posted by Sam Richards
Okay, so this is going to stretch some of you into places I am reasonably certain you’ve not yet ventured.
Imagine for a moment, that the religious texts with which you’re familiar were actually written by humans and inspired by Allah/God/G-d. Now consider what “inspired” actually means or what it could possibly refer to. When someone inspires me, for example, they don’t sit behind me and whisper editorial comments into my ear as I’m typing along. Rather, they provoke my imagination and my mind to consider things that I’ve yet to bring to bear on some particular issue. This means that in the end, when I hit save on a document or send on an email, regardless of how instrumental another person’s ideas or thoughts were to my own, the words in the document are mine and probably reflect more of what is happening in MY LIFE than the life of my muse.
Makes sense, right? So now apply this to any religious stories that you believe were inspired by Allah/God/G-d. (If you are a strict, [read: "literal"] interpreter of religious text, you can just jump ahead to the linked article.) One can only conclude that both the sacrosanct stories that give form to our religions AND the ways in which those stories have been interpreted have at least as much to do with mundane matters of daily living as they do with some great mysterious relationship between the writer and his or her otherworldly muse.
So this article points to some things that I’ve thought about (seriously!) but never had the time nor the inclination to research. It’s rather interesting and should provoke some challenging brain activity.
Read the article: “Adam’s Family Jewels”
I have definitely thought about this topic many times before. These types of topics have come up many times with my friends and family, as my questioning about religion continues to grow bigger. I was raised as a Lutheran, and I was baptized and confirmed in my church. My mother was somewhat strict about us going to church, but she never made us read the Bible, and to be honest I do not really know much about the Bible. After I was confirmed, we became the family that only goes to church on holidays. I never really took my learning about Lutheranism very seriously either, for that matter I kind of half assed all of the "assignments" we were supposed to have completed. I have always been very curious when it comes to the Bible and its teachings through my own rationality. I never could truly just believe that the stories I was learning actually took place, considering we learn in school that most of the things that supposedly occurred in the Bible are proven to be impossible. I am not trying to say that I do not believe in God. I have very spiritual beliefs in afterlife and a higher power, but I am not quite sure if I believe in organized religion. As Sam stated above, how could God be whispering in someone's ear telling him what to say and what to write down? I feel that maybe some of the teachings in the Bible are meant to be metaphors for ways to live life, but I feel that those metaphors are outdated. We have grown into completely different people since the time the Bible was written. We live life in a completely different way, and because we live differently, I do not feel that that means we are all going to Hell. Therefore, I do not believe that it is realistic to strictly abide by the teachings in the Bible.
While reading the article from above, I was kind of laughing at how true the things the author says are. Although I am not a Bible specialist, I can see how there can be many things within the Bible that people just graze pass and believe that they mean something else. According to the article "Adam's Family Jewels", Tibor Krausz states, "Notwithstanding Bible-thumping puritans who claim scriptural authority for their censorious prudery, the Good Book is replete with lewd metaphors, sexual innuendo, and outright obscenities, often starring some of the Bible’s most famous characters." I traveled to Italy this summer, and when I had a private tour through the Sistine Chapel, our tour guide explained to us that all of the art done by Michaelangelo was originally all nude. The priest in turn made him cover the figures up. If the Bible explains about nudity and sexual aspects, why were/are people who are religious so concerned about sexuality? I also learned that even some of the men had boy lovers, which continues to confuse me. I believe that the stories in the Bible are meant to help people, and I believe that all religions should be taken seriously, but I have not found whether or not I can take something seriously that has much controversy.
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flippyfloppies Reply:
February 16th, 2010 at 6:13 am
I agree with a lot of what you said! And guess what?! I went to Italy this summer as well and got the same talk at the Sistine Chapel! It's a small world, eh?
I really, really found this link interesting. I am a Presbyterian and have attempted at times to read parts of the Bible, although I never got past reading the book of Genesis. It was no shock to me that some parts of the bible would be considered “X-rated” if they were written in modern times; some parts of the Bible I have flicked through did have some pretty racy stuff.
One of the facts I found interesting was the root of the word ‘testify’. I guess in the back of my mind, I have always realized that word reminded me an awful lot of the word testicle. I had no clue that it was common practice back in the day to swear on your – or your friend’s – balls. I wonder what people nowadays would think if they saw two men making an oath in public or in a courtroom.
And, like jlm5428, I consider myself a spiritual person, but I believe the Bible is outdated and would make no sense to be literally followed in today's society. A lot of the rules in the earlier books really were made for early society back in the WAYBACK…it's no use to follow them today.
I always was under the impression that the stories in the Bible were simply man's attempt at trying to explain the world around him, much like the stories that ancient Greeks or Native Americans told. For example, whoever wrote the book of Genesis and went into the whole shebang about Noah and the great flood (a story also told in other ancient cultures) really was just trying to explain why rainbows exist, at least in the Biblical version of the story. The author interprets it as God's promise that another great flood will never happen again, while maybe others would come up with a different method as to how rainbows appear in the sky.
Also, I think that in latter parts of the Bible, Jesus' teachings serve pretty much the same effect. A lot of them are just stories with good morals at the end about how to live a better life. It's nice to read those stories and maybe try to be a better person, but I think following a literal interpretation of the Bible is just outdated nowadays.
I know this is getting off-topic, but based on the conclusion I came too, I always got kind of frustrated at the political argument against gay marriage based on literal interpretation of the Bible. Like the article pointed out, the Bible apparently condones incest and selling daughters as prostitutes. If it is so wrong for gay people to marry each other based on the Bible, is it right for everyone to start running around and having sex with their family members?
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cbeedle Reply:
February 16th, 2010 at 5:07 pm
I also thought this article was pretty funny. I have never actually read the entire bible, I tried but it just frustrated me so I stopped. I'm not really sure if I believe there is a higher power to believe in, I think we should believe in ourselves mostly. Anyway it was interesting to read the article and see all the sexual innuendo that they found in the bible. I think it is scary the way people "blindly" follow something because it has been what they were taught and since it is written so it must be true. I think it is important to question religion and look back at something we thought we knew and see it in a whole new light.
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JulietaVenegas Reply:
February 17th, 2010 at 12:42 am
I too found this rather interesting to read, but I was aware of such innuendos beforehand. My ex-boyfriend was studying to be a Rabbi while he was at Penn State, so naturally he had to take every Biblical Hebrew class offered here. I can remember him coming back from class and telling me about how his assignments involved doing translations directly from the Jewish Bible (Old Testament) from Biblical Hebrew to English and how the "actual" translations are sometimes rather different than what most people learn. Although I can't remember any specific examples that he gave, I'm just glad to see that something like this is being brought to light for others to realize.
