I need some help finding some info on the Bible...

[Faery-Wings]

I am trying to learn more about the "truths" of the Bible and Christianity. Meaning, historical fact vs myths of people and places.... I grew up Catholic and have believed for a long time the Bible was just a collection of stories and myths that were used to create a code of social conduct. Now, many years later, I would like to read up on facts- maybe I am right, maybe I am wrong. But I am having a hard time finding information. I am not even sure where I need to begin.

Are there websites or books you can recommend? Please don't tell me to do a search. ;) I have been trying that and all I get are a lot of Christian/Bible study type sites. Obviously I am searching for the wrong type of thing.


Thanks and BB


Chris
:sunny:

[seawitch]

the best thing to do is study the bible yourself. then you have your own interpertation sp?
i still study the bible. mostly the old testament to read about the atrocities against women and children.
it is facinating that they get any converts

[Demeter]

First, read the Bible itself, preferably in several different versions. I have the parallel Bible that has four different versions on each two-page spread so you can compare them (and there are some startling differences!). I also have the Dead Sea Scrolls Bible, the Book of J, the Jewish Apocrypha, and the Gnostic Christian Apocrypha (also available online).

Isaac Asimov wrote Asimov's Guide to the Bible, a highly respected analysis of the Bible. Asimov himself was an atheist, but treated his subject matter with a remarkably open mind.

Try checking out some of those Bible study sites, looking at the actual texts and checking out the interpretations, and asking yourself how you would interpret them.

Finally, I recommend a series of tapes called Bible Stories Your Parents Never Told You, by Michael Scott Earl. They are available from evolvefish.com. The first three are particularly good. It is fairly obvious that Earl has no use for any religion, including ours, but the tapes do a wonderful job of pointing out some of the "horrors" of the Bible and modern Christian teachings, with a presentation that is actually fairly amusing. Just be aware of his bias; there is a fair amount of bashing here. And go through the Bible and check his references; I've found one reference to a verse that doesn't exist.

[Myst]

Also keep in mind that religion is based on beliefs and myths anyway, not historical fact. Everyone has their own opinion of fact, their own interpretation of myth, and their own basis for their beliefs. For instance you won't find proof of the existence of Greek/Roman Gods, Egyptian deities, nor Aradia of Stregheria, and in truth I don't consider anything absolute fact that I haven't seen, since "facts" are in the eye of the beholder, but there are thousands of people who believe anyway.

[talamh]

You might also find it helpful to find some actual history books of that geographical area at that period of time.... the effects of the Roman Empire on the local cultures, religions and governments during the first couple of hundred years of the "Christian era". It gives context.

Barbara Walker has some interesting (if judgemental) interpretations of different Biblical stories and people in her "Women's Encyclopedia of Myths and Secrest" (why "women's" i could never figure out). She doesn't have much good to say about any kind of patriarchy... but she has some interesting things to say, although she is biased and controversial. bb talamh

[Xander67]

some things that have helped me,

read the bible with an open mind,
if things the church has taught you pop into mind, then you can identify you beilefs and seperate the ones you know to be true from experience and the ones you think are true because you were told that by a teacher or someone else,

We are, believe it or not, given the authority and are even told by God to "test the spirits to see if they be true" its in the bible...

another thing to keep in mind is the Bible is used by many religions not just christianity,
Scott cunningham uses it in his book, "practical candle magick"
and elphias levi uses passages in his works...

when I use God in my posts, I mean it in a way that relates to ME not the way it is presented by Religious groups...

God (or Godess) takes on a different appearance when we open our minds and hearts and are willing to see for ourselfves...

hope that helps

[SilverOceanFire]

Chryssi - The study of religious history is probably one of the deepest, most difficult, and argumentative academic endevours one could ever purse (IMHO) I say this because I was/am right where you are. I want to know why people risk their lives for certain beliefs? Are they "right" and I'm "wrong" Is creation and the diety(ies) to be taken purely on faith, or is there research involved? and if so, how do people with no books learn? I know that I will never find all the answers, not in this lifetime, but maybe I'm one step ahead of where I was in my last life.

I study, but I don't over-load. The books that are out there are all biased, because (again IMHO) I don't believe there are any 100% accurate historical religious facts that would make any one religion wrong or right. I think the misrepresentation is global - it's human nature to want to be the one that's right. Which, unfortunatly is why people die and kill for religion.

I think I've gone completely off the mark, so I'll wrap it up with this. I completly admire your search and encourage you to enter into it with an open mind and the goal of not necessarily understanding the rhyme and reason to everyone elses beliefs, but to the growth and strength of your own.

