Poll: The Bible- is it only a book?

[McMo0^]

why don't just rename the topic to is there a god, cos essentially that is the topic. Secondly just because it refers to cities that existed when it was written, does not make it true. I could write some bullshit involving some deity and then include the names of places in the uk's coastline, and in so many thousand years, people would then try and use that as proof of my mytholigal creature existing. Seriously religion should be based soley on faith, and should have fuck all to with any text, because anyone can write anything at any time.

 

[Dechef]

It's a very useful resource for studying Christianity or religions in general, so no it's not just a book. This is not a matter of opinion, this is a fact.

 

[Anton P. Nym]

The Bible is actually more of an anthology of collected works, gathering together lore from the early days of Abrahamic tribes along with later material collated from letters by founders of the Christian church. Taken in that context I say it's a very important book, containing as it does the foundational myths of much of Western society.

Those who insist that the Bible (in any of its many translations) is a literal transcript of instructions from their particular choice of Invisible Sky Guy do drive me batty, as it's plainly clear for many translations that the process was decidedly one performed by us fallable mortals. Taken in that context, I'd say it's "just" a book.

-- Steve

 

[cuddly_tomato]

The Bible is some great mythology and understanding it is VERY important for studying and understanding Western History. The second we start discounting the cultural significance of mythology, folklore etc. is the second I stop being an atheist.

Though I strongly feel that The Bible should be taken as Folklore/Mythology and not as the infallable word of God.

EDIT: Also, every Atheist should read the bible in as much entirety as they can, it broadens understanding.

Yep!

I am a Pagan but I still reckon the Bible is a pretty important book. Certainly no other book has had as much influence as that particular one.

I think the title of this thread says it all.... "Just a book".

It is just a book. But there are books, and then there are books. How much of an impact has 1984 had on the modern psyche? What about the works of Shakespeare? And Charles Dickens books are invoked often when people discuss the imbalances of society.

You might not believe what it contains... and that's fair enough. I certainly don't. But that doesn't make what it contains worthless.

 

[RetiarySword]

the bible alsoo says there is an invisable man in the sky who watches us wank.

BRILLIANT! I laughed so hard when I read this! Well done to you sir.

 

[Neosage]

the bible alsoo says there is an invisable man in the sky who watches us wank.

BRILLIANT! I laughed so hard when I read this! Well done to you sir.

Why thank you.

 

[EzraPound]

No; it's a book that led to the deaths of millions of people across history.

Books don't kill people, people kill people - or should we just go around banning The Communist Manifesto, the Quran, Aristotle's writings, etc.?

 

[cuddly_tomato]

No; it's a book that led to the deaths of millions of people across history.

Books don't kill people, people kill people - or should we just go around banning The Communist Manifesto, the Quran, Aristotle's writings, etc.?

Don't even bother trying to talk sense into the militant fundamentalist atheist crowd (not the normal atheists of course). It is like trying to explain to Fred Phelps that homosexuals don't drink blood.

 

[PedroSteckecilo]

No; it's a book that led to the deaths of millions of people across history.

Books don't kill people, people kill people - or should we just go around banning The Communist Manifesto, the Quran, Aristotle's writings, etc.?

Don't even bother trying to talk sense into the militant fundamentalist atheist crowd (not the normal atheists of course). It is like trying to explain to Fred Phelps that homosexuals don't drink blood.

People who want to kill people will find a way and a justification to kill people. I try to only rail against Christians when they try to redifine science and other such things.

 

[Larenxis]

The bible also says there is an invisable man in the sky who watches us wank.

Ha, well you see the thing is, it doesn't. I'm not Christian, I'm not in on that racket, but it really bothers me how people say "There's a big invisible space man with magical powers!" That's as inappropriate as people saying "A monkey fell out of a tree one day and became man" and claiming that's an accurate description of evolution.

