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Moogtron III 
Prog Reviewer
Joined: April 26 2005
Location: Belgium
Status: Offline
Points: 10616
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 Posted: October 23 2008 at 03:00 |
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All of it, though only since last year. I'm a pastor, and it kind of stuck me that I never read the Bible in its entirety before, and I used a read-the-entire-Bible-in-three-years book, with study questions.
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jammun
Prog Reviewer
Joined: July 14 2007
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 3449
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Posted: October 29 2008 at 21:09 |
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Read the whole thing. For my masters degree in English, it was assumed one had read the Bible front to back, given that much English Lit assumes familiarity with it, and we were told to be familiar with it for our written exams.
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Vibrationbaby
Forum Senior Member
Joined: February 13 2004
Status: Offline
Points: 6898
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Posted: October 29 2008 at 23:18 |
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Was forced to read it as a kid. A composite story book of sorts.
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Utah Man
Forum Senior Member
Joined: November 14 2007
Location: Utah
Status: Offline
Points: 1014
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Posted: October 30 2008 at 10:35 |
 Vibrationbaby wrote:
Was forced to read it as a kid. A composite story book of sorts. |
Forced ?
Parents ?
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Sean Trane
Special Collaborator
Prog Folk
Joined: April 29 2004
Location: Heart of Europe
Status: Offline
Points: 20251
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Posted: October 30 2008 at 11:14 |
As an atheist, I find the bible a pleasant fiction, a bit too moralistic, though!! I never got to the end of it and most of what I know about it, has been through debates or religion courses as a kid.
Indeed, like Ian, I was forced to read passages when in school... cos I went to a catholic school.
My parents never forced me or my brothers. My father was an atheist and my mom became one by reason: we used to shoot at the bible's moralistic goals (comparing it to Mao's Little Red Book) over dinner at the four of us, and she gradually picked up on it.
Edited by Sean Trane - October 30 2008 at 11:16
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let's just stay above the moral melee
prefer the sink to the gutter
keep our sand-castle virtues
content to be a doer
as well as a thinker,
prefer lifting our pen
rather than un-sheath our sword
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Vibrationbaby
Forum Senior Member
Joined: February 13 2004
Status: Offline
Points: 6898
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Posted: October 30 2008 at 11:23 |
Utah Man wrote:
Vibrationbaby wrote:
Was forced to read it as a kid. A composite story book of sorts. |
Forced ?
Parents ?
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Had to go to church until I got old enough to have to go to hockey practice on Sunday morning even though our family is not really that religious. Dad wanted to let us decide for ouselves. I kind of subcribe more to the late George Carlin`s takes on religion.
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Slartibartfast
Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator / In Memoriam
Joined: April 29 2006
Location: Atlantais
Status: Offline
Points: 29630
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Posted: October 30 2008 at 17:19 |
Vibrationbaby wrote:
A composite story book of sorts. |
Probably the best simplification of what the book is really about that I've read. If you really want to understand it, you have to recognize that it was originally written in Hebrew and Greek and if you try to understand it in English (and any other translation) without looking up the word origins, all you'll get is the interpretations, for better and worse, of the translators at the time. But there's a lot of interesting stuff there: mythology, history, and prophecies.
Edited by Slartibartfast - October 30 2008 at 17:22
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Released date are often when it it impacted you but recorded dates are when it really happened... 
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Utah Man
Forum Senior Member
Joined: November 14 2007
Location: Utah
Status: Offline
Points: 1014
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Posted: October 30 2008 at 17:45 |
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OK...
At this point in the poll questionnaire, I'm surprised at the response: apparently most have read the bible, at least some of it.
Hmmm...Interesting.
I was expecting to see most responders indicating that they have NOT read it at all...