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slimshady62 Reply:
February 17th, 2010 at 2:17 am
I really like what cbeedle said in his last sentence about it being important to question religion and look at things in a new light. I think in a sense the people who refuse to believe evolution are failing to do just that. They are sitting in their comfort zone, most likely being spoon-fed stories, thoughts, and ideas that were made by some people that lived in an entirely different millennium, culture, and overall world. Am I saying the Bible is dumb or religioin is bad? No, not necessarily but people who claim the only way to do things right is to do them by the Bible are in my opinion ignorant. Just because God or Christ or whoever is YOUR savior doesn't mean they are for anyone else. And no one else should have to hear your ideas unless they actually ask for them. Maybe I have a bone to pick, but I guess it just irritates me when I am walking to class near the HUB and people are shoving pamphlets or Bibles in my face, or I have to hear people stand on the benches and fill the public air with ridiculous words. Seriously? Please go home. That's all…
kmp5031 Reply:
February 17th, 2010 at 7:50 pm
I agree that it is important to question religion, look at things in a whole new light, and not just accept things as the truth simply because it is what someone told you. I think that all of the sexual innuendos are interesting to read about. I really believe that it just makes you see that you can’t accept everything as is, there could always be some sort of deeper or hidden meaning. Like others say, it makes no sense to follow the Bible literally today. I think “Adam’s Family Jewels” was an interesting interpretation of meaning in the Bible.
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TDactyl Reply:
February 19th, 2010 at 9:14 pm
I could not help but laugh as I read this article. I am also a Lutheran and I share many of the same characteristics of this persons post when it comes to religion. I always went to church when I was younger but that did not stop me from questioning the things I was taught. When I would pose a question I would always receive a sketchy answer that I never really could believe. I feel like if anything going to church and growing up Lutheran has helped me become more of a spiritual person than a person who follows the Bible from front to back. I personally do not need a book to tell me what is wrong or right I think I can make those decisions myself. Don't get me wrong I am not completely knocking on the Bible I just think there is a lot of flip flopping statements in it that I just do not care to spend my time trying to understand.
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novs Reply:
February 19th, 2010 at 9:47 pm
I’ll throw my hat in the ring and say that I’m another person who, while raised Christian (Lutheran, specifically, like jlm), I’ve never actually sat down and read the Bible. I’ve never had a reason to – I knew the important stories from going to church and hearing them from others, and, as a kid, didn’t really want to trudge through hundreds of pages of ye’s and thou’s. It seems that my story is similar to that of a lot of other people. I was baptized and went to church and Sunday school under family orders, though was never made to read the Bible or really even had the Bible read to me. I went through confirmation in 7th and 8th grade and went to church by myself every single service, and attended every confirmation class on every Sunday. I, too, half-assed the assignments – I got no enjoyment nor enrichment out of the services, so I’d sit in the church’s library, listen to and summarize the sermon, and leave. For the first year, very class we’d discuss sinning, repenting, other religions and why they’re wrong, what the Bible tells us to do, and what we, as good Christians, should believe. All I got out of this was a strong dislike for organized religion. I remember it very clearly: our teacher said that God can only be talked to and praised at church in fellowship, and my inkling of questioning turned into full-blown disbelief. I remained in class, however, and learned as much as I could, just so I could know about the subject. In my opinion, the more you know about culture, the better. I remained interested in the Bible as a collection of myths.
I’ve never really been able to believe that the Bible was meant to be interpreted literally. As jlm stated, some of the things that happen are just plain impossible. I agree with flippyfloppies in that I think things were meant to be taken metaphorically – like, “Here, this is a story about this guy, you see the lesson he learns here? Yeah, take that lesson, it’s a good one, it’ll help you live a better life. But hey, if you don’t, that’s cool too, you might learn the lesson on your own someday.” and “Well hey we’re not that sure about what causes these pretty rainbows, but here’s a story explaining their symbolism!” To me, the Bible parallels every other collection of myths from every other culture and religion in that they are all strictly symbolic and written to teach followers life lessons and about God. Think about it: the average person is more apt to remember a story (especially one that could never happen) than a strict lesson. Was Jonah really swallowed by a whale? No, but his story brings to life the lesson that faith in God and oneself will help one through hard times.
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JHudak Reply:
February 19th, 2010 at 9:53 pm
After reading this article I can see how some of these passages can be interpreted in terms of sexual meanings that are hidden throughout their story. But at the same time I think a lot of it is just people looking to deeply into it and seeing what they want to see. For instance, the Adam and eve story about how eve was created with Adam’s bone from his rib. Saying this bone actually was from his penis is a little ridiculous. If you are looking for some certain underlying meaning in a passage I feel that no matter what the context of the material you can come up with some way to make it sound like how you want it. Sure I can see how the connection may be made since there is a lot to do with sex in this particular passage but, I can only see that after being told to look for it. So I am not completely behind this theory.
Sex was a very common thing back than as it is now, so to assume it would not influence the writings of this time would be a little ridiculous. But I think people need to be mature enough to be able to read something and not just assume they are reading about a sexual experience or jump to conclusions. After reading this article it seems like every time the thigh is mentioned it is automatically assumed to really be meaning the genitals. Maybe it just means the thigh? Or even if it does mean the genitals I do not think that is a reason to “bash” on the bible. I think it is a way to keep the bible respectful considering it the surroundings it would be read. Such as in church and other holy places.
The stories in the bible are stories of faith not complete truth, so saying how the story of adam and eve’s children needing to have incest in order to create the population of the human race is obvious. But once again it is not meant as a complete truth but a story of faith such as many others to get people to believe in their religions. Some of the things I read in the article are a little ridiculous, such as the part where it is said that Abraham must seal their covenant with circumcision really means that he must tamper with his reproductive organs? And assuming when it is said that someone is wasting their seed it is assumed that they were masturbating. This article was very interesting and really made me think and see both sides of the story. But after reading it I feel that anything can be seen in any passage if you are looking for it.
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By writing/publishing/divinely inspiring a book, the author is placing a great power in the hands of its readers: the power to interpret it as they see fit, given their life circumstances. The Bible is not the same bit of text to everyone, regardless if most interpretations of it lead to the same end. People always have, and will continue to, disagree on the meaning of what is essentially the same amount of information.
It reminds me of a story I read in Asian Philosophy. A zookeeper is responsible for feeding the monkeys every day. In the first cage, he places three nuts in the morning, and four nuts in the evening. In the second cage, he places four nuts in the morning, and three nuts in the evening. What inevitably happens is that in the morning the first cage's occupants are jealous, while in the evening the second cage's occupants are jealous. They will argue over which method of feeding is the best, as different religious groups will argue which interpretation of the Bible, or any religious text, is correct.
