Maybe we shouldn't take Mein Kampf literally?

[NotRust]

If the two most hateful books of all time (bible and quran) can get the 'should not take literally' treatment, why not extend that to Hitler's Mein Kampf, which (after all) contains decidedly less hatred then the bible and quran do.

Or Marx's writings in which he gloriously approves of black slavery, and advocated race war and the elimination of all those who do not agree with him?

Two of those were written in poetic language, using parables and metaphores. When using such structures, it is difficult, if not impossible to take the writing literally.

But yet...

[Sarkhaan]

Maybe we shouldn't.

Probably not. But the point the OP wants to make is probably (but I could be totally mistaken here) - if we don't do if for mein kampf - why do we do it for other books that promote hatred ?

Because different literary styles recieve different treatment...for the same reason that one approaches poetry and biographies and narratives differently.

[Dolphin Girl]

If the two most hateful books of all time (bible and quran) can get the 'should not take literally' treatment, why not extend that to Hitler's Mein Kampf, which (after all) contains decidedly less hatred then the bible and quran do.

I'm sorry, that's just a moronic statement. So you don't like religion, or maybe you just dislike Christianity and Islam, that's fine - but don't say shit you can't back up. The Bible and Quran are hardly the most hateful books of all time. That's a big fucking statement. Please back that up with some kind of evidence.

[The Alma Mater]

If the two most hateful books of all time (bible and quran) can get the 'should not take literally' treatment, why not extend that to Hitler's Mein Kampf, which (after all) contains decidedly less hatred then the bible and quran do.

I'm sorry, that's just a moronic statement. So you don't like religion, or maybe you just dislike Christianity and Islam, that's fine - but don't say shit you can't back up. The Bible and Quran are hardly the most hateful books of all time. That's a big fucking statement. Please back that up with some kind of evidence.

Hmm.. can you name another book that has spread hatred for millenia (or centuries if we talk about the Qu'ran) ?

Sure, the followers of "mein kampf" were far more efficient in promoting intensely focused hatred, as well as in exterminating the object of that hatred - but the overwhelming bulk of that effectiveness lasted less than a decade.

[Dolphin Girl]

If the two most hateful books of all time (bible and quran) can get the 'should not take literally' treatment, why not extend that to Hitler's Mein Kampf, which (after all) contains decidedly less hatred then the bible and quran do.

I'm sorry, that's just a moronic statement. So you don't like religion, or maybe you just dislike Christianity and Islam, that's fine - but don't say shit you can't back up. The Bible and Quran are hardly the most hateful books of all time. That's a big fucking statement. Please back that up with some kind of evidence.

Hmm.. can you name another book that has spread hatred for millenia (or centuries if we talk about the Qu'ran) ?

Sure, the followers of "mein kampf" were far more efficient in promoting intensely focused hatred, as well as in exterminating the object of that hatred - but the overwhelming bulk of that effectiveness lasted less than a decade.

That's not evidence. You're answering my question with a question. I asked you to present me evidence that the content of the Bible and Quran makes them the most hateful books of all time.

[Sarkhaan]

If the two most hateful books of all time (bible and quran) can get the 'should not take literally' treatment, why not extend that to Hitler's Mein Kampf, which (after all) contains decidedly less hatred then the bible and quran do.

Or Marx's writings in which he gloriously approves of black slavery, and advocated race war and the elimination of all those who do not agree with him?

Two of those were written in poetic language, using parables and metaphores. When using such structures, it is difficult, if not impossible to take the writing literally.

But yet...

...care to complete that thought?

[New Genoa]

If the two most hateful books of all time (bible and quran) can get the 'should not take literally' treatment, why not extend that to Hitler's Mein Kampf, which (after all) contains decidedly less hatred then the bible and quran do.

Or Marx's writings in which he gloriously approves of black slavery, and advocated race war and the elimination of all those who do not agree with him?

Two of those were written in poetic language, using parables and metaphores. When using such structures, it is difficult, if not impossible to take the writing literally.

But yet...

...care to complete that thought?

People still do. Sorry for finishing your thought..

[Buffett and Colbert]

I suggest you return to your bridge.

[Takaram]

I suggest you return to your bridge.

/thread.

[New Ziedrich]

Or Marx's writings in which he gloriously approves of black slavery, and advocated race war and the elimination of all those who do not agree with him?