As far as I can tell, bible reading is (was) "motivated" by:
(a) Curiosity
(b) Academic reasons
(c) Compulsory exercise
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Edited by Utah Man - October 31 2008 at 09:15
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Epignosis
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator
Joined: December 30 2007
Location: Raeford, NC
Status: Offline
Points: 32524
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Posted: October 30 2008 at 18:02 |
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Why? I've read it, and continue to do so.
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CPicard
Forum Senior Member
Joined: October 03 2008
Location: Là, sui monti.
Status: Offline
Points: 10841
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Posted: October 30 2008 at 19:32 |
Utah Man wrote:
OK...
At this point in the poll questionnaire, I'm surprised at the response: apparently most have read the bible, at least some of it.
Hmmm...Interesting.
I was expecting to see most responders indicating that they have NOT read it.
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Well, there are a lot of American here... Yeah, I know, typical European stereotypes about American. It's just that I'm a bit tired.
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Syzygy
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator
Joined: December 16 2004
Location: United Kingdom
Status: Offline
Points: 7003
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Posted: October 30 2008 at 19:54 |
BaldJean wrote:
Utah Man wrote:
BaldJean wrote:
was an important part of my studies |
you have a degree in literature or ___________? |
history, and I specialized in ancient and middle ages. believe me, you can't understand the middle ages without knowing the bible, and for some ancient history the bible is an important source too
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Similar for me - I did my degree in philosophy with art history. It's possible to study either subject without knowing anything about the bible at all, but your understanding of Western culture will be greatly enhanced if you do. Oh, and if you're going to immerse yourself in an English language bible, make sure it's the King James version; subsequent translations are like listening to Beethoven's symphonies played by Barry Manilow in comparison.
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'Like so many of you
I've got my doubts about how much to contribute
to the already rich among us...'
Robert Wyatt, Gloria Gloom
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Vibrationbaby
Forum Senior Member
Joined: February 13 2004
Status: Offline
Points: 6898
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Posted: October 30 2008 at 23:55 |
This in today's Montreal Gazette :
"There's Probably No God" might be emblazoned on London buses"
London - London's iconic red buses could be plastered with the slogan "There's probabably no God" Now stop worrying and enjoy your life," in an athiest advertising campaign responding to a set of Christian ads.
Comedy writer Ariane Sherine, 28, objected to the Christian ads on some London buses, which carried an International address warning that people who rejected God were condemned to spend eternity in "torment in hell".
She sought five-pound ($10.19) donations toward a "ressuring" counter-ad and received the backing of the British Association and athiest campaigner Richard Dawkins. The campaign has already smashed it's $11,200 target and the slogan is planned to hit the side of several London buses in January.
"We see so many posters threatening us with eternal damnation, that I feel sure that a bus advert like this will be welcomed as a breath of fresh air," said BHA chief executive Hanne Stinson.
A Church of England spokesman said he had no objection to someone airing such a message " through appropriate channels," but added : " Christian belief is not about worrying or not enjoying life. "
The new ad would have to be approved by transit officials before appearing on city buses.
This sort of reminds me of these Jehovah Witnesses that started canvassing our nieghbourhood when I was a kid trying to convert everyone. My father was a Free Mason and a religious man but at the same time didn't agree that religion had to be shoved down one's throat. So he started inviting them in for tea and cookies and arguing rings around them them and this got rid of them. when I said earlier that I was "forced" to read the bibleI sort of meant that it was made available to me and when the time came for me to decide whether or not to continue going to church on Sundays he fully respected the fact that I would rather go to hockey practice instead although I attended the Christmas eve services ( our minister also had a sense of humour which made it more interesting ).
For those who have seen the Monty Python Film The Meaning Of Life it touches on religion. Marching up and down the sqaure is one of my favourite sketches in the film in that it is saying that we should be able to make our own decisions in life. I just don't like what has become of all religions in this day & age with it being rammed down our throats and used as a facade so I fully agree with this comediene's response.
