Is the bible greatly misunderstood?

[Aelbica]

All in all, it's really the same level of analysis that goes for the Epic of Gilgamesh (I personally know professors of ancient Meditteranean/Near Eastern studies.) People interpret the theological meanings differently because they believe it as still scripture.

People in the ancient world were, more or less, as smart as we are today. The only difference is the level of information they had access to. Also saying that people weren't using complex metaphors then is akin to saying that indiginous cultures don't do the same with their oral traditions; which is untrue as well when you look into the past century or so of anthropological analysis.

I'm not Christian, but I think it's important to recognize the level of secular analysis of these texts, and texts and the concept of "text," in general before you make what really are rash judgments.

The thing is, we have proper diets now.
They kinda didn't back then.
Do you know what malnourishment in early and mid development does to your intelligence?
Couple that with the fact that water was practically toxic so they essentially drank lots of alcohol which deadens braincells...
So yeh. They really were stupider than we are today. AND they had access to less information.
And that's before you even bother factoring in the evolutionary evidence that our brains are still developing.

It makes it all the more hilarious that religion spreads during the period where malnourishment is commonplace, and now we actually have food it's kinda falling backward.

Yeah, I do but at the same time any basic archaeological evidence shows that's not entirely true for all the population. The people who wrote these works knew what they were doing. They were most likely fed well. Just because some people were illiterate doesn't mean all are.

Any society that left religious texts clearly had a social class of scribes (both religious and secular). There was a "middle class," in a sense back then - trade happened. People in ancient times had access to varities of food from across the world.

And the "only drinking alcohol" bit was really more of a thing in medieval Europe than the rest of the entire world's history. There really is more to history than just what you learn from one specific region of the world. I'd suggest you to learn about this from a non-Eurocentric perspective.

[Gallup]

It's not. It's directed at the militant atheists and "gender doesn't reals" people on NSG.

I'm both of those things. So basically you have no argument against those people and just insult them. I'm sure theres some kind of term for that...
I wouldn't bring up the gender thing, by the way. It won't end well.

Meh, good point.

[Hetalian Indie Rio de Janeiro]

And since when have the NS forums been the pinnacle of human intelligence?

Since it was occupied by angsty privileged teens who want to rebel against the two big evils: Fundies and Gender.

Name a privileged teen.

[Farnhamia]

I wonder what else will illuminate itself in this revelation. Perhaps Jesus just had himself metaphorically crucified so that one would not in the sense of idioms perish, but have eternal life in a hyperbole-based way.

Muslims believe that.

That he wasn't crucified that is.


Maybe some Christian denominations believe something similar, idk, what.

I doubt that any would believe that. The whole point of Christianity is that Jesus took on the sins of humanity, died - literally - and was resurrected.

[Farnhamia]

Since it was occupied by angsty privileged teens who want to rebel against the two big evils: Fundies and Gender.

Name a privileged teen.

Name the topic of this thread (hint: angsty teens are not it).

[Gallup]

Since it was occupied by angsty privileged teens who want to rebel against the two big evils: Fundies and Gender.

Name a privileged teen.

Maybe privilege wasn't the right word. Advantaged.

[Gallup]

Name a privileged teen.

Name the topic of this thread (hint: angsty teens are not it).

Good point, back to the topic.

Also, prediction. By page 30, you'll be back, locking this thread. These things always devolve into that.

[Aelbica]

And since when have the NS forums been the pinnacle of human intelligence?

Did I claim it was?
I'm simply pointing out that I'm not being edgy here.

Since it was occupied by angsty privileged teens who want to rebel against the two big evils: Fundies and Gender.

I can't tell if this is directed at me or not.
If it is, i'll point out a few things.
1. I'm not a teen.
2. I'm hardly privileged.
3. Fundies aren't one of the top two evils. Not even close.
4. You seem pretty mad about this.

I'm not being "edgy" either. I used to have your point of view, but the past 50+ years of social science and archaeological research have dramatically changed perspectives on ancient cultures.

[Ostroeuropa]

Name the topic of this thread (hint: angsty teens are not it).

Good point, back to the topic.

Also, prediction. By page 30, you'll be back, locking this thread. These things always devolve into that.

Add in the fact that God told you this and if it happens we'll have a bonafide prophet guys.
Because it's evidence, right?

[Asigna]

Good point, back to the topic.

Also, prediction. By page 30, you'll be back, locking this thread. These things always devolve into that.

Maybe many of the people are just so desperate that they quit religion and cut it off from their lives?

[Cetacea]

But in many ways great literature isn't supposed to be clear and straight to the point. If it was than it wouldn't be so easily applicable to so many people's lives over thousands of years.

You're crediting these people with far too much.
It's incredibly poorly written already, adding on the implication that they secretly mean something else and are using metaphors and stuff is simply beyond credibility.
It simply isn't consistent with the level of talent contained in the writing.

These were uneducated people having a go at writing. And you expect me to believe they were using complex metaphors and shit?
ESPECIALLY in an age where Interpreting religion differently was grounds to get you killed? They mean EXACTLY what they said.

