I'm re-reading the Bible

The most accurate translation seems to be the NIV. The NRSV is actually a mixture of the Revised Standard (itself a translation of a translation) and King James, so its a translation of a translation.

To truly study the Bible requires learning Hebrew and Koine Greek, or studying the Bible with people that know those languages. And for full understanding, you should understand Judaism or study with someone who knows Judaism.

For the Old Testament, a study through a synagogue is best as the Rabbi will know Hebrew and Judaism. Its a route definitely worth taking.

By far the best Bible lectures are By Dr. Bill Creasy, they are all available on Amazon Audible or his web site (logos Bible study). He was a tenured English (Ancient Literature) prof at UCLA for 28 years, knows Hebrew and Greek and Judaism, and collaborates with a Rabbi. It goes through the entire Bible, every verse, and is a 5-7 year program in person, but you can go through it in 1-2 years with the audio lectures.

 

I worded that statement poorly. Apologies. What I meant to say is that I doubt my problems with the Bible will go away with a second read. However, there are some things I now see more clearly that was a bigger picture. For example the story of Jacob and Esau. I did not like how God seemed to show much favor to Jacob despite his schemes at the expense of his brother Esau. But when reading further, Jacob had his schemes returned to him when he stayed with Laban and then later Jacob and Esau actually reconciled.

That's makes me look at the Bible in a marginally less negative light, but I doubt I can get around the Bible's tolerance for slavery and intolerance for homosexuality.

You've made that loud and clear in multiple posts. And you are forgetting the Eastern Orthodox church.

 

The NRSV is one of only a handful of editions that offer the Apocrypha and I absolutely INSIST on having the Apocrypha. There is also a spectrum of Bible translations between literal and thought based. Along with the new CSB, the NRSV is in the middle of the spectrum between accuracy and readability. That's why I use the NRSV.

 

There is no "Catholic" version since the "Catholic" version is the original version. It's the Protestant version that's the Reader's Digest version of the Bible. And it has only existed for about 136 years. If you don't know that basic history and what the real Ten Commandments are you may want to learn it before making comments about the biblical fairy tale.

 

What caused you to renounce your faith?

 

It was a chain of events. It started with atheists quoting unflattering Bible passages online. It was then followed up by the inability of any Christians to answer my questions regarding sex. Then I observed Christians acting hypocritically. Then I read the Bible for myself. After that the doubts and questions piled up.

 

As Alan Watts wrote many years ago, more people have been killed in the name of the Bible than for any other reason in history as Christians are the greatest murderers ever known. No one has ever died because of Moby Dick or Ulysses.

I have read all three books and have gotten academic awards for my writings on each of them. All are worth reading and utilizing if they can be found to have utilitarian value in one's life. However, no one should ever have to lose his/her life because of those values.

 

Pretty darn huffy for someone who claims it's a fairy tale. Do you get equally bent out of shape when someone mistranslates Grimms' fairy tales?

As for naming the versions, since the Catholics don't pay any attention to it anyway (idolatry anyone? Mary worship? veneration of saints? Catholic church hierarchy? the pope? confession? granting forgiveness? all unBiblical; and now the pope says there's no hell? that's calling Jesus himself a liar), I can't see that it makes any difference calling it the Catholic version.

 

What a complete crock of **** that is. More people have been killed in the name of Allah than have ever been killed in the name of the Bible. 270 million have been killed by Muslims, including 80 million Hindus and 120 million Africans. The Christian total isn't even a fraction of that. Reading various opinions on-line, in order to get the Christian total even close to the Muslim total requires counting wars and genocides that were not carried out "in the name of the Bible" such as WWI and WWII.

https://www.politicalislam.com/tears-of-jihad/

Hell, the various wars in China have claimed well in excess of 150 million people, and those weren't even religiously motivated. So much for Christians being "the greatest murderers".

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_wars_by_death_toll

 

^ revisionist history which has about as much truth as Hitler's "Mein Kampf"

 

Tell that to the NRSV translators.