Several years ago, I attended a Christian college. I was a part of a club that met weekly to discuss the Bible. We didn't just read it: we dissected it, talked about the different meanings the words could have in different historical and cultural contexts. Several of these points were brought up. Finding a new way to analyze one's religious text that puts it in a vulgar light does not make it any less valid a belief. It can be an exercise in one's faith to break these stories down, and understand the many ways they can be interpreted.
Likewise, no one says any serious study is required. If reading a holy text, and going with the first interpretation that comes to you, and then never reading that section again fulfils you, then the text has served its purpose.
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It really didn't surprise me when I saw this post and article questioning the "morality" of stories in the Bible. For years people have been questioning the validity and alternate meanings of these scriptures, both in and outside the church. I am a Christian and believe what is written in the Bible, but that is not to say I've never questioned what is in it. Skepticism is normal when you grow in your faith. If you don't question what your beliefs are founded on, how will you what to say to someone when they question you? I do agree that many of these stories found in the Bible represent lustful and immoral practices but you have to keep in mind that everyone practicing them is not a "model" for Christian ways.
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ilovesoc Reply:
March 16th, 2010 at 4:24 pm
Also, I think it is not only normal, but healthy to question other faiths, even your own. Why would anyone want to go through life only believing one thing, only knowing one political affiliation, and only being friends with those of the same race? You need to explore what is right for you in order to be completely happy with your life. I just happen to have the same religious views as my parents, but I am still undecided on how I feel politically. I think that points from both sides of the spectrum (Republican and Democrat) are valid and speak to me more than others. Some of these points however are contradictory, and that is where I have to decide which is more right to me. It is the same with the Bible. Yes, there are some condracticting verses, but you also have to understand that the Old Testament and the New Testament are from completely different times. A lot of rules and practices within the Old Testament were done away with in the New Testament. Some religions still practice the views of the Old, but even I consider most of it outdated. EVeryone has their own interpretation of verses and scriptures, it is just up to you to decide what they mean in your life.
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If anything, these characters are written about so honestly so that we can learn from them, and how things used to be. People have, do, and will always live in sin but that is just a part of our world. Those who are strong in their faith recognize how things used to be and how they should be. The Bible, just like any other religious scripture, is not just full of rainbows and butterflies. These stories are real accounts of what happened and how things used to be. The majority of the Bible IS about how to live a life that is pleasing to God, that was just failed to mention in this critical article.
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fmh109 Reply:
February 19th, 2010 at 4:33 am
It is interesting to me that you used the phrase, “how things used to be.” I could not help thinking that way during the LGBT lecture. Historically, it was very acceptable for men and women to have sexual relations with each other, people of their own sex, to have multiple partners at once, to have multiple life partners, etc. It is only in recent history that we see this social stigma of same-sex partnerships and relations. Before it was socially unacceptable to experiment, many people did and were able to find what made them happy no matter what social stigmas that might defy today.
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In my opinion, this is actually really funny. I've been kind of waiting, in a way, for someone to address the bible in such a way as they did in this article. I can't really say I understand completely what they are saying and I don't exactly have any examples of my own to give since I don't really believe in God.
First of all, I would like to make clear that I have nothing against religion at all; the truth is that I wish I actually believed myself since it does seem to make people happy when they believe in something else, that there is somthing greater than us… it seems to give them hope. So, no, I don't believe in God, I believe that we are on our own and that we should make good decisions to make ourselves happy… But yes, I do respect those who believe in God.
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With that said, I would like to say that this article has read what has been going on in my mind for a long time now. When I was little, my grandma always made me go to church with her on Sundays and I thought it was the most boring thing ever, to sit there and have some dude read the bible for us. I obviously never payed attention or found much interest in it. So, let's just say that I don't have a very good idea about the bible, I've never actually payed attention to it.
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When I read this article, I kind of laughed. It is so true how most of the things written in the bible can be taken in a "sexual" or erotic sense, just like anything can be taken that way.. If you want to make something sound dirty, you can find a way. But, in this case, I think they nailed the actual meaning of it. As respectful as religion is, we have to admit that every person, including those in the bible, has had "dirty" minds at one moment or another; it is only natural. So, when these people talk about how the bible is actually erotic in a way I absolutely believe it. It is not negative or bad in any way, but I believe it is true, regardless of how important this book might be.. afterall, it WAS written by humans themselves.
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Overall, I think this article got the bible, along with many other forms of script, spot-on. Although many might disagree with the article and some, im sure, will take it offensively, we can't deny the fact that it is a possibility. It doesn't necessarily all have to be erotic or sexual, but there are some parts in it that are very likely to be so. With this, I would like to point out, once again, that this just proves that we are all human. Humans have tendencies, as do all the other animals, and denying it wouldn't really make much difference. People will read the bible and every person will see it a different way; some as erotic and human-like, others as something to look up to and believe in. Both of these are right in their own way.. but which one is true?
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Although I haven't really identified with the Catholic Church since my freshman or sophomore year of high school, this topic struck a chord with me because I was raised Catholic and attended Catholic school until eighth grade. This article identified some of the problems I have with organized religion, and things that I've been skeptical of since my middle school years. One of the first serious problems I can remember having with the Bible (besides how they got all those animals on Noah's ark) was the whole translation issue. After you spend some time studying a foreign language, you come to learn that parts of a passage’s meaning can be lost when translating between two languages. The Bible has been translated from Aramaic and Hebrew, to Greek and Latin, to English and other modern languages. It’s only rational to assume that some of the original meaning of early Scripture has been lost in the two millennia since its penning. And it’s clear that many euphemisms haven’t survived intact either. In “Adam’s Family Jewels” Krausz describes how tsela, known traditionally as Adam’s rib, was “likely a euphemism for the baculum, or ‘penis bone,’ found in the males of most mammals.” People don’t talk the same way today that they did a hundred, or even fifty years ago. So how well does the Bible’s language really translate, two thousand years later? It’s for these reasons I’ve found it a bit imprudent to strictly interpret what the Bible says.