I post with no intent to harm, bash, or judge anyone.
BB
Silver

[Myst]

Well spoken, all :)

[Xander67]

:)

[Faery-Wings]

Wow! I was thinking I would get a website or the name of a book and be on my way. I should know that the answers are not that easy to find. :)

Thank you all very, very much for your suggestions. I know I had a Bible in my house at some point, I wonder where it is? And I will get to the library and check out some of the other books. I just requested When God was a Woman and have heard that was worth reading.

I have to admit, whan I first started to seriously study Pagan religions, I had no idea how much I was getting into. It truly makes you want to learn and think so much more. There is no simple belief taken at face value any more- not in any area of my life. This journey has really begun to transform me.

BB

Chris

[Xander67]

heheh

Mystic Wicks is sorta like a Jouney in that respect...

just when you think you know it all...
we expect one thing then WHam,
<gomer pile mode>SurPrise, Surprise, SUR_PRISE</gomer mode>
my journey has been one of the most terrifying,
faith shattering,
strangest
yet wonderfully, beautiful experiences of my life

and as for self discovery, just when you think youve found yourself....thats when you change and you get to start the journey all over :)

[amberlaine]

A word of caution about WHen GOd Was a Woman. A lot of the "evidence" that Stone presents in this book is highly speculative, and a lot of it has since been proven untrue. If you do read this book (which is a good read) do keep in mind that a lot of it is founded upon speculation, and it has become quite academically dated. Still interested, but do take Stone's conclusions with a grain of salt.

[Xander67]

Good Pont Amber,
I have returned many a book to borders to be exchanged becuase my library is for credible references from noted authority or reliable sources....

there are alot of well researched books, and then again there are a few books with nothing but point of view, opinion, or preaching...

to me, one of the first things I look for in a book is, a good bibliography, (sources)

and of course I look at the author aND his/her reasons for writing a book, and of course, are they writing from personal experience or just passing along info ,
(reminds me of the game where you sit in a circle and someone whispers a sentence and the one at the end stands up and says it out loud) :)

[Lavender]

Originally posted by chryssi1
...I know I had a Bible in my house at some point, I wonder where it is? ...

Heh! Would you like to borrow one of mine? I seem to have a few! :D

[Faery-Wings]

Originally posted by Wildchild


Heh! Would you like to borrow one of mine? I seem to have a few! :D

:rotfl:
:rotfl:

He he, I might have to take you up on that, I can't seem to find it!!! :D:D:D:D

[Faery-Wings]

Thanks for the caution Amberlaine. This is what is good and bad about my brain lately. I seem to take *nothing* at face value anymore . Me, the one who is known to be most gullible of all. :p

I found a site that had some good infomation and I could read two versions side by side (bibles.net, i think) but boy, I have a hard time really reading and concentrating on the computer screen.

Thanks to all of you for responding.

Chris

[Xander67]

you know, I was looking through a "childrens bible" and they way they present things was actually easier for me to understand than the text only version.......

no actually, it helped me to understand the text version better,
reading the childrens version then the text , you get alot out of it..

[story]

well, I think I get more out of bible now that I stopped believing in it. :rotfl:
I remember reading somewhere that sufis claim that the koran has 777 times 777 different meanings for each line. I usually take that approach to any sacred text. i try to come up with as many interpretations for each passage as I can. The reason why it draws so many people is that it has so many different aspects to it.
Basically you have to read it like you'd read james joyce.
you might wanna check out John Shelby Spong's Liberating the Gospels. He's an episcopal bishop with an extremly radical view of his religion. Neat stuff, although it doesn't always work.
Also if you haven't read it, check out crime and punishment. One of the most beautiful interpretations of christianity i have ever seen. Definately read some nietszche at the same time tho'. Dostievsky most likely never heard of freddy, but he was arguing with him...
also, as a quick resource, along with some smartass comments, check out http://www.skepticsannotatedbible.com
it breaks stuff up into catagories and makes for quick acsess when your involved in an argument :)

[SilverOceanFire]

Story,
Thanks so much for the link - I only wish I had is sooner!!!

[Xander67]

I do agree, there are many ways of interpreting the Bible.
this only reinforces my argument that the Bible is applicable to almost any situation in life...

alot of Pagan Traditions even WICCA refer to the bible

(scott cunningham, and Levi, and even a few others)

I dont think we should be trashing something jsut because we dont agree with what it teaches...alot of people depend on it daily and alot of people find Help, Inspiration, and comfort in troublesome times in the Bible......Just because you dont believe in it does not give you the right to discredit it!