What? Where?

[JuNii]

If the two most hateful books of all time (bible and quran) can get the 'should not take literally' treatment, why not extend that to Hitler's Mein Kampf, which (after all) contains decidedly less hatred then the bible and quran do.

Or Marx's writings in which he gloriously approves of black slavery, and advocated race war and the elimination of all those who do not agree with him?

I never take those books literally.

[Pevisopolis]

Maybe people have spent too much time quoting the obvious?

[Christmahanikwanzikah]

Mein Kampf is hardly something we should let people read, much less interpret.

I mean, seriously, if this is the pinnacle of Adolf's artistic ability, it's an insult to even describe him as a "aspiring painter."

[Jingoist Hippostan]

Sorry, I follow a strict constructionist interpretation of Mein Kampf.

[Pevisopolis]

Sorry, I follow a strict constructionist interpretation of Mein Kampf.

[/sarcasm]?

[Cameroi]

If the two most hateful books of all time (bible and quran) can get the 'should not take literally' treatment, why not extend that to Hitler's Mein Kampf, which (after all) contains decidedly less hatred then the bible and quran do.

Or Marx's writings in which he gloriously approves of black slavery, and advocated race war and the elimination of all those who do not agree with him?

i actually believe you've got the part about taking them aligorically, as i believe them to be inteded absolutely right. i question this interpretation of marx, and am unfamiliar with any logical or litteral basis for it. even the so called hatred in the bible and koran, is a mater of interpretation and perception.

marx saw a problem that still exists and attempted to devise a solution for it. what he came up with was flawed, largely by taking too little into account what does not begin and end with human society.

most if not nearly all, of economic thought, makes much that same mistake, whither of the so called left or the so called right.

there are some really good thoughts in all of those books, dispite their author's fallibility, as well as horrendous consiquences to misunderstandings freequently attributed and misatributed to them.

it is also perfectly true as well, that we don't need those particular volumes to come up with such positive thoughts as they might contain.

[Aaali]

*snip*

I could've sworn you'd been DEATed.

[Free Commonalities]

Of course Mein Kampf contains less open hatred, it was a recruiting tool for the nazis. He was not writing something to tell the truth about his life. He was writing something to get people to turn into nazis. I've read the thing. It is very devious. It is the kind of thing which a politician might put together before taking over.

The bible and the qran were not recruiting tools for a politician, nor were they biographies, they are poor comparisons.

Having said this. I have read all three of them.

[Risottia]

If the two most hateful books of all time (bible and quran) can get the 'should not take literally' treatment, why not extend that to Hitler's Mein Kampf, which (after all) contains decidedly less hatred then the bible and quran do.

Or Marx's writings in which he gloriously approves of black slavery, and advocated race war and the elimination of all those who do not agree with him?

I suspect that you do not have a clue about the Bible, the Quran, the Mein Kampf, and Das Kapital.

[Seculartopia]

Or Marx's writings in which he gloriously approves of black slavery, and advocated race war and the elimination of all those who do not agree with him?

lolwut

Sounds sorta like the bible to tell the truth....

[Risottia]

Mein Kampf is hardly something we should let people read, much less interpret.

I mean, seriously, if this is the pinnacle of Adolf's artistic ability, it's an insult to even describe him as a "aspiring painter."

I disagree. Ok, it's not a reading one would advise to everyone, but people should know what kind of mental delirium Nazism is based upon.

[Flameswroth]

Mein Kampf is hardly something we should let people read, much less interpret.

Agreed, we should just burn that book and all other books that express that distinct viewpoint.

Oh wait...

[The Alma Mater]

Mein Kampf is hardly something we should let people read, much less interpret.

I mean, seriously, if this is the pinnacle of Adolf's artistic ability, it's an insult to even describe him as a "aspiring painter."

I disagree. Ok, it's not a reading one would advise to everyone, but people should know what kind of mental delirium Nazism is based upon.

Actually, a medal for someone that actually manages to *finish* the book without their ears bleeding would be in order. Hitler was supposedly a great speaker, but his writing... ugh.

[Anarchic-Marxist]

Or Marx's writings in which he gloriously approves of black slavery, and advocated race war and the elimination of all those who do not agree with him?

source please???I would love to see that.

[Macindia]

There is a comic of Mein Kampf that came out recently... I kid you not