Another issue raised by Sam’s blog post is the idea of Biblical inspiration. I’ve never really understood the idea. Who decided the credibility of the men who penned the Bible was genuine? If someone claimed divine inspiration, how could anyone disprove him? And when did these divine Biblical inspirations cease? When did God stop inspiring people with divine knowledge regarding how to live a faithful life? If someone claimed divine inspiration today, declaring they had a new book to be added to the Bible, they’d likely be denounced as a deranged religious lunatic. Most people (including myself) view extreme right-wing groups that wield signs claiming things like “God Hates Fags” as completely mental. But how can I disprove such an outrageous claim? How do I, or anyone else, know who or what God hates? The point I’m getting at is how do we know that the claims made by the authors of the Bible were any less outrageous two thousand years ago than the claims made by religious fanatics today? It doesn’t make sense for me to follow the ancient writings of someone who claimed divine inspiration when I would dismiss someone similar today.
The Bible undoubtedly provides some valuable moral lessons and guidelines on how to live a good life. But to take the Bible at its word seems unwise and can be reckless in extreme cases. People have used selective parts of the Bible to justify violence for centuries. And to selectively adhere by some aspects of the Bible while ignoring others is nothing short of hypocrisy.
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dabusiness Reply:
February 19th, 2010 at 1:13 am
I feel this a very interesting subject to think about, which is not usually talked about between members of the Christian community. I also want to point out that I see a reoccurring trend throughout my friends as well as the students in this class. It seems that kids are very religious growing up, they are forced to go to church, Sunday school, and confirmation classes, and I know most of my friends and I went through a stage where we were very passionate about our religion. We wanted to read the Bible, go to bible camps during the summer, and pray before we went to bed. This was probably around seventh and eighth grade. But now, at this point in my life everything about religion is a question in my head. I know many people who are also asking questions and really taking a step back to figure out what they believe. I suppose we as college students are finally at a point in our lives that we are not told by our parents what to do and think, we must do that for our selves. Now that I am thinking and questioning the bible that I previously always had faith in, it seems more likely then not that the book I blindly followed as truth for years is not as sacred as I thought it might be, and as this article points out, may not even say what I have believed it to say all my life.
As for Sam’s actual post, it is hard for me to deny the absolute logic behind what he is saying concerning the writing of the Bible. I find as I think more and more about religion and the Bible, it makes sense to me that it is composed of a number of stories written by humans. And if God was involved with these writings, all it was was inspiration, not standing behind them and telling them what to write. One other point I agree with is the idea that so much can be literally lost in translation. Taking Spanish for many years, my teachers have often pointed out how some words, phrases, or ideas simply cannot be translated in a manner that produces exactly what was meant. This being taken into account, I find it hard to follow a book, especially in such a literal manner as so many people do, when it was not even written in English. Therefore I would be following the ideas and words of the authors, but also the translator, who is definitely not being aided by God. I believe that the Bible can guide people and give some people hope or ideas to live by, however to follow it blindly with no thought, I feel for me atleast is slightly naive.
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I didn’t grow up very religious, and therefore have never really read the bible. However, I have heard these stories and never truly bought them even when I really wanted to. Therefore, I have never been a supporter of reading the bible literally. But as I’ve grown, I’m not too sure I can even support some of the lessons they teach. That’s probably why I wasn’t the really offended when I read this. Some of it actually makes a lot of sense and makes some stories more understandable to me. For example, the idea that Eve came from Adam’s genitalia makes much more sense then the “rib.” I’m not saying I agree entirely that the bible is just one big message of procreation, but it’s an interesting theory.
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Articles like this are particularly interesting because it is nice to hear expert opinions about any book, let alone the best selling and arguably most important book of all time. Personally, I am a practicing Roman Catholic. I firmly believe that most of the time the Bible is interpreted much too literally. If we lived exactly how the Bible instructed, we would harshly abuse women among countless other things, and there would probably be no hope for complex thought and little room opinions. I was astounded to find out from this article that some of the Bible passages and stories that I have personally read and never thought twice about were so fully centered around and consumed by sexual innuendos. I attended a Catholic grade school and firmly remember learning the creation story at a very young age. If the parents of the young kids and dare I say the teachers and even clergy were aware of the sexual nature of Adam’s “rib” I would like to think that they would postpone this story until the children were a little older and more familiar with the human anatomy and its counterparts to discuss the story fully. I know and understand full well that the Bible if full of convoluted and racy stories, but I never would have guessed that a story as seemingly innocent as the creation story could be so dirty. I mean, what is the story actually telling us, that God created women from an obviously unnecessary bone in the penis. Like really, even saying that God created women from an obsolete rib is bad enough, but saying that women were created from this bone completely dehumanizes them and makes them a sex object right from the moment of creation. I will be the first one to step up and say that I do not believe in the creationist story; I do however believe that evolution did not proceed unsupervised. This is beside the point, but what really alarms me is that all of the stories that I thought were completely harmless that I have ever read could all be filled with sexual messages and innuendos that I never knew were present. I realize that the Bible was written long, long ago and that we cannot really fully translate anything from this long ago. But if you think for a second about how much we really read every day and how we are so oblivious to obvious messages, what messages are we really being fed? I am extremely embarrassed that I have been so oblivious for all of these years. I will be sure to really read into any other Bible passage that I read in the future. This article was really eye opening and I am very thankful that I read it.
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As a Catholic, who has attended Catholic schools for thirteen years, I definitely found this article amusing. Though I think the line in "Adam's Family Jewels" that "sexual civility requires ignoring scripture" was a little bit exaggerated, I have to absolutely agree that not everything in the Bible or that we hear taught by the leaders of religion should be taken literally. Not only was the Bible being written by ordinary humans, "inspired" thought they were, but these words written by human long ago are now being interpreted further by humans to apply to our world today. It seems to me that the more the Scriptures are interpreted, the further they're going to actually be from God's will. Some of the examples mentioned in this article were actually pretty disturbing to me and I definitely never learned about those racy Bible passages in my high school religion classes! Quite the opposite- anything having to do with sex was quickly brushed over. But it definitely seems to me that we can't really look to the Bible as a source of sexual morality- they used to take oaths while touching each others testicles?! And men would offer up their virgin daughters to male guests in their home?! That's pretty sickening. The Bible is obviously an important part of faith and contains many good lessons, but maybe we should look to more present day examples of moral piety when it comes to sexuality.
