Poll: Dilemma Time, would you burn a book ?

[Griffstar]

Books are a great part of my life. I couldn't destroy one, although my ideology could change if I was in that situation.

 

[magicmonkeybars]

Yes I would, books can be rewritten by those that know and uphold its traditions

Wouldn't that leave the rewrite open to changes both subtle and dramatic ?
The core of the beliefs might be preserved but the whole is always lost.

Isn't the core of the beliefs what is important in a religion. Either way none of the major religions have gone unaltered. Every time a book is translated or just reread things change in the interpretation of the words, and the effects they have on the reader.

Human culture springs from humans, and as long as I don't burn the last human, I have no issues with burning books to stay alive.

True, for religious purposes all you'd really need is the core beliefs but those in most cases can fit on a pamphlet.
A holy book is more than just an outline of beliefs.
They contain stories and poems that have no impact on the faith portion that are just as valuable if not more so.
A wealth of culture would be lost if we'd burn the last Quran for example even if muslims still remembered the basic tenants of their faith.

 

[Kakujin]

Yes I would, books can be rewritten by those that know and uphold its traditions

Wouldn't that leave the rewrite open to changes both subtle and dramatic ?
The core of the beliefs might be preserved but the whole is always lost.

Isn't the core of the beliefs what is important in a religion. Either way none of the major religions have gone unaltered. Every time a book is translated or just reread things change in the interpretation of the words, and the effects they have on the reader.

Human culture springs from humans, and as long as I don't burn the last human, I have no issues with burning books to stay alive.

True, for religious purposes all you'd really need is the core beliefs but those in most cases can fit on a pamphlet.
A holy book is more than just an outline of beliefs.
They contain stories and poems that have no impact on the faith portion that are just as valuable if not more so.
A wealth of culture would be lost if we'd burn the last Quran for example even if muslims still remembered the basic tenants of their faith.

And how do you think those stories came to be from the start? They did not just spring into life, they came from oral tradition, and that is how they will survive

 

[Justin Gooch]

I don't think I would have a problem with burning a "religious" book if it meant my life. All the books out there now anyways have most likely been written and rewritten, and then edited by other people before it went out to the public, and even then, those books have been changed. If the religion was still alive, the people who believed in it would most likely end up rewriting it in one way or another.

 

[magicmonkeybars]

Yes I would, books can be rewritten by those that know and uphold its traditions

Wouldn't that leave the rewrite open to changes both subtle and dramatic ?
The core of the beliefs might be preserved but the whole is always lost.

Isn't the core of the beliefs what is important in a religion. Either way none of the major religions have gone unaltered. Every time a book is translated or just reread things change in the interpretation of the words, and the effects they have on the reader.

Human culture springs from humans, and as long as I don't burn the last human, I have no issues with burning books to stay alive.

True, for religious purposes all you'd really need is the core beliefs but those in most cases can fit on a pamphlet.
A holy book is more than just an outline of beliefs.
They contain stories and poems that have no impact on the faith portion that are just as valuable if not more so.
A wealth of culture would be lost if we'd burn the last Quran for example even if muslims still remembered the basic tenants of their faith.

And how do you think those stories came to be from the start? They did not just spring into life, they came from oral tradition, and that is how they will survive

Some will survive true enough but not all of them, some will be lost and is that loss worth your life ?
Would you burn the Mona Lisa just because we have picture of it or because we can always repaint a similar painting ?

 

[cydvis]

Easy. Preservation of life wins.

That one. Easy.


And not only for saving my life, I can't seriously imagine me telling someone "yeaaa... sorry bro, I can't save you cause what's in this book have more value than your life"

 

[hudsonzero]

yes holy books trend quite thick and can be used as kindling for quite a lot longer than other ones, also if people still follow it then it will be re written or the culture can survive.

 

[Blatherscythe]

Your asking a predominantly atheist community if they would burn a religious text to save their life? We all know what most would do, hell some would ask if they could have another to burn.

 

[Kakujin]

Yes I would, books can be rewritten by those that know and uphold its traditions

Wouldn't that leave the rewrite open to changes both subtle and dramatic ?
The core of the beliefs might be preserved but the whole is always lost.

Isn't the core of the beliefs what is important in a religion. Either way none of the major religions have gone unaltered. Every time a book is translated or just reread things change in the interpretation of the words, and the effects they have on the reader.

Human culture springs from humans, and as long as I don't burn the last human, I have no issues with burning books to stay alive.

