The Bible

Page 2 of 4 [ 53 posts ] Go to page Previous 1, 2, 3, 4 Next

Previous topic | Next topic

Robdemanc
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 30 May 2010
Age: 49
Gender: Male
Posts: 2,872
Location: England

27 Dec 2011, 1:54 pm

ruveyn wrote:

leejosepho wrote:

Robdemanc wrote:

What is the oral tradition?

In my own words, I would say it is like a "working knowledge" of Scripture that can help with comprehension and perspective.

No. It is the set of midrashim taught by the Rabbis and Sages. The Levites (of which Moses was one) were charged with hearing cases and teaching how the Torah (Halachah) applies in particular cases or types of cases. There are also rules for reconciling seeming contradictions in the text (Tanach)..

See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baraita_of_Rabbi_Ishmael

ruveyn

It appears to just make it more complicated.

Robdemanc
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 30 May 2010
Age: 49
Gender: Male
Posts: 2,872
Location: England

27 Dec 2011, 2:04 pm

leejosepho wrote:

Robdemanc wrote:

... then given commandments and laws, told to build an army, then urged to destroy city after city, loot what wasn't theirs, kill men, women and children. This is not a "manner of good".

That would be an opinion or interpretation or "spin", but I have been taught that stuff all indicates something else.

What does it indicate?

leejosepho
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 14 Sep 2009
Gender: Male
Posts: 9,011
Location: 200 miles south of Little Rock

28 Dec 2011, 10:09 am

Robdemanc wrote:

leejosepho wrote:

Robdemanc wrote:

... then given commandments and laws, told to build an army, then urged to destroy city after city, loot what wasn't theirs, kill men, women and children. This is not a "manner of good".

That would be an opinion or interpretation or "spin", but I have been taught that stuff all indicates something else.

What does it indicate?

A "manner of good" incomprehensible to men presuming to judge God.

_________________
I began looking for someone like me when I was five ...
My search ended at 59 ... right here on WrongPlanet.
==================================

ruveyn
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 21 Sep 2008
Age: 89
Gender: Male
Posts: 31,502
Location: New Jersey

28 Dec 2011, 11:36 am

Robdemanc wrote:

It appears to just make it more complicated.

it is not easy to be Jewish.

ruveyn

Robdemanc
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 30 May 2010
Age: 49
Gender: Male
Posts: 2,872
Location: England

28 Dec 2011, 2:11 pm

leejosepho wrote:

Robdemanc wrote:

leejosepho wrote:

Robdemanc wrote:

... then given commandments and laws, told to build an army, then urged to destroy city after city, loot what wasn't theirs, kill men, women and children. This is not a "manner of good".

That would be an opinion or interpretation or "spin", but I have been taught that stuff all indicates something else.

What does it indicate?

A "manner of good" incomprehensible to men presuming to judge God.

Is it incomprehensible to men who do not believe in god?

leejosepho
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 14 Sep 2009
Gender: Male
Posts: 9,011
Location: 200 miles south of Little Rock

29 Dec 2011, 11:23 am

Robdemanc wrote:

leejosepho wrote:

Robdemanc wrote:

leejosepho wrote:

Robdemanc wrote:

... then given commandments and laws, told to build an army, then urged to destroy city after city, loot what wasn't theirs, kill men, women and children. This is not a "manner of good".

That would be an opinion or interpretation or "spin", but I have been taught that stuff all indicates something else.

What does it indicate?

A "manner of good" incomprehensible to men presuming to judge God.

Is it incomprehensible to men who do not believe in god?

I sometimes find it interesting that some people who say God does not even exist yet presume to judge Him and His people!

_________________
I began looking for someone like me when I was five ...
My search ended at 59 ... right here on WrongPlanet.
==================================

InTheDeepEnd
Sea Gull

Joined: 21 Dec 2011
Gender: Female
Posts: 214
Location: Southern United States

29 Dec 2011, 11:36 am

As a Jew I have studied much of what Christians call the Old Testament. It is a fascinating subject to study as a text, completely leaving whether it's the word of God out of it. Parts are prose and parts are poetry. Just like modern prose and poetry have certain styles that are adhered to, prose and poetry back then had them too. There are two good but short books by Robert Alter called the Art of Biblical Narrative and The Art of Biblical Poetry which will explain not just some of the wording but some of the themes that recur (like the frequent use of "40 days" and "40 years"). There is another by James E. Bowley called Introduction to the Hebrew Bible which deals with it as a text. I haven't read the whole book but I have met the author and heard him speak, and based on that recommend the book as a good starting point, if you are really interested. I have a copy, just haven't read it yet.