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I absolutely loved this article. I think it is completely necessary to make the point that this book, and thats all it is is a book, was written by humans who whether or not were inspired by a higher power wrote their own words. That idea in itself is shows a major flaw in the bible. Human eyewitness accounts are rarely ever correct and here you have accounts that were made most likely several days if not weeks after the actual event occurred. I once had a teacher in High School who used the Bible as a "historical" text. How historical is it? two people witnessing the same event can give completely different descriptions. Not to mention the majority of these accounts are told by white men. And although they may be accurate still only tell from the perspective of a man. There are aspects of these events that have mostly gone ignored that are more than likely crucial to our understanding of the life and times of Jesus Christ. I am confident in saying that because I can claim inaccuracy just as fairly as someone can claim that this book is a complete exact depiction of any one event. There are so many discrepancies in language translation alone. The excerpts I have read from the bible have never been that interesting but I like way the article shed new light on some different passages. It makes me wonder if their are not more subtle things that those few men that wrote this book have left behind as clues as to what is intended for us to read. Like maybe they were telling us to embrace that inner sexual being and let go of socialy constructed norms. Maybe the real insight they were given was that in the future when people read this book they would be confined to false ideas of what is normal and natural and maybe this book is a guide to how we are supposed to fix everything that is wrong in our society. If it is we've been doing it all wrong. Look at how bad things have gotten..
I think it is such a shame that instead of embracing these erotic sexually explorative roots our reining clerics push to subdue ideas of explorative sexuality and instead encourage abstinence. Which is also ironic because some cultures believe that making love brings you closer to god. I feel like that constrictive stance on sexuality and sex is holding us back form progressing to a utopia. There would be so mcuh less depression and war if people were more closely in touch with their inner sexual being. If you don't believe me try denying that you feel better after having sex. And i dont mean like sloppy wasteful casual sex. I mean real love making. we are all physical beings and the sooner we realize that and embrace it the sooner we will become a happier, healthy race
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It's funny that this idea has been brought up because this has been the way my father interprets the Bible and incorporates it into his daily life, lightly and not literally.
It's funny that this idea has been brought up because this has been the way my father interprets the Bible and incorporates it into his daily life, lightly and not literally. It's a practice I try to instill in myself, and even though I feel the Bible is a help and guide to me, I also do not feel it should be taken literally and factually. I choose to read, interpret, and understand the Bible more fully for the same reason I am taking Soc 119 – to add perspective to my life because I am a firm believer in the fact that when one tries to gain insight into the viewpoint or understanding of someone else, a stronger appreciation supplemented with a stronger perception is attained. I think such a realization and opening up to the other side of the mountain has the power to bring us as individuals more than anything else.
I am Catholic. I went to Catholic grade school and high school, church every Sunday, and the whole other "nine" yards that goes along being Catholic. Ever since coming to college, I definitely do not practice my faith as literally as I used to, but in actuality, I feel closer to God, others, and myself than I ever have before. Why do I think this is? I think it has much to do with my attitude towards religion, and the fact that I do not see any religion or tool used to explain religion as an easy way to "filter" right from wrong and wrong from right. I think many people use the Bible as one of those such tools because it is the easy way out and a "source", so many people use the Bible as their backing behind their interpretation of right from wrong. We like the easy route, and this is what the Bible gives many people. However, as stated previously in class, many people choose to take the rules of the Bible they like and use these as their solid basis behind truth, while leaving out other they either do not believe in or wish to follow themselves then choose to judge others who feel so strongly about the facets they choose to kick to the curb.
That problem, which we discussed in class, is a problem I have grappled with for years. Religion is a choice, and it is a choice I choose to practice and use to help me in my journey through life. Why it ever became a basis for ridicule and judgement of individuals we do not even know just astounds me and bothers me.
I think there needs to be a sense of understanding and consideration we have for other religions and their reasons for such interpretation. We as humans are shaped by the experiences surrounding us, and what shapes us in the past and present will most assuredly impact our future. Also, by learning the perspective of other people of other religions, I think we will begin to understand that religions, in all actuality, are quite similar. I think we discussed in class the fact that "Allah", "God", and "Yahweh" are all terms used to describe and explain a higher being. My term to describe the higher being I place trust in, due to the childhood I was brought up in, just happens to be referred to as "God", so I think we need to stop pointing fingers, criticizing others' religious books, and fighting wars over ideas and beliefs that align so similarly. None of us are scholars or know what happened in the past, but I think we do have an obligation to make this world a better place, and that starts with loving the Earth and others . Love is expressed in all religions, so I don't see why that should be so hard to come to a consensus on.
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It always amazes me when I think about how stubborn current generations are when dealing with matters of faith and the Bible. The Bible doesn't exist to promote "family values", it's purpose is to enlighten us on creation, the fall of man, and to lay a path for a savior, and ultimately to fulfill those prophecies through the life of Jesus Christ (if you follow the New Testament).
Did the author of that article ("Adam's Family Jewels") ever think that the reason those stories of incest, rape, masturbation and fertility are much of the reason Old Testament scriptures are still relevant to our lives today? I'd argue that our world -and the one that we record daily through reality T.V., adult magazines (and non-adult ones too) and especially in pop music -has a much more dangerous reverence for morality and acceptable conduct than the Bible portrays. Chances are, there's a lot more rape and violent crime and incest and masturbation today than in the days of Elijah -and the proportion of references to them in the Bible is probably way less than if you watched HBO for an hour.
This is what happens when people try to blanket the real purpose of the Bible in an attempt not to appear socially extreme, maintaining that it is merely a good set of standards to live by. Jesus didn't die for telling the Jews that God wanted them to live their lives in a more God-pleasing way. The author of “Adam’s Family Jewels” suggested that kids who read the Bible are going to be warped, but the reality is that: a) kids don’t read the Bible, and if they do b) it’s probably going to be a whole lot more beneficial for them than watching Family Guy (as much as I love it) or listening to Miley Cyrus.
Regarding Sam's lecture yesterday; he kinda forgot to remember that the word Christian implies a follower of the Christ (Jesus) -who made us good in God's eyes again, which he didn't mention when he went through the list of actions that make us unworthy of heaven.
People today have become so concerned with their rights to live our own lives in whatever manner we see fit, that we’ve closed ourselves off from the idea that maybe the reason why the divorce rate is so high or why there are so many broken families has to do with our reluctance to accept that God actually knows what’s best for us and what will reveal true happiness to us.
And as far as the covenant shake goes ("[putting] his hand under the thigh" Genesis 24:9); at least we know that Abraham wasn't a homophobe, and a lot of us would learn a ton about loving each other if we considered that for a second.
