Is the Bible Antiquated?

[EmperorKupcake]

But God wrote the 10 Commandments by his own hands laser chiseled unto the slabs of rock and doth gave to Moses. I seen it myself in the 10 Commandments.

Okay, the 10 Commandments may have been created by God. However, almost everybody follows the 10 Commandments whether they choose to or not. Thou shalt not kill, thou shalt not steal. These are not strictly religious practices, but simply being a good person.

Now when I talk about the teachings of the Bible, I'm not only referring to the nice flowerly morals and guidelines about life that is taught, but also the more defining lessons. The lessons about how fornicators will be cast into a fiery pit of doom, or how gluttons will suffer in eternal hellfire, or how the lazy will rot in the depths of hell. Does it really make sense that because I had premarital intercourse, or that I stuff myself with food on a nightly basis, I'm going to go to hell after I die?

 

[ssl]

I enjoy the thought of answering with my opinion as my laptop's batteries near its end [of the current charge]. Now, here is what I think:

The stories, whether true or untrue, have a basic underlying principle. ("Judge, I know I am suing for $5, but it is the principle that he has to understand").

All the stories in all texts considered to be holy by those that hold it so, have similar principles, you cannot deny this fact. However, these underlying principles were already in practice by the time these texts were written (my thought) and that is why it was widely accepted by the masses. These principles are every day principles: the golden rule? -- similar to the "live and let live" policy adopted by some regiments of militias all throughout history, such as World War 1.

It is these underlying principles found in major religious texts that unite the masses, and form the basic structure upon which a society is founded. However, when you remove the good/bad portion, the society has a great chance of falling apart. Thus, what is right and what is wrong is a highly subjective gray area.

Heh, I first spelled "grey" as such, and the spell-checking portion of Firefox underlined it as wrong.

And such is my thoughts on the matter. If you do not agree, well, that is your choice, and as such, I respect it.

 

[COOL_BREEZE2]

Okay, the 10 Commandments may have been created by God. However, almost everybody follows the 10 Commandments whether they choose to or not. Thou shalt not kill, thou shalt not steal. These are not strictly religious practices, but simply being a good person.

Now when I talk about the teachings of the Bible, I'm not only referring to the nice flowerly morals and guidelines about life that is taught, but also the more defining lessons. The lessons about how fornicators will be cast into a fiery pit of doom, or how gluttons will suffer in eternal hellfire, or how the lazy will rot in the depths of hell. Does it really make sense that because I had premarital intercourse, or that I stuff myself with food on a nightly basis, I'm going to go to hell after I die?

Good questions Kupcake. Much of the bible tho from what I gather was not written to be taken in the literal sense (the bastards) but moreso metaphorically and therein lies the problem as it leaves much for various interpretations....as is evident throughout the years. Perhaps that's how they used to talk back then I dunno or perhaps that's the closest that could be gotten to the english interpretation.

With regard to premarital intercourse I think the vast majority of us will be damned to the fiery pits of hell in the literal sense, or for enjoying your good food. Perhaps it's not meant to be taken literally, again I dunno, but if so I will definitely have to walk with my suntan lotion.

 

[COOL_BREEZE2]

I enjoy the thought of answering with my opinion as my laptop's batteries near its end [of the current charge]. Now, here is what I think:

The stories, whether true or untrue, have a basic underlying principle. ("Judge, I know I am suing for $5, but it is the principle that he has to understand").

All the stories in all texts considered to be holy by those that hold it so, have similar principles, you cannot deny this fact. However, these underlying principles were already in practice by the time these texts were written (my thought) and that is why it was widely accepted by the masses. These principles are every day principles: the golden rule? -- similar to the "live and let live" policy adopted by some regiments of militias all throughout history, such as World War 1.

It is these underlying principles found in major religious texts that unite the masses, and form the basic structure upon which a society is founded. However, when you remove the good/bad portion, the society has a great chance of falling apart. Thus, what is right and what is wrong is a highly subjective gray area.

Heh, I first spelled "grey" as such, and the spell-checking portion of Firefox underlined it as wrong.

And such is my thoughts on the matter. If you do not agree, well, that is your choice, and as such, I respect it.

A worthy contribution ssl. And kudos to your batteries for holding on.

 

[All Else Failed]

I enjoy the thought of answering with my opinion as my laptop's batteries near its end [of the current charge]. Now, here is what I think:

The stories, whether true or untrue, have a basic underlying principle. ("Judge, I know I am suing for $5, but it is the principle that he has to understand").

All the stories in all texts considered to be holy by those that hold it so, have similar principles, you cannot deny this fact. However, these underlying principles were already in practice by the time these texts were written (my thought) and that is why it was widely accepted by the masses. These principles are every day principles: the golden rule? -- similar to the "live and let live" policy adopted by some regiments of militias all throughout history, such as World War 1.

