It's not poetry!
Archaeology of the New Testament
- Thread starter Cypress
- Start date
The literary structure of parallelism in Genesis 1 strongly suggests it's Hebrew poetry.
There is nothing wrong with using poetry, myth, or parable to communicate fundamental truths. At the level of poetry and metaphor, Genesis 1 is actually a pretty decent story of how the universe and life originated and evolved.
Adam and Eve were real people! If you don't believe that ,read a different book,you're wasting your time
For thousands of years, up to and to including today, humans have written poetry, myth, parable, allegory, hyperbole, symbolism, narrative fiction to communicate certain fundamental truths, moral lessons, or existential experiences.
No educated person in the history of the planet has ever said truth, wisdom, and knowledge can only be communicated through scientific reports and historical biographies.
Ichabod Stain
Was it me?
so why are you always putting such emphasis on caiphus's toilet and all that dumb shit?
you have no core.
you;re a fucking idiot.
If you are an educated person who recognizes and respects literary style, you realize Jesus' tale of the prodigal son is a parable that's making theological point. Jesus is not telling a historical biography of an actual person or family.
All you write is your complete lack of Spiritual Faith!
You're just another Atheist obsessed with the Bible ,that you believe is fiction,but try to walk the line between rejection and doubt!
When I wrote 'civilization' I meant western civilization.
However, because of colonialism and western domination, western/Abrahamic values have permeated the world. Though Buddhism has an enduring toe hold in Asia. I would say even communism in theory unwittingly was an ideology incorporating a New Testament ethos: the rich shall be brought low, and the poor and oppressed shall be lifted up.
I'm not an expert, but the two evangelical churches I visited here were largely focused on New Testament as their touchstone.
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ZenMode
Well-known member
The Bible isn't viewed as a poetry book for entertainment. The Bible is viewed, by many, as the inerrant word of God. A billion people have structure their lives around it.
So, why do you believe that the story of the flood is just a story while you believe that the other just as unlikely events in the Bible are true?
Ichabod Stain
Was it me?
he want to create a linkage between faith and history so he can eventually destroy faith.
Don't worry about Cypress,when it's his turn to ride Balaam's mule,Cypress will whistle a different tune!
The ancient Israelites, and all ancient people of the Near East, were known as story-tellers, not historical biographers.
Historical biography didn't really exist as a literary genre until the Roman Empire and historians like Plutarch.
You don't need everything to be historical biography to communicate truth. You can communicate truth though epic poetry, allegory, symbolism, narrative fiction, etc.
The Baghavad Gita communicates fundamental religious truths to Hindu believers. And you know the Gita is? It's mythology.
Ichabod Stain
Was it me?
so why did you start this idiot thread about biblical archaeology as if it means something?
Many Americans support MAGA. Many Americans seek to ban guns. Many atheists are obnoxious assholes. Many over age 35 are the most assholish.
Honest people post honest numbers.
Example: https://news.gallup.com/poll/394262/fewer-bible-literal-word-god.aspx
The majority of Christians (58%) say the Bible is the inspired word of God but not everything in it is to be taken literally, while 25% say it should be interpreted literally and 16% say it is an ancient book of fables.
More granularly, 30% of Protestants say that the Bible is literally true, compared with 15% of Catholics. Almost two-thirds of Catholics choose the alternative that the Bible is the inspired word of God, but every word should not be taken literally.
As was the case in 2017, belief in a literal Bible is highest among those who are more religious and among those with less formal education. Americans who identify as evangelical or born again are much more likely than others to view the Bible as literally true, although even among this group, the percentage believing in a literal Bible is well less than 50%.
As always you're caught in the time thang!
BUT ,the same Holy Spirit that's been teaching me "Passover" 101 for 50 years!, Is the same Holy Spirit ,that was in the Garden (Holy Toledo) with Adam! Caught a ride from Atlantis to the Middle East with Noah, started the Abraham triple religion,thang, Sent ,Apollyon to deal with a 185000 Yossarians ! Dwelled in the flesh called Jesus,and moved into Mason's apartment Nov 1 1975!
And will have your back when you climb onto Balaam's mule!
Banning guns would work about as well as Ohio trying to stop Ohioans from buying Weed in Michigan!
Agreed.
Also factor in that for thousands of years (until Gutenberg in 1450s) villages and tribes only had one book and in Europe, that book was the Bible. Like the Code of Hammurabi, the Bible served as a code of law. It also served as a health guide in an age without refrigeration and severe lack of medical science. Like Aesop's Fables, it also provided stories with morals. While there is history in the Bible, many of the stories are apocryphal although they often make a point.
Good example.
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ZenMode
Well-known member
30% of a billion sounds like "many" to me.
Sure, it may be true that the number who believe the Bible is literal will decrease over time, but why? Considering all of the improbable events documented in the Bible, why is that particular story questioned more than others?