Edited by Vibrationbaby - October 31 2008 at 07:56
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Utah Man
Forum Senior Member
Joined: November 14 2007
Location: Utah
Status: Offline
Points: 1014
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Posted: October 31 2008 at 09:01 |
Epignosis wrote:
Why? I've read it, and continue to do so.
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I wrote, "...expecting to see most..." Not, "...all...". 
Don't stop reading it
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Edited by Utah Man - October 31 2008 at 09:06
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Utah Man
Forum Senior Member
Joined: November 14 2007
Location: Utah
Status: Offline
Points: 1014
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Posted: October 31 2008 at 09:22 |
Syzygy wrote:
Oh, and if you're going to immerse yourself in an English language bible, make sure it's the King James version; subsequent translations are like listening to Beethoven's symphonies played by Barry Manilow in comparison. |
What does the KJV have that these subsequent translations don't ...or vise-versa ?
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Utah Man
Forum Senior Member
Joined: November 14 2007
Location: Utah
Status: Offline
Points: 1014
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Posted: October 31 2008 at 09:40 |
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Epignosis
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator
Joined: December 30 2007
Location: Raeford, NC
Status: Offline
Points: 32524
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Posted: October 31 2008 at 10:36 |
Utah Man wrote:
Syzygy wrote:
Oh, and if you're going to immerse yourself in an English language bible, make sure it's the King James version; subsequent translations are like listening to Beethoven's symphonies played by Barry Manilow in comparison. |
What does the KJV have that these subsequent translations don't ...or vise-versa ?
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Forget English. Read it in Hebrew and Greek. It's better that way.
Also, I wouldn't say the KJV is necessarily the best translation, but the KJV does have something that most all modern English translations lack (ready? I think you'll find this cool):
Many people nowadays get put-off by the "thous" and "thees" of the KJV, but they're there for a reason. Check it out-
Thou = singular
You = plural
Read the KJV with that in mind, and see if it changes your understanding. For instance, in the sermon on the Mount (Matthew chapter 6), Jesus talks about prayer.
He says when thou prayest (singular- individual people), do it in private, as in a closet, and not boastfully in front of others.
But then he says, when you pray (plural, as in when gathered together in the synagogues), don't do it with vain repetitions, because God knows what you ask for before you ask.
Modern translators could do well to take it from us Southerners and use "ya'll" for the second-person plural. 
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CPicard
Forum Senior Member
Joined: October 03 2008
Location: Là, sui monti.
Status: Offline
Points: 10841
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Posted: October 31 2008 at 12:19 |
I must say that I'm "intrigant" even for French people. Must be the high use of irony and sarcasm in my everyday life. Anyway, this thing about Americans reading the Bible was just a uninspired joke. But it's true that, even if a lot of French people are baptised (80% are catholics) or went to catechism, we're still amused or puzzled to see the American president swearing on the Bible or to discover that motels provide Bibles in their rooms. Moreover, I must confess that I couldn't read the Bible without thinking of DeMille's peplums or even Monty Python's "Life of Brian". Hard to read the whole stuff when you're that ironic.
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sleeper
Prog Reviewer
Joined: October 09 2005
Location: Entropia
Status: Offline
Points: 16449
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Posted: October 31 2008 at 13:13 |
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I've read very small amounts of it, and I'm not particularly interested in following it up.
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Spending more than I should on Prog since 2005
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Bern
Forum Senior Member
VIP Member
Joined: September 22 2005
Location: Québec
Status: Offline
Points: 11746
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Posted: October 31 2008 at 13:54 |
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Well, I'm québécois and not american. Read my perspective earlier if you're interested about french people.
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RIP in bossa nova heaven.
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Utah Man
Forum Senior Member
Joined: November 14 2007
Location: Utah
Status: Offline
Points: 1014
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Posted: October 31 2008 at 14:40 |
Epignosis wrote:
Forget English. Read it in Hebrew and Greek. It's better that way.
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Agree 100%, but how many have the tools, training, skills, & time to do so ?
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