Flappy
Star
Grrr! But not really....
Posts: 577
|
Post by Flappy on Nov 23, 2010 6:05:21 GMT -5
The Bible is mythology, like The Illiad, The Odyssey, The Edda, The Vedas, Gilgamesh, etc.
Discuss.
|
|
|
Post by newschooled on Nov 23, 2010 9:22:43 GMT -5
I believe that the Bible is Parables and Metaphors. HOWEVER that's not to say that great moral and spiritual truth cannot be found therein...But no, I don't literally believe that Jonah got swallowed by a whale or that Jesus went all Zombie.
...I can't stress enough, that's just my take.
|
|
|
Post by austkyzor on Nov 23, 2010 11:19:20 GMT -5
Well, I certainly don't think everything in the Bible is real - but I don't think it's mythology either. My opinion is basically what Rob said.
|
|
|
Post by krzych32 on Nov 23, 2010 12:53:36 GMT -5
Just like the Irish and Australia.
|
|
Flappy
Star
Grrr! But not really....
Posts: 577
|
Post by Flappy on Nov 23, 2010 15:51:41 GMT -5
I believe that the Bible is Parables and Metaphors. HOWEVER that's not to say that great moral and spiritual truth cannot be found therein...But no, I don't literally believe that Jonah got swallowed by a whale or that Jesus went all Zombie. ...I can't stress enough, that's just my take. It was actually a "Giant Fish" that swallowed Jonah, and if that's the case, it actually would have been possible for a Whale Shark (the largest known species of shark, and sharks are fish) to swallow a fully grown man. I don't believe that it actually did happen, I'm just saying it actually is possible. Obviously there are historical parts of the Bible that are true, but one important thing is that the Bible was written based on certain perspective. (As were most books of mythology) The reason I say it's mythology is because it is a myth (no one can say that the Bible is acurate. It does have a message/and or tells a story (or stories), and is somewhat inspired by actual events (however little).
|
|
|
Post by Lyserg Zeroz on Nov 23, 2010 16:04:24 GMT -5
I don't think people from that time would think that whales weren't a kind of fish (some people today don't know/don't care for that). As for the topic. I don't believe in the bible. I don't believe it's accurate. I think it has many flaws. I've heard of chrisitians that because of reading the bible (many christians/catholics/whatever don't really read the whole thing) end up thinking that the God depicted in the bible is a monster, and in at least one case I know of, reading the bible caused conversion to atheisms, so for me, not having read the bible yet, it doesn't sound like it has that much of a cool great moral and spiritual truths within. I've heard people jokingly saying "it's the best science-fiction book ever written", I don't think that either, if anything it would be the most successful one, but defenitely not the best (probably not even a science-fiction book ).
|
|
|
Post by Lex on Nov 23, 2010 16:18:30 GMT -5
While a lot of it probably has basis in real events (for example: there could have been a large flood which got exaggerated into the Noah myth), however, I think it's clear that it's mythology.
|
|
|
Post by amon91 on Nov 23, 2010 16:48:34 GMT -5
While a lot of it probably has basis in real events (for example: there could have been a large flood which got exaggerated into the Noah myth), however, I think it's clear that it's mythology. QFE. Alice in Wonderland is also a great book.
|
|
Flappy
Star
Grrr! But not really....
Posts: 577
|
Post by Flappy on Nov 23, 2010 17:17:11 GMT -5
While a lot of it probably has basis in real events (for example: there could have been a large flood which got exaggerated into the Noah myth), however, I think it's clear that it's mythology. Yes indeed. I was actually thinking about bringing up the flood. I don't think people from that time would think that whales weren't a kind of fish (some people today don't know/don't care for that). As for the topic. I don't believe in the bible. I don't believe it's accurate. I think it has many flaws. I've heard of chrisitians that because of reading the bible (many christians/catholics/whatever don't really read the whole thing) end up thinking that the God depicted in the bible is a monster, and in at least one case I know of, reading the bible caused conversion to atheisms , so for me, not having read the bible yet, it doesn't sound like it has that much of a cool great moral and spiritual truths within. I've heard people jokingly saying "it's the best science-fiction book ever written", I don't think that either, if anything it would be the more successful one, but defenitely not the best (probably not even a science-fiction book ). It's good, but in terms of anything but mythology, it really doesn't appeal to me.
|
|
|
Post by Joey on Nov 23, 2010 21:39:54 GMT -5
I am a Catholic...and I think its mostly true...now hear me out.
The...oh say...Pentateuch is probably the most mythological part of it, and like creation, well its not the scientific fact, its the basic spiritual message.(Somehow we messed up and we have to pay for it)
But at least everything from around the time of David I would say is pretty solild in my beliefs, some of them(revelation) is open to interpretation also.