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The major topic I have been struggling with in this class is religion. I have grown up in a hard core Roman Catholic family for years. Attending mass every Sunday, reading Bible stories, chanting prayers, and even becoming a religious preacher myself, I now am feeling have all been a waste of my time. Like what this article brings up and the discussion last class about what the Bible directs its followers not to do, all seems hypocritical to me now. I have been a good person, trying to follow my Catholic beliefs as much as I can, but have done things the Bible does not accept such as using profane language. So will I not be able to enter the kingdom of God just because of these unjust rules? For the first time in my life, I am questioning my faith and I just feel stuck. Personally, I accept homosexuality, drinking, and all of the above. I believe religion should not stop you from living your life and being who you are. Religion should try to guide a person to a better path and life, but completely banning things that are out of the norm and then labeling it “deviant” simply does not make sense and is completely unfair. But then, does that mean I am not a true Catholic? The Bible also says “it is not your job to judge” yet everyone judges inevitably and again hypocrisy comes into play here because the Bible is the culprit of making others judge people such as homosexuals. This class and the article have just got me stirring my thoughts and beliefs on my religion and everyone else’s religion, especially the origins of all these religions in particular. When did all of these religions become present? Vampires, mermaids, Santa Claus—how were they made up and what makes them different from being as imaginary as God? Also, Greek mythology, how about if we all believed that to be real instead of the Bible? Would it make a difference? I am not trying to go against anyone’s religion, including mine, however, I am just befuddled with all of this. Seeing is believing, therefore it’s hard for me to fully trust something people have written centuries ago when I have never experienced anything spiritual myself. I wish there was an answer to all of this, but I know there really is not. I am not going to all of a sudden become an Atheist, however, I am going to try being more open-minded about all of this. I know who I am and I am not a person who hates just because a book tells me what is right and wrong. I feel only experiences can teach you the best lessons and therefore, I feel I can still stick to my beliefs, but who I am at the same time.
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gcj Reply:
February 20th, 2010 at 4:21 am
Religion is a topic we all struggle with, the reason is because it helps define who we are. I will address the article later on in this post but I want to first address your feelings. I will not say that you should not question your religion that is something even the most religious people have done. Questioning aspects of your religion helps you to realize more about yourself and your religion. Another good reason for questioning some stories or even beliefs is because it prepares you for situation like this, when others question your religion.
Sam speaks about how the bible was written by humans and was inspired by God, this is definitely true. Later he compares the authors of the bible with him and how someone inspires him. What he fails to comprehend is that God is not another human who is inspiring the authors, he is the Supreme Being. Of course non-believers will say that this is the typical answer they expect from a Christian, to refer to God as the Supreme power who is strictly righteous. I believe that the authors do add their own twist and most certainly include their own bias into the bible.
The article initially caught my attention. I was not totally convinced that their fact about Eve being made from the bone of a penis was true but at least I thought it was a plausible belief. As I kept reading the story it lost credibility with me. I wonder if the author of the article or even Sam, for that matter, could give a logical answer as to how that would change the true meaning of the scriptures. Say if she
(Eve) was derived from a bone in Adam’s penis, does that changed the fact that both were creations from God. Does this change the fact that Eve was made from a part of Adam’s anatomy and they indeed sinned and was kicked out of the garden of Egypt?
As a Christian scholar, I have studied the bible and have questioned some things about the bible. One fact I found was that some men were accredited with accomplishments in the bible that were actually done by women. Again this does not change the fact that God allowed someone to make these accomplishments. The main facts about the Bible are not ambiguous: the fact that we were created by God, the crucifixion, resurrection and ascension of Jesus, the gift of the Holy Spirit, and the promise that Jesus will return. I believe there are two different types f Christians. There are those who do not allow others to question their beliefs in fear that they will not be able to answer and then there are Christians like me. I am a realist, we are humans and with that we fall short of the glory of God: both Christians and non Christians.
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It is baffling how a book that is regarded so highly in the Catholic religion could be so blatantly vulgar and preach such condescending ideas. The weirdest part about reading this article for me was the fact that since I went to catholic school from grades K-12 I have be reading and learning from the bible for most of my life. Additionally this article made an exceptional impression on me because of the timing of when it was presented to me. In class we read a bible passage from Corinthians listing all of the reasons why people would not be accepted into heaven. The hypocrisy found within the bible is outstanding. Supposedly actions speak louder than words, but how could a book filled with so many lewd acts preach so strongly about sin. How can Judah, ancestor of Jesus, impregnate his daughter-in-law, while Corinthians claims that adulterers will not inherit the kingdom of God.
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It is baffling how a book that is regarded so highly in the Catholic religion could be so blatantly vulgar and preach such condescending ideas. The weirdest part about reading this article for me was the fact that since I went to catholic school from grades K-12 I have be reading and learning from the bible for most of my life. Additionally this article made an exceptional impression on me because of the timing of when it was presented to me. In class we read a bible passage from Corinthians listing all of the reasons why people would not be accepted into heaven. The hypocrisy found within the bible is outstanding. Supposedly actions speak louder than words, but how could a book filled with so many lewd acts preach so strongly about sin. How can Judah, ancestor of Jesus, impregnate his daughter-in-law, while Corinthians claims that adulterers will not inherit the kingdom of God.
This article lessens the importance of the Bible to me. I have never been one to take the Bible too literal because I feel that the words they say aren't as important as the lessons it teaches. In reading this however, it seems that the Bible isn't all that great at teaching moral lessons either.
Overall, when it comes to religion, I have the basic belief that which religion you choose to follow or not to follow is not that important. The purpose of religion should be to better people morally and to use a cliche, "make the world a better place." For this reason I do not find any fault in completely ignoring the hypocrisies and moral pitfalls in the bible and focusing on the lessons that are virtuous and can be used to better oneself. We can use the bible as an aid or a guide to help us learn morally, while at the same time disregarding the messages that are not beneficial to humanity and society.
Personally I believe that the Corinthians verse on Love (love is patient, love is kind..) & the Beatitudes found in the Matthew can be used as a guide to be myself, and at the same time, I can ignore the bibles condemnation of homosexuals.
After reading this article I really cannot understand how oblivious so many people (including myself) are of what the bible is really saying. I know that I was unaware for two basic reasons. I have been taught that the bible is inspired by god and therefore moral. Religion classes throughout my life have not focused on these downfalls in the Bible, but rather taught me from the many good lessons found in it. Another reason is simply that I am unfamiliar with the language which the bible was written, and have no way to identify any changes that have been assumed. It is a challenge for me to understand the bible as it is written in the English versions, no less recognize how it has been altered from its original form.
Overall this article reinforces my prior beliefs about my religion. It is not perfect and in fact there is much that could be improved about it, but religion can still be used as an aid or example to help us morally at times.
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Brought up as a Christian, my family and I always went to church on Sundays and did everything the typical Catholic family does. I began to question things around 7th grade then seriously question them in my freshman year of high school much to the dismay of my parents. The breaking point came that summer when I refused to go to church anymore until they explained my questions about the faith; they could not and I have not gone to church since other than holiday occasions to appease my parents so as to appear “a good person” for my grandparents.
