Have You Read The Whole Bible?

[Southern Buddhist 1]

I know I don't really seem to have a dog in this fight, so to speak, but I'm always surprised at how few Christians actually have read every single word in their own holy book, and I'd like to hear about this from believers and non-believers alike.If you are a Christian and you haven't read the whole Bible, do you think it's important to? Why or why not?If you have, do you have the same impression that not many other people have, or do you think the vast majority of Christians have read it all?[For Herokid especially, since he seems to be in bible school] Do preachers WANT all of their congregants to have read the whole bible? Why or why not?Does your church/faith/minister/etc. put much emphasis on this?Other thoughts, comments?

[crowTrobot 2]

why do you ask?

[SBriand 4]

why do you ask?

why do you ask a question to a question?

[JoeyJoJo 18]

I voted for every single option.

[Southern Buddhist 1]

I voted for every single option.

Then I challenge you to a monkey knife fight.

[runthemover 39]

Then I challenge you to a monkey knife fight.

Is that the fight where you have to act like a monkey or else you're disqualified (put to death)?Or, is it the one where they drag out 25 monkeys and each participant picks a monkey to represent them?Or, (crosses fingers) is it a tag-team match that combines elements of both of the previous fights?

[JoeyJoJo 18]

Then I challenge you to a monkey knife fight.

You must not be familiar with my monkey.Furious George.

[crowTrobot 2]

why do you ask a question to a question?

why not?

[speedz99 145]

You must not be familiar with my monkey.Furious George.

But are you familiar with mine?I mean...

[Loismustdie 0]

I know I don't really seem to have a dog in this fight, so to speak, but I'm always surprised at how few Christians actually have read every single word in their own holy book, and I'd like to hear about this from believers and non-believers alike.If you are a Christian and you haven't read the whole Bible, do you think it's important to? Why or why not?If you have, do you have the same impression that not many other people have, or do you think the vast majority of Christians have read it all?[For Herokid especially, since he seems to be in bible school] Do preachers WANT all of their congregants to have read the whole bible? Why or why not?Does your church/faith/minister/etc. put much emphasis on this?Other thoughts, comments?

I imagine that I have over time. I really don't know how may times. Your outlook is kind of weird, though- that would be like having an issue with a doctor because he hasn't read every medical journal. Let me put it differently: You are missing the point. The Bible, christianity, it's not just reading material, it's a journey. I could read it 1000 times and take away something new, something deeper that I can apply to myself, each time. As far as what preachers want, who cares? It's about what God wants.

[checkymcfold 0]

I imagine that I have over time. I really don't know how may times. Your outlook is kind of weird, though- that would be like having an issue with a doctor because he hasn't read every medical journal. Let me put it differently: You are missing the point. The Bible, christianity, it's not just reading material, it's a journey. I could read it 1000 times and take away something new, something deeper that I can apply to myself, each time. As far as what preachers want, who cares? It's about what God wants.

not really a great analogy, lois. most christians believe that the bible is the word of god, either inspired or directly dictated. as such, it's a bit odd to want to devote yourself to someone/thing without reading all the info that s/he/it has given you.doctors should probably read most stuff in their area of expertise, and i'm sure that a lot of them do. but the amount of work in medical journals is a WHOLE lot bigger than one little book.and yes, i've read the bible.

[El Guapo 8]

not really a great analogy, lois. most christians believe that the bible is the word of god, either inspired or directly dictated. as such, it's a bit odd to want to devote yourself to someone/thing without reading all the info that s/he/it has given you.doctors should probably read most stuff in their area of expertise, and i'm sure that a lot of them do. but the amount of work in medical journals is a WHOLE lot bigger than one little book.and yes, i've read the bible.

You post all that ridiculous left wing stuff and then through in an educated post like this, your confusing me

[Southern Buddhist 1]

You must not be familiar with my monkey.Furious George.

Damn you, Joey Jo Jo! As I was driving home, I realized I should have said, dibs on Furious George. Actually, I have a three-inch scar on my forearm from recent (minor) surgery, and when anyone asks how I got that, I alternate between answering, "Monkey knife fight" and "Pirates."In that case, I'll put up Gunther from Futurama, but I must concede that Furious George can probably take him pretty easily.

[speedz99 145]

Damn you, Joey Jo Jo! As I was driving home, I realized I should have said, dibs on Furious George. Actually, I have a three-inch scar on my forearm from recent (minor) surgery, and when anyone asks how I got that, I alternate between answering, "Monkey knife fight" and "Pirates."In that case, I'll put up Gunther from Futurama, but I must concede that Furious George can probably take him pretty easily.

If you actually have a Southern accent I may be forced to propose.

[Southern Buddhist 1]

Checky makes my point exactly. If you believe it is the word of God, what is the reason for not reading it completely? Is there some thought-out philosophical reason not to read it? Is it just laziness, meaning to do it "someday"? Is it fear that some of it is hard or confusing or different than you were told? Is it because your spiritual leaders never emphasized it? [Not that you should be doing it to please them, but that they guide you in the faith and are either urging you to read it or not urging you to, and I'm wondering which it is.]And I'm not taking "I've probably read it all" as a very firm Yes. I mean every page, every book, every verse, no exceptions. That's how I read it.So, do you think it's important to read all of it, or not that important? If it's not that important, how do you reconcile that with it being the word of God?I'm really not trying to play "gotcha" here or anything. I belong to a faith that has no holy scripture at all, and as an avid reader, I read most books from the first page to the last page in order, without skipping around from chapter to chapter or paragraph to paragraph. I just find it genuinely hard to understand why people read the Bible in such a different fashion than they read other books, and what they get out of doing so that is somehow felt to be better than the usual way of reading (does God somehow not speak to you as much if you read it linearly?). I don't have a lot of chances to engage smart people in conversation about this, and I want to understand it better.Christianity, along with Islam and Judaism, are called religions "of the book," because they all have what they say are divine, sacred books (as opposed to Buddhism, Hinduism, Shinto, and so on, which do not have sacred texts). I'm just wondering where exactly the "book" part fits in.

