The Bible: Fictional Stories?

Kevin · 06-29-2007, 10:27 AM

That is certainly what I believe, but I wonder what your thoughts are.

I find the Bible to be nothing more than a bunch of fictional stories. I've read a good portion of it and it just sounds plain ridiculous. It also contradicts itself.

It says, Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.

Yet (maybe I'm not educated enough to have an opinion or make this assumption, but...) doesn't the Bible look down on women and homosexuals?

Obviously I'm new at exploring this type of stuff (agnosticism and religion) so perhaps I don't know what I'm talking about. Are my points valid?

Thanks

Astreja · 06-30-2007, 01:46 AM

I think that the Bible does contain snippets of actual regional history, albeit written from a biased POV or so long after the event that the details have gotten blurry.

However, most of the book seems to be mythology. Some of the mythology isn't even original: The story of Noah and the flood was told earlier by the Sumerians (Look up "Atrahasis"). I think that the flood itself was a local affair in the Tigris-Euphrates delta, originally a hand-me-down story in the fine tradition of "When I was a boy we had this *BIG* flood..."

And yes, the Bible does say some truly vile things. Countless questionable writings concerning women (Paul is infamous for these). As for homosexuality, the worst of the worst is Leviticus 20:13: "If a man lies with a male as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination; they shall be put to death; their blood is upon them."

**The An-Jel** · 06-30-2007, 03:51 AM

Is that really the worst?

Kevin · 06-30-2007, 09:49 AM

Yeah, I read some of the writings of Leviticus. Much of it refers to death and blood. Obviously some of the sins mentioned are vile, but the punishments are extreme.

Its probably safe to say most Christians wouldn't wish death today upon certain individuals today. But I would prefer not to follow and base my life on a book that is unproven, hypocritical, and violent as well.

A friend of mine is a God fearing Christian who believes everything in the Bible. We get into arguments about it all the time. Its like he can't think for himself. He's too close minded and refuses to believe anything else.

Og · 06-30-2007, 09:57 AM

Do you think that the story "Star Wars" by George Lucas is a bunch of fictional stories? Do you think that the fictional nature of the stories is relevant to the ideas it speaks to? Pick what works for you from it and toss the rest.

**Jacob** · 06-30-2007, 10:08 AM

I surmise that one can possibly separate fact from fiction when it comes to interpreting the bible. I think that many of the biblical events actually did happen, but these events would have been described in an archaic manner. Since the people mentioned in the bible did not fully understand the logic of these events, they often assumed them to be the works of God.

Jacob

duck · 06-30-2007, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jacob

I surmise that one can possibly separate fact from fiction when it comes to interpreting the bible. I think that many of the biblical events actually did happen, but these events would have been described in an archaic manner. Since the people mentioned in the bible did not fully understand the logic of these events, they often assumed them to be the works of God.

Jacob

I also think you touched on the one key word that always get the debates rolling concerning the bible: Interpret.

Everything comes down to how one chooses to interpret the book. Literally? Metaphorically? Or somewhere in between?

**Jacob** · 06-30-2007, 08:21 PM

Duck Re: interpretations

To me, archeological clues seem to back up some interpretations more than others.

Jacob

harleylove · 06-30-2007, 10:17 PM

Or you just do what my neighbor said for to me this morning. She talked to me for about 45 minutes about how God sent her to me to help me open my heart to him. She said just to read certain parts and forget the rest after I told her I thought it was violent and offering to give me 1 of the 3 she had in her car.

**Jacob** · 07-01-2007, 07:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by harleylove

Or you just do what my neighbor said for to me this morning. She talked to me for about 45 minutes about how God sent her to me to help me open my heart to him. She said just to read certain parts and forget the rest after I told her I thought it was violent and offering to give me 1 of the 3 she had in her car.

I think that you may have misunderstood my previous statement. I was referring to the historical side of the accounts found in the bible. I've already personally concluded that the biblical God is a hoax.

Jacob