Like rob said, this is MY opinion...
|
|
|
Post by kdphilosophy on Nov 23, 2010 23:22:00 GMT -5
The Bible is mythology, like The Illiad, The Odyssey, The Edda, The Vedas, Gilgamesh, etc. Discuss. my response is...duh. My understanding of myth is it was defined as "a telling" Hence why in a very stereotypically pagan fashion I tend to refer to the bible and it's stories as "Christian Mythology" Calling something mythology isn't an insult, nor is it bearing on somethings inherit value or even truth value. I am fairly certain any and all forms of the term "myth" or "mythology" that include the term meaning "fictitious" is necessarily a modern meaning clearly divergent of what we really mean when we say "mythology" that being said, I think whether the bible happened literally or it's figurative, whether it's message was inspired by the Abrahamic God or it was delivered by man alone. I try to take the literature for what it is. I have things I can get behind, and I try to take it for whatever I can gleam from it, as this is the very point of literature While I'll admit modern people (and by modern people I mean the religious majority) have made a habit of referring to every other religious mythology as myth but not their own, as mythology like it's some sort of insult, I do not see it this way. Only MY opinion
|
|
Flappy
Star
Grrr! But not really....
Posts: 577
|
Post by Flappy on Nov 24, 2010 10:33:25 GMT -5
The Bible is mythology, like The Illiad, The Odyssey, The Edda, The Vedas, Gilgamesh, etc. Discuss. my response is...duh. My understanding of myth is it was defined as "a telling" Hence why in a very stereotypically pagan fashion I tend to refer to the bible and it's stories as "Christian Mythology" Calling something mythology isn't an insult, nor is it bearing on somethings inherit value or even truth value. I am fairly certain any and all forms of the term "myth" or "mythology" that include the term meaning "fictitious" is necessarily a modern meaning clearly divergent of what we really mean when we say "mythology" While I'll admit modern people (and by modern people I mean the religious majority) have made a habit of referring to every other religious mythology as myth but not their own, as mythology like it's some sort of insult, I do not see it this way. Only MY opinion I feel the same way. However, when I say a religion is a myth (and I believe, if not all, the majority of religions are myths), I mean a story, almost certainly involving supernatural events which cannot be explained or proven. I don't mean it as an insult, but I do get upset when people tell me it is fact. Also guys, it's really not necessary to say "In MY opinion", obviously if you posted it, it's your opinion. (Unless you state otherwise, then it would be appreciated if you provided some citation.)
|
|
|
Post by kdphilosophy on Nov 24, 2010 12:51:49 GMT -5
No disagreement here. Though I've found the term supernatural rather dubious as of late. but that's another discussion altogether. And also I tend to see "religion" more as an institution, not necessarily the mythology the people involved profess to be following.
|
|
|
Post by Lex on Nov 24, 2010 13:55:23 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by Joey on Nov 24, 2010 14:40:06 GMT -5
Exactly how a person should think.....I like that guy. Sometimes my religious group acts like a bunch of dumb shits.
|
|
Flappy
Star
Grrr! But not really....
Posts: 577
|
Post by Flappy on Nov 24, 2010 19:19:12 GMT -5
Yeah, he's totally right.
|
|
|
Post by kdphilosophy on Nov 24, 2010 20:41:17 GMT -5
Um... huh. So apparently any collection of mythology in a book should have a disclaimer saying it's fiction? I don't honestly see how anyone could see that as a complete and intelligent thought...
I don't see why it should be necessary to have to have a disclaimer on the Da Vinchi code book or film...
perhaps I think too highly of people. o.o'
|
|
|
Post by austkyzor on Nov 24, 2010 21:04:49 GMT -5
I guess it also depends on which sect of Christianity we're dealing with - while the Catholic version doesn't outright say it's mythology, or anything like that - The Vatican maintains that it shouldn't be taken literally
|
|
|
Post by rialvestro on Nov 24, 2010 21:12:12 GMT -5
I just read the first couple replies which seem to agree that not everything is real but also that it's not Mythology with is a contradiction.
If not everything in the Bible is real then it is by definition a Mythology sense you're admitting that it's at the very least a stretch of the truth, that's what Mythology is.
If you're saying it's not Mythology then you would be arguing that everything in the Bible is 100% true on everything it says.
So make up your mind, is it fact or myth?
|
|
|
Post by Joey on Nov 24, 2010 22:51:07 GMT -5
Not neccessarily. Some aspects of it are myth, to be taken as a spiritual lesson or spiritual information, while other aspects are to be take litterally. Its not like its the same fricking story, the history of the pre church. all one timeline, but different things(ie different books)
And @aust, do you mean the Vatican says that it shouldnt be taken litterally? If so, what are you talking about? As a Catholic, I know that they say that parts of it shouldnt be take litterally(ie Creation) but I also know they stand by what is written in the Gospel and many other books 100%
|
|