It is these underlying principles found in major religious texts that unite the masses, and form the basic structure upon which a society is founded. However, when you remove the good/bad portion, the society has a great chance of falling apart. Thus, what is right and what is wrong is a highly subjective gray area.

Heh, I first spelled "grey" as such, and the spell-checking portion of Firefox underlined it as wrong.

And such is my thoughts on the matter. If you do not agree, well, that is your choice, and as such, I respect it.

Every single moral and ethic in the bible was practiced by early man in their tribes, the idea of religion came along and stamped "god" on them to give them more power. Its all about social contract.

 

[COOL_BREEZE2]

Every single moral and ethic in the bible was practiced by early man in their tribes, the idea of religion came along and stamped "god" on them to give them more power. Its all about social contract.

Not necessarily so. Not widely practiced.

 

[Carthage]

I have a friend who happens to be a Christian fundamentalist, and damn proud of it. So needless to say, we love debating about whether some of the lessons of the Bible are appropriate in today's society.

So my question is, taking into consideration the social differences between modern day and ancient times, are the guidelines outlined in the Bible still applicable to modern society?

The parts of the Bible that are antiquated are there to show a historical development of Christianity and are not meant to be guideliness in modern society. They're also meant as a more historical background for Israel. Why are they in the Christian Bible, then? Because Christianity is an offspring of Judaism.
Sort of like how Paul's books and most of the new testement apart from the gospels are meant to show the development of Modern Christian Philosophy, not nessesarily Christ's christianity. What I mean is, say Neitzche had a following that developed a philosophy based on Neitzche but was different or more developed in several respects. they might be put in a Neitzche selection, to show where modern Neitzcheian philosophy is, but a self-classified Neitzchian might not agree with some of what was said by his followers.
(I don't like Neitzche.)

 

[All Else Failed]

Nietzsche is the man.

 

[Peter Parka]

The Bible is homophobic, intolerant and says that genocide is right. Enjoy that if you think its so great, personally I believe the Bible should be treated with the same contempt as Mien Kampf

 

[sharpies]

There is no doubt that the Bible is a great book. It has survived virtually unchanged for centuries... oh wait that's not right. It was first written in Hebrew & then translated into Greek & Latin. Updated every couple of centuries from archaic language modes until the English translation & then it was pretty much fixed until there was the Good News For Modern Man version & God only knows how many other versions there are out there today - the Hip Hop version (with commandments like Yo dude, no killin' bro's or ho's).

It has already been shown that the old testament is a collection of stories, none of them historically accurate, adapted by the authors to illustrate early Jewish lifestyles, much like Aesop's Fables tried to give people basic principles for a good life.

Two religions were formed from the Old Testament, or pieces thereof - Judaism & Islam & then God changed & so did the bible, the New Testament, from which sprang Christianity.

There have been other books found that are contemporay with many of the biblical texts - think Dead Sea Scrolls - Yes the bible is quite a piece of Literature that should not be dismissed too readily.

Do I believe it is the work of God? No, but it is a very powerful force that can be used to justify many things, evil & good. Should it be banned? No, but I do believe that there needs to be more information available on it's beginnings & twists & turns so that people can make better informed decisions.

Allan

 

[COOL_BREEZE2]

Soooooo.......what you're saying is.....

.......good book?

 

[sharpies]

No, a very dangerous book.

... but then there are many books that could be considered dangerous, many ideas that can be found in lots of libraries that people have killed, or died, for.

Allan

 

[COOL_BREEZE2]

But Jesus WAS born of a virgin.

 

[All Else Failed]

But Jesus WAS born of a virgin.

You can't possibly know that for sure.

 

[sharpies]

But Jesus WAS born of a virgin.

Is that a little fish hook I see before me, does it dangle & turn as the worm tries to free itself? Oh if only I had not eaten today, I could bite into that lovely juicy worm but I am not hungry.



Allan

 

[COOL_BREEZE2]

You can't possibly know that for sure.

How do you know it isn't true?

Is that a little fish hook I see before me, does it dangle & turn as the worm tries to free itself? Oh if only I had not eaten today, I could bite into that lovely juicy worm but I am not hungry.



Allan

You are a wily one aren't you Sharpie?

 

[All Else Failed]

How do you know it isn't true?



You are a wily one aren't you Sharpie?

Because there is 0 evidence at all to say it is.

 

[COOL_BREEZE2]

Because there is 0 evidence at all to say it is.

There is 0 evidence to say it wasn't either.

 

[All Else Failed]

The burden of proof is on the one making the claim, not the listener. It is up to the believer to prove their beliefs to be true, not the un-believer.


So basically, you just believe it because the bible tells you so.

 

[groundpounder]

blessed are those who believe yet have not seen.