I could tell there were things that seemed off early on. Being a very analytical thinker, I want a cause and effect; proof is what I need. The whole concept of “faith” is just that. It is believing something that there is no proof of for what reason? Because the people who raised you told you to or because a book of 2000 years told you about a good person. Either reason to me seemed skeptical which is why I currently believe religion is just a way for people to feel united under similar beliefs and a way to encourage good behavior. I think religion is actually a great thing for these people, such as my parents, who need something or someone to look to in times of need. As for me, I can deal with the problems I have come across so far in my life by thinking about the problem and then figuring out solutions. Prayer has not helped in that aspect.
After reading this article about the prevalence of sex and misinterpretations of the Bible, it just furthers my thought about people believing things just to believe. Because the people before them instructed them about “the real meanings” instead of interpreting it for themselves, they have taken their brains out of the equation and have been led by the hope that if they believe, there will be an everlasting nirvana. I can understand people wanting to believe in this eternal place of wonder if they have rough lives because they want to see what it’s like on the other side; however, in their hopes and quest for eternal life, they have failed to realize the practicality of it all. I can guarantee that if someone was brought up by someone who explains everything down to the letter, points out the things mentioned in this article, explains the meaning of “miracle” and how the majority can be scientifically proven, that child will grow up with his own thoughts and most likely not be a person that subscribes to the “faith.” I am not trying to offend people; I just want people to think for themselves. I pray for you to do so.
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I attened Catholic School from kindergarten to my senior year of high school, so obviously i have had my fair share of bible talk, pretty much at least once a day at school for thirteen years we talked about the bible. Seeing as it was catholic school we took the interpretations of the bible quite literally. I grew up thinking that noah built a giant ark and collected every animal to put them on it, that jonah was swallowed whole by a whale a lived to tell that tale, and that Eve was made out of dirt and Adam's rib. As a young child in first or second or third grade, or whatever grade it is you do little, if any thinking on the realistic-ness of these stories. when i was a child i just looked at them as real life fairy tales, it was exciting and different to us we believed everything that we were told. But as you group up you start to thinking differently, like how in the world is one man going to round up a male and female rhino, with out getting killed, or male and female grizzly bears and live to tell the tale, the examples can go on and on. So as i have grown up i have become even more skeptical of what the bible says and what the catholic church wants us to believe. The more you think about it logically, it is extremely absurd that millions of people live their lives based on a 2000 year old book that some one found in the desert. For all we know the "Bible" could have just been like a novel to people back then, it could be their version of harry potter, or star wars, the matrix or any or thing that is in the world to day. If beings from outer space came down to earth today they would probably think we all worship a black mouse, with big ears, white gloves, and black pants, after all how many houses in the would have at least one thing of Mickey Mouse, i am thinking millions. So for some one to tell me that the bible has sexual references or, has a major them as sex, or that it is actually a manuscript for time travel, who am i to say other wise. We will probably never know what the bible really is, (unless it does in fact turn out to be a manuscript for time travel in which case we could go back in time to find out) I think there is probably just as much of a chance of the bible being an ancient harry potter as it does being the words of god.
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I do not agree with this article at all. I think it is one person’s opinion on the Bible, but I do not find it to be a valid one. People can twist words and manipulate them to go the way they want them to sound. That is the whole point of a lawyer’s job, to twist people’s words to make their client win the case. Or even the media, they are always finding the bad things people are doing and publicizing them for the world to see. If people want to find the good in something, they will, and the same goes with finding the bad. I believe this article is taking something as sacred as the bible that has been around since the beginning of time and trying to make it out to be something bad. It reminds me of the whole conspiracy with Disney movies having sexual hidden messages in them. There are rumors of things such as the word sex appearing in the dust of the Lion King when Simba dies, or King Triton having a boner in The Little Mermaid. I think this ties into the article of someone trying to make something good such as Disney movies with positive messages into something bad.
Back to the subject of the Bible, if it is really all about sexual encounters, then why is it still being used in courtrooms today? Why is it that so many people turn to religion and God when they experience a death or traumatic experience in their life? Why do people say to “keep someone in their prayers” when they are in the hospital? If there is no God where did miracles come from, or things that happen we can’t explain? I have been raised Catholic my entire life and continue to go to church every Sunday. I am a firm believer in faith, God, and the words of the Bible. If it was such a scam, why is it the year 2010 and people continue to practice Catholicism? If it was all based on something that wasn’t true wouldn’t it have ended by now, or been figured out. I understand that people question religion, but I have never found a reason to do so. I believe that the Bible is the book of God, and was not written with any malicious or sexual intensions. It is simply people taking the wording out of context.
This ties into the debate we were having in my discussion on usage of word such as “gay”. In the Christmas song “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” it has the line, “keep the Yule-tide gay” are they taking about keeping the holidays filled with male homosexuals? I don’t think so. But if someone were to think this for some reason, it would simply be a misunderstanding of the context of the word.
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snackpackattack Reply:
February 19th, 2010 at 7:12 pm
After reading this article, I debated for some time whether I wanted to develop a response directly to the article or not; until I read the responses.
I do not believe the article’s author had the objective of taking the Bible and interpreting it as a lengthy piece of erotic literature, though he states that this is a possibility. I believe that the author’s fundamental point is that after hundreds and hundreds of years, you must interpret the things that you are reading with a grain of salt. To people that hold the Bible close to their hearts, this article seems like an attack on the credibility of the Bible. For those that are less religious, this article seems more along the lines of an attempt at discovering the true meanings of these passages. Perhaps, it is a conspiracy that Disney movie have sexual references and innuendo. If we were to indeed discover concrete evidence of the presence of these sexual images, is the conspiracy not then proved to be TRUE? The Bible has been translated countless amounts of times since its original creation. Is it impossible for the Bible to have been modified by someone along the lines? Doubtful. Perhaps the phrase, “history is written by the victors” rings a bell. If a lawyer’s job is, in fact, to twist words to the benefit of himself and his client, why would the reigning governments of ancient and medieval times not do the same?
The idea that something has been around since “the beginning of time” and is therefore somehow protected from new interpretations has major flaws. Examining ancient history shows us that many religions have been “wrong”, such as the polytheistic religions of the ancient Romans and Greeks. As researchers learn more about ancient languages, translations and meanings are corrected. If the Bible had been translated completely correctly, our ideas of Christianity today could be entirely different. It is common to have a first impression of something, to only have it change later. There are a significant number of Biblical events that have yet to be proven true, with the exception that Jesus actually did exist (this has been proven), therefore, if they have not been proven to be true, could this not just be classified as the Christian conspiracy? I digress; I am not personally attacking Christianity, merely attempting to highlight the difference between beliefs founded on truth and discovery and those founded on faith. It is possible to have both, and in my eyes, both hold equal weight in the overall quality of a person.
