Have You Read The Entire Bible

[nailit]

I really am just curious here. Not wanting to be a debate or anything.
But how many people here, (professing Christian or atheist...or somewhere in between) have actually read the Bible, in its entirety?
Ive met very few people (Christian or atheist) Who have.
Makes me wonder how people can debate something that they have never read?

Ive read *some* of the Hindu Vedas but would never claim to be an authority of Hinduism based solely on a partial reading of their scriptures.

Just curious. Thanks

[vetuste_ennemi]

//How anyone can get through Chapter One of Genesis without a chronic case of incredulity has always been beyond my comprehension//

Well, if you're reading iot as a scientific text book I see your point, Mibs.

There are other ways of reading it, of course. As creation myths go I rather like it for its minimalist qualities. And I particularly like the legend of the Fall which I think is a powerful allegory.

[spathiphyllum]

Sanmac - good book, caused less wars.

[Canary42]

/// I could memorise the phone book but it wouldn't make me a telecomms engineer.///

L M A O

[Old_Geezer]

Why would I waste my time reading such a boring account of myths ? One can get the gist from school, church, and Sunday school. That's more than enough.

[archibaldy]

I attempted to read it once, more for the achievement rather than any hope of gaining spiritual guidance.

I struggled to Deuteronomy somewhere and then gave up, I found it boring, incoherent and lacking in any detail that actually matters.

I think in debating the Bible for me the fundamental issue is that it's supposed to be the word of God in places, the word of Jesus in others and some sort of guide towards living a good life and I don't think I need to read all of the thing to debate those aspects.

[tonyav]

At school oh how I envied the ( few ) JW's . Didn't have to attend morning assembly or have RE lessons.

[Peter Pedant]

// Yes and some of it in Greek and other bits in Latin. Guess who did Divinity at Uni? Cannot remember any of the languages now though, sadly.//

can't remember thecourse more like
is there any book of the bible originally written in Latin ?

don't we mean Aramaic and Greek ?

now boys and girls - can we discuss Coronation St - or are we all disqualified since we have not seen every episode from 1962 ( including the pilot - Florizel St.,) - and Dickens - do we have to read every novel and article in order to discuss Great Expex ?
and Shakespeare - must we see every play before we feel we can discuss it - reading of course is not enough ...

such want of logic immediately identifies this thread to be classic AB
in full swing as ever at night

[Tilly2]

That's harsh, Peter.

What about Bill Bryson? I have read everything he has ever had published.

[vetuste_ennemi]

//don't we mean Aramaic and Greek ? //

Which would also be wrong, but not so egregiously so.

The OT was written in Hebrew. Daniel (which was composed in Maccabaean times) may have included some Aramaic and, if I recall, even Greek neologisms.

[Peter Pedant]

I have read alot of Rupert Bear
but I would not say I was an expert

oh and sunny stories - does anyone remember them - they WERE a bit soppy

[vetuste_ennemi]

Still, nice to see Peter have a go in typical Pedant style at the anti-intellectualism which some posters boast of.

[Peter Pedant]

oh right not aramaic but biblical hebrew
sozza

I blame this guy:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=joseph+rhymer

Joseph Rhymer was my English teacher - poor bugga - he must have been very bad in a previous life

this is another one who was forced to wear the crown of thorns
https://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=illtyd+trethowan

[Peter Pedant]

// anti-intellectualism of which some posters boast..... parade ....... FLAUNT!
godless lot

[rowanwitch]

I have read it more than once, but still think it is a collection of fairy tales

[naomi24]

Baldric, //No, as an Agnostic why would I?//

I’m guessing you define agnostic as a ‘Don’t know’, in which case you could read the bible to find out more? If, on the other hand, you define agnostic as one who believes that nothing is known or can be known about a supreme, supernatural creator, there’s no point in reading it.

Mibs, //How anyone can get through Chapter One of Genesis without a chronic case of incredulity has always been beyond my comprehension.//

Mine too.

PP, //such want of logic immediately identifies this thread to be classic AB in full swing as ever at night//

Classic indeed… illustrated by your constant derision of the AnswerBank and its contributors …. and having it wrong … again. That’s what happens when you venture out from behind the curtain, PP. I’d stay hidden if I were you. You’ve so often got your dress inadvertently tucked into your knickers. ;o)

[Old_Geezer]

An Agnostic is a "Can't Know"; and includes both those who think a God is likely and those who think one is unlikely. It's the only stance that requires no faith.

[sanmac]

In other word, all agnostics are sitting on the fence and wondering about the situation, and at the same time praying to God that the bloody fence is strong enough to hold them all.

[mibn2cweus]

The belief that whether or not a god exists can not be known is no less untenable than the belief that one must have faith to not believe a god exists.

[Stargazer]

Many men thought it important enough to risk death in translating it into English so that any man could read it for himself. ie William Tyndale and the saintly Thomas Moore in the 1500's hounded him for this treachery!

[Palustris]

"Some of it in Latin". It was to compare the original Greek with how it was translated in to Latin that we studied the Vulgate. A fair number of discrepancies were found, as have been commented on in various books over the last few hundred years.
And I CAN remember much of the course from Uni. But then I can still remember lessons from Primary school after over 60 years. The trouble with a semi-eidetic memory is forgetting things, not remembering them.