts to me, assuming you know any. I’d love to read them. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-is-the-bible/687718.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-is-the-bible/687718.md?page=6)