It's simply hilarious that anyone suspects otherwise.

What gives you the idea the biblical writers were uneducated? Moses spent 40 years as the Pharoahs grandson, so he had access to the best education of the era and centuries of Egyptian poetic and religious metaphor. Later writers were scribes, judges, priests, governors, kings (David and Solomon).

Jesus was educated and an acknowledged Rabbi (ie Teacher) Of the Apostles we know as faithful Jews they at least knew the torah, moreover Matthew was a tax collector, Luke a physician and Paul a pharisee and student of Jewish law.

[Ashmoria]

hi wil! I hardly ever see you post anymore.

how many people in your troup?

it may be time to drop the "submission to the will of god" religions. they don't work as well as they did when all we cared about was our own tribe.

I'm still around, I've just been spending about 99.9% of my time in the pony thread in A&F.

Honestly I think after the Abrahamic Faith becomes a minority religion, Atheism/Agnostic will take its place.

maybe but you are a good example of what people might change to when "god" is no longer right for them.

[Gallup]

Good point, back to the topic.

Also, prediction. By page 30, you'll be back, locking this thread. These things always devolve into that.

Add in the fact that God told you this and if it happens we'll have a bonafide prophet guys.
Because it's evidence, right?

You are just trying to spark a flame. Cut the flame bait.

I do it sometimes also. I'm trying to stop it.

[Ostroeuropa]

Good point, back to the topic.

Also, prediction. By page 30, you'll be back, locking this thread. These things always devolve into that.

Maybe many of the people are just so desperate that they quit religion and cut it off from their lives?

Desperate for what?

[Aelbica]

Good point, back to the topic.

Also, prediction. By page 30, you'll be back, locking this thread. These things always devolve into that.

Add in the fact that God told you this and if it happens we'll have a bonafide prophet guys.
Because it's evidence, right?

If that's true, you better change your sig to "The Prophet of NSG," Gallup.

[Ostroeuropa]

Add in the fact that God told you this and if it happens we'll have a bonafide prophet guys.
Because it's evidence, right?

You are just trying to spark a flame. Cut the flame bait.

I do it sometimes also. I'm trying to stop it.

That was gentle ribbing really.
But sure, I can probably back off a little.

[Gallup]

I'm fine with atheists. I'm not fine with atheists who attack religious. And vice versa. Let bygones be bygones.

[Gallup]

Add in the fact that God told you this and if it happens we'll have a bonafide prophet guys.
Because it's evidence, right?

If that's true, you better change your sig to "The Prophet of NSG," Gallup.

I can't be the Hero of Kvatch and a prophet.

[Asigna]

Desperate for what?

You know how religion promises the right path for salvation? Many want that salvation and are so self centered that they consider even the most little things like their angst to be a bigger suffering comparable to the even bigger sufferings of others. So now doubtful that that religion has not brought them the happiness they wanted (considering even they had actually not moved a muscle in their body to actually do anything about their lives), they cut religion off their lives.

Don't kill me! I didn't mean you!

[Magna Libero]

So, it's not in the Bible.

Matthew 16:18, "And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." Peter was the first Bishop of Rome, the founder and the foundation of Christ's Church. All his successors have the same blessing.

The only thing this text tells us is that Peter built a church. No Biblical proof about him having a justification to a such a big authority.

[Vazdania]

Matthew 16:18, "And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." Peter was the first Bishop of Rome, the founder and the foundation of Christ's Church. All his successors have the same blessing.

The only thing this text tells us is that Peter built a church. No Biblical proof about him having a justification to a such a big authority.

You are clearly reading this wrong.

[Aelbica]

If that's true, you better change your sig to "The Prophet of NSG," Gallup.

I can't be the Hero of Kvatch and a prophet.

If you're that damn good you can.

You just gotta believe, and according to Disney also sing a musical number or two.

[Ostroeuropa]

Desperate for what?

You know how religion promises the right path for salvation? Many want that salvation and are so self centered that they consider even the most little things like their angst to be a bigger suffering comparable to the even bigger sufferings of others. So now doubtful that that religion has not brought them the happiness they wanted (considering even they had actually not moved a muscle in their body to actually do anything about their lives), they cut religion off their lives.

Don't kill me! I didn't mean you!

No atheist I know of has come to atheism through this reasoning.
Maybe one or two have.
But the vast majority simply become disillusioned and realize it's all nonsense.
There is no salvation.
I'm not being mean when I say that.
I used to believe in nonsense sometimes. Maybe I still do. Happens to everyone.

[Asigna]

The only thing this text tells us is that Peter built a church. No Biblical proof about him having a justification to a such a big authority.

You are clearly reading this wrong.

That's why many people misunderstand the bible and the many minority suffers for it.

[Gallup]

I can't be the Hero of Kvatch and a prophet.

If you're that damn good you can.

You just gotta believe, and according to Disney also sing a musical number or two.

Okay.

"I just gotta believeeeeeeee....."

Yeah, no.