True, for religious purposes all you'd really need is the core beliefs but those in most cases can fit on a pamphlet.
A holy book is more than just an outline of beliefs.
They contain stories and poems that have no impact on the faith portion that are just as valuable if not more so.
A wealth of culture would be lost if we'd burn the last Quran for example even if muslims still remembered the basic tenants of their faith.

And how do you think those stories came to be from the start? They did not just spring into life, they came from oral tradition, and that is how they will survive

Some will survive true enough but not all of them, some will be lost and is that loss worth your life ?
Would you burn the Mona Lisa just because we have picture of it or because we can always repaint a similar painting ?

Are a few stories saved worth what I or my descendants might create for mankind?
And yes I would, several of the paintings enjoyed in museums all over the world are copies, for safety reasons. Are they any less enjoyable because of that? Is the imagery depicted any less moving?

 

[SammiYin]

From my experience burning any religious book puts you in more danger than before.
You do not want a jihad on your ass.

 

[Hawgh]

Sure, if burning it saves one single life, it's the most good that'll have come of that particular book of deceitful, clergy-serving nonsense.

 

[CondorBob]

I wouldn't be able to bring myself to burn any religious text if I knew it was the last copy that existed, and I've not the faintest idea of why I wouldn't want to.

So yea, I'd die for a book.

 

[Smooth Operator]

OH wait, my life is at stake? Burn it, burn it now!
It's always good to save literature of all kinds, but there is a price limit.

But let's up the ante here, would you save a book at the expense of someone elses life?

 

[Korak the Mad]

Buddhist text: Hell no!!
It's more of a philosophy than a religion.

Jewish, Christian, Muslim texts: Burn, baby, Burn!! *maniacal laughter*

Other religious texts: I don't know.

 

[Darwins_Folly]

To save my life? I'd do it for nothing. Destroying religious texts is one of the best ways to save lives I can think of anyways.

 

[Tourette]

It would make great toilet paper too.

 

[ezeroast]

sure, no religion holds and relevence to me at all. More than happy to burn

 

[magicmonkeybars]

Without question. My life is worth considerably more than a book of lies, myths, bland advice and most likely a good amount of petty hatred.

How many of these books have you read ?

yes holy books trend quite thick and can be used as kindling for quite a lot longer than other ones, also if people still follow it then it will be re written or the culture can survive.

Some of what is within will be lost forever, noone can recreate a whole book verbatim.

Your asking a predominantly atheist community if they would burn a religious text to save their life? We all know what most would do, hell some would ask if they could have another to burn.

There wouldn't be another copy for them to burn.

Yes I would, books can be rewritten by those that know and uphold its traditions

Wouldn't that leave the rewrite open to changes both subtle and dramatic ?
The core of the beliefs might be preserved but the whole is always lost.

Isn't the core of the beliefs what is important in a religion. Either way none of the major religions have gone unaltered. Every time a book is translated or just reread things change in the interpretation of the words, and the effects they have on the reader.

Human culture springs from humans, and as long as I don't burn the last human, I have no issues with burning books to stay alive.

True, for religious purposes all you'd really need is the core beliefs but those in most cases can fit on a pamphlet.
A holy book is more than just an outline of beliefs.
They contain stories and poems that have no impact on the faith portion that are just as valuable if not more so.
A wealth of culture would be lost if we'd burn the last Quran for example even if muslims still remembered the basic tenants of their faith.

And how do you think those stories came to be from the start? They did not just spring into life, they came from oral tradition, and that is how they will survive

Some will survive true enough but not all of them, some will be lost and is that loss worth your life ?
Would you burn the Mona Lisa just because we have picture of it or because we can always repaint a similar painting ?

Are a few stories saved worth what I or my descendants might create for mankind?
And yes I would, several of the paintings enjoyed in museums all over the world are copies, for safety reasons. Are they any less enjoyable because of that? Is the imagery depicted any less moving?

Who is to say your children will have children ?
You or your children won't be the last people who can create new culture what makes you so special, so unique ?
What about the brush strokes or the pigments used in the paint do they have no value ?
To you or any random person they subtlety might be lost but to someone who wishes to study the piece it would be tragic not to be able to see it.
How many people would you be willing to kill to save your children ?

 

[Lenin211]

A religious book? I think that society would be better off without religion.

 

[ZeroMachine]

Yes.

It's a book.

It's the theory and belief behind a religion that should matter, not pieces of paper bound together.