When it comes to the OP's question, I think your use of the word 'book' is a tad confusing. I'm assuming you mean a work of fiction? I don't believe the Bible is entirely fictional, but I do believe it is not entirely literal either. In fact the best bits are metaphorical.

 

[hellthins]

No; it's a book that led to the deaths of millions of people across history.

Books don't kill people, people kill people - or should we just go around banning The Communist Manifesto, the Quran, Aristotle's writings, etc.?

Don't even bother trying to talk sense into the militant fundamentalist atheist crowd (not the normal atheists of course). It is like trying to explain to Fred Phelps that homosexuals don't drink blood.

A lot of vampires these days are pretty gay...

I always found the 'militant' denominator kind of pointless and just a little insulting. All extremists are, generally, bad for other people. Why then are some termed militant and others just called extremists? I've only heard of militant atheists and militant lesbians, never extremist atheists or lesbians. But then I've so rarely heard of militant Christians.

I don't know, personally I feel militant should be reserved for people who are actively violent, but then again that's all semantics isn't it?

Extremists are usually bad news. They are blind, they are unreasonable, and very quick to violence. Usually. I suppose an extremist humanitarian would be blind, unreasonable, or quick to violence, but that's another can of worms.

 

[TerraMGP]

Personally I don't think every word in the bible verbatum is from god, but I do think it contains the word of god. It may not be the only text to do so, I don't know for sure, but its at least one of them. Sadly a few people take everything in it to the letter and cause problems because of it, and others write it all off because they can't accept that not everything is as black and white as they would like or that reality may have more to it than what they can directly control.

I think Jesus was real, i think that when you avoid the tireless skewing both of the above people tend to put his words though that they help people who follow them lead a happier life and I think if more professed christians stopped obsessing over the organized religion aspect and just went with the spirit of what was said the world would be a better place.

 

[TJ rock 101]

The bible also says there is an invisable man in the sky who watches us wank.

i LoLd the second i read that, nice one.

 

[almo]

It's obviously only a book. How could it be otherwise? Even if it were more, how can the discrepancies between different translations be explained?

This is not to say there's nothing of value in it.

 

[Satki]

Short answer: Yes
Long answer: YYYYYYEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSS

 

[Damien the Pigeon]

Good lord, another religion post? Ugh....

I think the Bible is what you make it. If it helps someone live his or her life and gives them a guideline to follow, great. If someone doesn't believe in it, that's great, too.

 

[Galletea]

Depends. It's a book, but to say 'only' a book is like saying 1984 is 'only' a book, which for many literature aficionados would be heresy in itself. Yes it is only a book, typed in whatever language but what that book contains is very valuable to many people. Doesn't make it any more than a book though.

 

[bue519]

Most stories in the bible descended from ancient mesopotamian myths. The stories were simply changed around to suit monotheistic beliefs. Thats why I find it hard to let this book run my life, like it does so many others. I mean frankly I'd rather pray to Marduk than God. (Marduk is from the Enuma Elish, which also happens to be where the creaton of heaven and earth from the bible comes from )

 

[KaZZaP]

No its not just a book, its a book that symbolizes control over panicy masses, he who holds the keys to heaven is in control.

 

[Limos]

It's just a book. The earlier books especially show it's disparate authors and it's outright barbarism. Some people say we should ignore the genocides and undeserved punishments and focus on the overreaching message of love.

Unfortunately there is no overreaching message of love. Perhaps in the few chapters where Jesus is speaking, but the rest of it is a collection of overreactions to petty slights and the ignorant fearmongering of bronze age goatherds.

Also you have to take into account that the entire religion, even today, is all stolen from other religions. The common depiction of God? Zeus. Jesus' resurrection and miracles? Appolonius of Tyriana. The Trinity? Brahman, Vishnu, and Shiva. Even many Pagan religions had a trinity. All the holidays are stolen from other religion as well. Christmas is Yule, or the Winter Solstice. Easter is the celebration of a fertility goddess. Nothing in Christianity is original. It stole it's myths from other myths who stole them from other myths.