Robdemanc
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 30 May 2010
Age: 49
Gender: Male
Posts: 2,872
Location: England

29 Dec 2011, 12:05 pm

leejosepho wrote:

Robdemanc wrote:

leejosepho wrote:

Robdemanc wrote:

leejosepho wrote:

Robdemanc wrote:

... then given commandments and laws, told to build an army, then urged to destroy city after city, loot what wasn't theirs, kill men, women and children. This is not a "manner of good".

That would be an opinion or interpretation or "spin", but I have been taught that stuff all indicates something else.

What does it indicate?

A "manner of good" incomprehensible to men presuming to judge God.

Is it incomprehensible to men who do not believe in god?

I sometimes find it interesting that some people who say God does not even exist yet presume to judge Him and His people!

The only judgement I have made is about the bible, not the characters in it.

leejosepho
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 14 Sep 2009
Gender: Male
Posts: 9,011
Location: 200 miles south of Little Rock

29 Dec 2011, 12:08 pm

Robdemanc wrote:

leejosepho wrote:

Robdemanc wrote:

leejosepho wrote:

Robdemanc wrote:

leejosepho wrote:

Robdemanc wrote:

... then given commandments and laws, told to build an army, then urged to destroy city after city, loot what wasn't theirs, kill men, women and children. This is not a "manner of good".

That would be an opinion or interpretation or "spin", but I have been taught that stuff all indicates something else.

What does it indicate?

A "manner of good" incomprehensible to men presuming to judge God.

Is it incomprehensible to men who do not believe in god?

I sometimes find it interesting that some people who say God does not even exist yet presume to judge Him and His people!

The only judgement I have made is about the bible, not the characters in it.

Same principle. Scripture conveys, then people judge what they read in accordance with whatever they happen to believe.

_________________
I began looking for someone like me when I was five ...
My search ended at 59 ... right here on WrongPlanet.
==================================

Robdemanc
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 30 May 2010
Age: 49
Gender: Male
Posts: 2,872
Location: England

29 Dec 2011, 1:24 pm

leejosepho wrote:

Robdemanc wrote:

leejosepho wrote:

Robdemanc wrote:

leejosepho wrote:

Robdemanc wrote:

leejosepho wrote:

Robdemanc wrote:

... then given commandments and laws, told to build an army, then urged to destroy city after city, loot what wasn't theirs, kill men, women and children. This is not a "manner of good".

That would be an opinion or interpretation or "spin", but I have been taught that stuff all indicates something else.

What does it indicate?

A "manner of good" incomprehensible to men presuming to judge God.

Is it incomprehensible to men who do not believe in god?

I sometimes find it interesting that some people who say God does not even exist yet presume to judge Him and His people!

The only judgement I have made is about the bible, not the characters in it.

Same principle. Scripture conveys, then people judge what they read in accordance with whatever they happen to believe.

I am judging it as a piece of ancient literature and whether what it conveys is what we should consider as "good".

leejosepho
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 14 Sep 2009
Gender: Male
Posts: 9,011
Location: 200 miles south of Little Rock

30 Dec 2011, 6:27 am

Robdemanc wrote:

leejosepho wrote:

Robdemanc wrote:

leejosepho wrote:

Robdemanc wrote:

leejosepho wrote:

Robdemanc wrote:

leejosepho wrote:

Robdemanc wrote:

... then given commandments and laws, told to build an army, then urged to destroy city after city, loot what wasn't theirs, kill men, women and children. This is not a "manner of good".

That would be an opinion or interpretation or "spin", but I have been taught that stuff all indicates something else.

What does it indicate?

A "manner of good" incomprehensible to men presuming to judge God.

Is it incomprehensible to men who do not believe in god?

I sometimes find it interesting that some people who say God does not even exist yet presume to judge Him and His people!

The only judgement I have made is about the bible, not the characters in it.

