The BIBLE is mythical in aspect & detail - it is an exaggeration / distortion of events for effect (even utter fabrication at times); that speaks to humans in psychological terms they can understand... It is a collection of stories / traditions about people... it isn't a calculus textbook; it is not about bacteria growth rates in a warm dish. It is a collection of stories and traditions that speaks to the psychology of men / women.
The ignorance part belongs solely to man. The Bible, like all myths, is not devoid of "truth."
It is one thing to have an errant and ignorant superstitious belief that: disease is caused by demons; the devil; God; transcendent entities.
It is another to consider the meaning of the stories, why did people share these stories? Is there a relationship of God (transcendent realities - possible - yet actually unknown) to community; to the self... to the struggles we face in existence.
You could say for example: David (a mere boy) killing Goliath with a slingshot is absurd. A literalist might take that absurdity for being a fact... and then ruminate upon some theologic sophistry and an assumed necessary connection to the myth of Jesus (through the branch of Jesse, father of David, etc)...
But, the story might have been told for other reasons to convey a meaning (not a literal happenstance). That of the heroic journey that you, me, anyone, David must faith in life - we all might face are own unique "Goliath"; and some have; or you can; face the struggle without fear. Or, it could mean that personal responsibility is important even to children; and instill this value early. It was common in the past that the rites of passage; for young men passing into adulthood to be quite severe; and occur early in life (much earlier than now). David is made part of the greater society, based upon his personal commitment to the moment - he exhibits the tenacity the Society extols. He is part of something greater; society; the moment he picks up the first stone.
Does the bible belong in the Fiction section
So that is a
NO...
Last edited by topal63 (2007-02-22 15:18:36)