Exodus 20:14 says: You shall not commit adultery.

 

I provided links and evidence. Where's yours?

 

You began reading The Holy Bible after you were secure in a Church?

 

Well... I read the Bible after 2012. In 2012 I said to myself 'maybe I don't want to be a Christian' for all those other reasons. It was only when I read the NIV Bible in 2015 that I said 'This is not for me'.

Before that I did go to Sunday School and had those Bible studies. But they just cherry picked passages to make me feel good. Nothing regarding guidelines on how to treat a slave.

 

I just learned the importance of reading Bible footnotes. All the verses the KJV include that other versions omit are in the NRSV footnotes. I checked.

 

Your comments just indicate that you have no interest in historical accuracy. So continue to be ignorant. The Bible recommends it.

1 Corinthians 14:38 (KJV) = "But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant."

 

Exodus 20:14 is NOT one of the Ten Commandments that were written on the stone tables.

Since you say that you're reading the Bible start with Exodus chapter 19 - Exodus chapter 34. Get a pen and some paper. As you read summarize what you've read in your own words. Do this every several verses. You will get to Exdous 34:12-28 and you will then know what the real Ten Commandments are. It's important to know and understand that because all of the biblical stories are based on one or more of those specific commandments and the miracles are based on Exodus 34:10.

 

I don't think there is a problem in looking at things you disagree with in even a good light. It's quite possible to reject people using a book to justify evil without having to conclude that it in itself is evil. My opinion, which you of course don't have to concede to or agree with, is that the knee jerk reaction many non-religious people have against things like the Bible cloud their credibility in their actual criticisms.

There are those who have an irrational disagreement with the Bible, and those who have (what I would call) a rational disagreement with the Bible. Rejecting the Bible left right and centre makes it looks like one has the former. I think the integrity of criticisms against the Bible are stronger if one can show that one doesn't criticise it on topics where it's not worthy of criticism. But that's just my own opinion, people criticising the Bible shouldn't take my disagreement very harshly.

 

Here are a couple of verses that could take you off on
research that could take you decades........ and if you are like me.....
you will not consider it to be a waste of time at all.

https://www.blueletterbible.org/kjv/2co/12/1/s_1090001
2Co 12:2

I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth such an one caught up to the third heaven.

And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth

How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.





I can understand why the Apostle Paul would tend to consider the truth about eventual universal salvation unlawful to be uttered.......

https://www.near-death.com/experiences/notable/christian-andreason.html#a04h

But..... quite a few years later even Paul felt free to begin to get into the topic that he wasn't ready to address back during the beginning of his ministry when he was still able to travel to Corinth.

https://www.blueletterbible.org/kjv/rom/11/1/s_1057001

Rom 11:26

And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:

For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.

As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers' sakes.

For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.

For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief:

Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy.

For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.

 

The KJV is widely recognized one of the most flawed translations. Then you have the problem of using quazi old English which makes it that much more difficult to understand. This is why the fundamentalists like it. The more confusing the better.

Confused sheep are easier to lead.

 

It is a morally sickening book or at least the old testament happen to be.

Suggest if you do not wish an atheist in your family hide that book from any young book worm you might had underfoot in your home.

 

Sorry for the delayed reply.

I’m simply saying that a book being denied publication isn’t always a great indicator of its quality. This is something you can only appreciate in reading it, though historical significance can be worth mention.

 

I greatly appreciate your enthusiasm for these things. If I could share with you a musical recommendation, I’d recommend 16 Horsepower’s Secret South record. You and I tend to bounce into eachother often in the philosophical forum. This is a record that may give you a better understanding of my opinions on such subjects that is hard to express in mere words.

 

A great study assistance is found in the interlinear Greek / English Bibles.
Or Original Hebrew / English as far as changes due to translation variances or nuances, substituted as far as actual wording.

 

I'm wondering why I'm not like other people, and I'm wondering if it's because they had to go to school more or had to go to church more. Either way, I'm lucky.