Same principle. Scripture conveys, then people judge what they read in accordance with whatever they happen to believe.

I am judging it as a piece of ancient literature and whether what it conveys is what we should consider as "good".

Exactly, and now possibly begin reading again on an assumption it might be "good" and see where that might lead.

_________________
I began looking for someone like me when I was five ...
My search ended at 59 ... right here on WrongPlanet.
==================================

Robdemanc
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 30 May 2010
Age: 49
Gender: Male
Posts: 2,872
Location: England

30 Dec 2011, 1:06 pm

leejosepho wrote:

Robdemanc wrote:

leejosepho wrote:

Robdemanc wrote:

leejosepho wrote:

Robdemanc wrote:

leejosepho wrote:

Robdemanc wrote:

leejosepho wrote:

Robdemanc wrote:

... then given commandments and laws, told to build an army, then urged to destroy city after city, loot what wasn't theirs, kill men, women and children. This is not a "manner of good".

That would be an opinion or interpretation or "spin", but I have been taught that stuff all indicates something else.

What does it indicate?

A "manner of good" incomprehensible to men presuming to judge God.

Is it incomprehensible to men who do not believe in god?

I sometimes find it interesting that some people who say God does not even exist yet presume to judge Him and His people!

The only judgement I have made is about the bible, not the characters in it.

Same principle. Scripture conveys, then people judge what they read in accordance with whatever they happen to believe.

I am judging it as a piece of ancient literature and whether what it conveys is what we should consider as "good".

Exactly, and now possibly begin reading again on an assumption it might be "good" and see where that might lead.

It may have been considered good to a certain group of people living many years ago, but taking a step back from it makes it clear that it is a lesson in prejudice. I think if religious people want to call it the "good" book, then they need to do some serious editing of it.

leejosepho
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 14 Sep 2009
Gender: Male
Posts: 9,011
Location: 200 miles south of Little Rock

01 Jan 2012, 6:28 am

Robdemanc wrote:

leejosepho wrote:

Robdemanc wrote:

leejosepho wrote:

Robdemanc wrote:

leejosepho wrote:

Robdemanc wrote:

leejosepho wrote:

Robdemanc wrote:

leejosepho wrote:

Robdemanc wrote:

... then given commandments and laws, told to build an army, then urged to destroy city after city, loot what wasn't theirs, kill men, women and children. This is not a "manner of good".

That would be an opinion or interpretation or "spin", but I have been taught that stuff all indicates something else.

What does it indicate?

A "manner of good" incomprehensible to men presuming to judge God.

Is it incomprehensible to men who do not believe in god?

I sometimes find it interesting that some people who say God does not even exist yet presume to judge Him and His people!

The only judgement I have made is about the bible, not the characters in it.

Same principle. Scripture conveys, then people judge what they read in accordance with whatever they happen to believe.

I am judging it as a piece of ancient literature and whether what it conveys is what we should consider as "good".

Exactly, and now possibly begin reading again on an assumption it might be "good" and see where that might lead.

I defend your right to your own prejudgement!

_________________
I began looking for someone like me when I was five ...
My search ended at 59 ... right here on WrongPlanet.
==================================

MCalavera
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 15 Dec 2010
Gender: Male
Posts: 5,442

01 Jan 2012, 6:59 am

leejosepho wrote:

Exactly, and now possibly begin reading again on an assumption it might be "good" and see where that might lead.

Been there. Done that. Only made me have doubts about that supposedly loving and good God.

ruveyn
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 21 Sep 2008
Age: 89
Gender: Male
Posts: 31,502
Location: New Jersey

01 Jan 2012, 9:18 am

MCalavera wrote:

leejosepho wrote:

Exactly, and now possibly begin reading again on an assumption it might be "good" and see where that might lead.

Been there. Done that. Only made me have doubts about that supposedly loving and good God.

If God exists, It is Power. Do not confuse that with human love or kindness.

ruveyn

b9
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 14 Aug 2008
Age: 54
Gender: Male
Posts: 12,003
Location: australia

01 Jan 2012, 11:11 am

"bible" rhymes with "buy bull"

Page 2 of 4 [ 53 posts ] Go to page Previous 1, 2, 3, 4 Next

Jump to:

The Bible Post Reply New Topic

The Bible