Have You Read the Entire Bible

[Devadatta]

One of my main interests is trying to figure out the original intent of the authors/compilers of the OT. So when I'm reading through that mind numbing stuff you're talking about I'm asking myself, "why is this so important?" Sometimes a new and interesting connection will pop into my mind and I'll go "hmmm...", but most of the time I just skim over it.]

Very sensible procedure. My aversions don't change the fact that there are numerous points of interest in nearly every line of the bible, depending on the dispositions of the reader.

Knowing what is and isn't in the Bible is a great advantage for a lot of reasons, but it's absolutely essential for deconstructing yourself if you came up in the West.

Exactly. If you don't, no one else will.

Sincerely,
Devadatta

 

[Tao_Equus]

Maybe I should mention that I have used it in much the same way as I would use the I-Ching. Thats is I have a question or a problem or some descision to make and have consulted it at random in a search for some insight. I remember that on at least one occasion I found it too, tho I cant for the life of me remember the details.

Perhaps not really relevant, but I thought I'd say anyway.


David

 

[Quahom1]

Maybe, just maybe, we're supposed to adhere to the basic prinicples within, instead of trying to justify our own behaviors, because we want to keep on with our own behaviors, that may conflict with what is in the book...

Then again, that is so passee...

v/r

Q

 

[littlemissattitude]

You've forgotten a category in your poll:

Major portions of both the Old and New Testaments, in depth, but not the whole thing.

Certainly, if the Gospels and Psalms but not the rest gets a category, this should as well.

 

[Tao_Equus]

Maybe, just maybe, we're supposed to adhere to the basic prinicples within, instead of trying to justify our own behaviors, because we want to keep on with our own behaviors, that may conflict with what is in the book...

Then again, that is so passee...

v/r

Q

I may well be a bit dense so forgive me please if i have picked you up wrong. Some people need rules and regulations, books and manuals to keep them on the straight and narrow. And if they seek so shall they find....the straight.... and the narrow.

I am very glad that the Bible, the Torah, the Bhoddisatva, the Tao Te Ching and countless other works exist. Without them how poor, how devoid of richness our world would be. But each and every one is a part of our collective heritage and no individual or group has ownership of them. My belief is that G_d has never written a single word in any book at any time and, at best, that they are all the works of men and women trying to find answers to the same questions that we seek answers to. And I think its ultimately a futile quest, for the big is is just to big an is to know. But sometimes even futile quests are worth it for what you learn along that road.

So I am sorry if my way of thinking, and of looking, is not in accord with yours. I am called here Tao_equus, it was an internet pseudoname i used prior to my discovery of this wonderful site. But tao is appropriate to me I think. I look at 'the way' but I never really expect to know it. But also I never mean to be outright disrespectful and never see myself than anything more than one amongst equals, and here, so often, less. I can take a jibe or 3 however and enjoy yours most thoroughly


kind regards

David

 

[Quahom1]

No offense taken, Tao. I merely expressed my thoughts on things (just like you).

 

[path_of_one]

The whole thing, though some parts I've only read once and other parts over and over and over again.

I generally read slowly and with a process of both study with other resources as well as prayer and meditation over certain passages I find difficult, so some books I read years and years ago and haven't had the time to revisit yet. I can't for the life of me do the Bible-in-a-year thing, unless I quit my job and just studied the scriptures all day. I typically read with a four-translation side-by-side Bible, with the Lamsa translation from the Aramaic close by.

My current project is to get back into the Gospels and start writing them down, with my own commentary for myself, in illuminated manuscript form. I love calligraphy- been doing it since I was ten- and I figure this will be a great way to really let it all slowly sink in (takes forever to do the writing and scroll work and paintings!) and a sort of working meditation on Jesus.

If I live long enough, I really hope to do the same thing for the entire NT one day.

I think it's also worth saying that I plan to read the apocryphal texts as well; some I have and some I haven't. I own the "Other Bible" and the copy of the Dead Sea Scrolls.

This is a lifelong work for me, and part of a broader desire to read all the major spiritual texts of the world's religions. I've read all the other founding texts except the Jewish commentaries (midrash, etc.) and the Qur'an, though I've read bits and pieces. And of course I've only read parts of the Hindu texts- the entirety is way too long.

---

I won't pretend that my eyes didn't glaze over during parts of Numbers- I had to read in tiny bits or I'd just tune out.