[Southern Buddhist 1]

If you actually have a Southern accent I may be forced to propose.

That's "pah-rates," I say.That, and I can reduce a former college roommate to gales of laughter by pronouncing the word "papaya."

[speedz99 145]

Christianity, along with Islam and Judaism, are called religions "of the book," because they all have what they say are divine, sacred books (as opposed to Buddhism, Hinduism, Shinto, and so on, which do not have sacred texts). I'm just wondering where exactly the "book" part fits in.

I was raised Jewish, so technically I suppose that means I should have read the Torah...but I can't name one jew I know who has actually done that. For us the "book" part is really just a collection of stories that are meant to teach a lesson. As long as you know the stories, it's not important to read the entire book word-for-word. I think...I'm obviously not a very good jew.

That's "pah-rates," I say.

I'm currently watching the No Reservations in New Orleans, and there's a guy on who does sound exactly like Foghorn Leghorn. Weird.

That, and I can reduce a former college roommate to gales of laughter by pronouncing the word "papaya."

And now I'm picturing the girl from Doc Hollywood. I'm ok with that.

[SuperJon 175]

why not?

you just blowed my mind

[David_Nicoson 1]

All the people who've actually read all of Numbers knew to take the Giants on the money line. It's well-hidden in a part that's hard not to space out during.

[checkymcfold 0]

You post all that ridiculous left wing stuff and then through in an educated post like this, your confusing me

don't worry, i can still use my knowledge of the bible to try to convince christians that doing gay dudes and loving poor people are both totally cool by god .

[checkymcfold 0]

Christianity, along with Islam and Judaism, are called religions "of the book," because they all have what they say are divine, sacred books (as opposed to Buddhism, Hinduism, Shinto, and so on, which do not have sacred texts). I'm just wondering where exactly the "book" part fits in.

fwiw, hinduism has a couple books that have near-sacred status (the mahabarata, upanisads, etc.), although they're definitely not "sacred" in the same way as the koran, hebrew bible, or christian bible.also, say papaya, lol.

[KramitDaToad 0]

You post all that ridiculous left wing stuff and then through in an educated post like this, your confusing me

How would you know it's edumacated?

[Loismustdie 0]

not really a great analogy, lois. most christians believe that the bible is the word of god, either inspired or directly dictated. as such, it's a bit odd to want to devote yourself to someone/thing without reading all the info that s/he/it has given you.doctors should probably read most stuff in their area of expertise, and i'm sure that a lot of them do. but the amount of work in medical journals is a WHOLE lot bigger than one little book.and yes, i've read the bible.

All that being said, I have personally been in the company of some of the greatest biblical minds of the past century and they would never say they understood the whole Bible. There are pieces of Revelation that could mean many, many things. I have read the whole Bible, I am sure of that. Front to back, page 1 to the end? No. My point was that it wouldn't matter. If I want to educate myself on what God thinks about hell, I use a concordance, I cross reference, I see what he has to say. How about marriage? I can do the same thing. It may take some a lifetime to read it. There is no timetable given, no way in particular. Here is a great passage:And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert.[27] And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship,[28] Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet.[29] Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.[30] And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?[31] And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.[32] The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth:[33] In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth.[34] And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man?[35] Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus. So, sure he was reading, but he wasn't getting it. The same applies today, and while I see why you make the mistake of thinking that it's important, it doesn't make it any less of a mistake. I would imagine that many christians I know probably haven't read the Bible front to back, they are to busy understanding and applying what they have read to there own lives. I am sure that many atheists HAVE read the Bible front to back, did it help? No. They lack understanding, so it meant nothing.

[KramitDaToad 0]

All that being said, I have personally been in the company of some of the greatest biblical minds of the past century and they would never say they understood the whole Bible.

Namely?

I have read the whole Bible, I am sure of that. Front to back, page 1 to the end? No. My point was that it wouldn't matter. If I want to educate myself on what God thinks about hell, I use a concordance, I cross reference, I see what he has to say. How about marriage? I can do the same thing.

Agreed. This is probably the best way to extract a message from the Bible

I am sure that many atheists HAVE read the Bible front to back, did it help? No. They lack understanding, so it meant nothing.

Oh it's perfectly clear. We understand it. That's why we giggle at how easily you've been conned.Wanna buy a watch?

[Southern Buddhist 1]

Lois, you're not answering the questions I asked. I am not asking about belief or understanding, I'm asking what role the book itself (NOT the content of the book -- the book ITSELF) plays in a Christian's life, why they read it the way they do, and why so few read all of it. You're trying to turn this into a referendum on what people believe of the book's content. There are lots of threads to discuss that in, and you're a heavy poster in most of them. I'm asking a different set of questions.You may say that I'm not asking the central questions of Christianity. I never said I was asking the central question. But I am asking a legitimate one. If I asked what role church plays in your life, how you chose the church you did, and why not all Christians attend the same church, or what role those WWJD bracelets play, why you chose to buy one, and why not everyone owns them, then you'd have no problem answering, even though those aren't central questions either.The collected works of Shakespeare are longer than the Bible, and I have a five-volume concordance on Shakespeare in case I want to look up a particular quote. But when I sit down to read Shakespeare, I don't just open to a random page and read two scenes in the middle of a play. I choose a play and read it from start to finish.Or am I to understand that your answers are "we don't know why we read it non-linearly," "don't ask too closely because we don't want to talk about it," and "I'll just take a superior attitude by saying that no one who disagrees with me 'gets it'" ?