With regard to the idea of filling the holidays with male homosexuals, this ultimately proves my point that impressions can change. Since anyone familiar with the song is also familiar with the change in the meaning of the word “gay”, no one in today’s society would misinterpret the meaning of the song. However, maybe 2000 years from now someone might look back in a history book of ancient American Christmas songs and think “Wow, those people were some weird fuckin’ dudes.”
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I agree with everything that was said in this post about the bible. The interesting thing is that I grew up going to a Catholic school. The bible was the key element for the teachings that we learned day in and day out. We were made to believe that the bible was written by God but I also would second guess that thought. Stories like Adam & Eve and Noah’s Ark but how could something like that really happen in real life? The stories just seemed like a folk tale to me that had a never ending story. The bible is very fictitious but if you argue this with many Christian’s and Catholics they would think differently. But why is that so? I know that the bible was written in fact to teach people lessons but when did it turn into the point where people started believing that these stories were in fact true? It doesn’t make any sense at all. Will people lose their faith when they find out that the stories in the bible are false? That makes me question then how deep is their faith really at the end of the day? I really don’t get it and I don’t know where to start. When you think of it almost every story in the bible is biased because it’s based off of what one person thinks and not someone’s thoughts in whole. For example, marriage and how many people say that you should wait until marriage before having sex. Of course I would agree with this fact but are these words really words of God? Does that make you a bad person if you don’t wait until sex to have marriage? Will God love you less? It really doesn’t make sense to me at all. God isn’t a biased person. I don’t know that for a fact but when I think of God I think of God as loving everyone for who they are no matter what. God doesn’t love one person more than the other because of the choices that they make in life, but the way the bible is written and the stories that are told it kind of contradicts itself. On one hand it states that God loves everyone but then it lists things that you shall not do to receive God’s full love. I really don’t get it. I think more discussions should be had about the bible because there are so many different ways you can go about this. I just hope religious people open their eyes and realize how biased the bible truly is and then maybe people can move forward. Of course I believe in a God but not the way that some people portray God.
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I believe my grandmother and most of my family members would be appalled if they read this particular story. I know that my grandmother especially has read the Bible through its entirety at least 30 times, and I highly doubt she has ever read the good book in that light! All my early years were spent in church, telling me how to act, think, feel, and behave around the opposite sex, what I could do, what I couldn't, and everything else inbetween. I even remember a day in youth group where my pastor, trying to connect with the kids, especially us mid-teens sexually hypercharged males, told us that it was ok to masturbate, but it did come with a stipulation: only if we did it without thinking any "dirty" thoughts or looking at pornographic material, which he then said would probably be very difficult to do. I just laughed to myself, as there was no way I was going to stop doing what felt right and natural. Even then I thought to myself, why on Earth does this God character give us urges and desires, and then tell us we aren't supposed to act on them? Now, being older, I know better. It was never God, it was simply the will of the theocracy, the age old quest for power over others. The church decided that it was going with a certain interpretation, and that was that. Now I do not believe in the God of the Bible, although I am willing to entertain the idea of some type of supernatural being that sort of started everything in motion. That being said, I find it amusing that anyone takes it so seriously. We are who we are, it is that simple. We have desires, feelings, urges – this all impacts our behavior and attitude, why try and fight it? To have some book thousands of years old dictate ones life now is just silly. Perhaps we should re-institute medical bleedings from the early days of medicine if we are to listen to old texts? No, that wouldn't make much sense either. The author of this article makes a very strong case for the hypocrisy in all biblical teachings and pastoral preachings. It is simply all bogus. Perhaps as time continues, the world's religions will wise up and get with the times. Science is always pushing back the darkness that religion brings upon society, and I hope given enough time this sort of nonsense will not continue. I know for certain that unlike my early days, I will not subject my children to ill-thought ideas about procreation and sexuality, and I hope others follow suit. Getting rid of these strange biblical based ideas on sex and sexuality will do our society a great justice, and also give the gay community the rights they deserve, and perhaps our sexually repressed culture can come out of its own closet and enjoy a new found freedom.
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The article does an interesting job of casting the bible in a different light. Whether any of it is true or not is another story. I like that at least someone is willing to pose these kinds of questions. I respect their points of view and it is an interesting proposition they put forth. I was raised Christian but never really believed anything I was told or read in church. I was always fascinated by science and technology and even at a young age religion just never made sense. On the other hand if I were alive even a hundred or two hundred years ago religion would have made perfect sense to me. There was no hard evidence to refute its teachings. For all intents and purposes it was the truth. And before Christianity came along humanity believed in other truths. I guess I have a hard time dealing with a concept not backed by hard evidence and/or facts. For example, its common knowledge that the universe is about 13 billion years old and the earth itself is around 4.5 billion years old. That kind of puts a hamper on the "earth made in seven days event". But that doesnt mean we should turn our backs on religion. The lessons the bible teaches are not meant to be taken verbatim, rather they are to be interpreted by the reader. The stories from the bible (or any other holy works or religions) only seem like good lessons to live by, not necessarily the ultimate truth. The lessons taught by the bible are extremely vital for a civilization to exist. The ten commandments and a god that enforces them for example are a good way to keep a population in check. There is always the the threat of displeasing god by not following his orders. Unfortunately, religion has turned over the years into a means of control (particularly control over women in many cultures). Personally, I feel that anyone who takes the bible literally has a very closed mind, or is just plain ignorant of historical data and facts. Anyone who cares to follow the breakthroughs in modern science and technology should realize that many of the stories from the bible just dont add up if taken literally. However, they make perfect sense for a society which did not understand their world entirely and tried to interpret their existence, creation, and death the best they could. Every major and minor culture around the world has done this; from the Americas to Asia, and of course the middle east. The primary difference being that a vast number of people tend to follow the teachings of the bible as opposed to other beliefs; but does that make it right or better than other belief systems?
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I’ve actually thought about this idea of interpretation of religion many a time. Obviously everything we’re reading is not actually written by the hands of god. That means someone else wrote it and that someone was writing based on the teachings or advice of some higher being. So then how is it not possible that the way it’s written, the words themselves, the phrasing, how is it that these can’t all be somewhat changed from their original meanings. I mean interpretation is everything. Someone can interpret the same comment in two different ways. We spend all our English classes analyzing and interpreting things around us and things we read. We usually always have different opinions. So religion is the same way. I personally have found over the years that I should look at the way things are carefully and really try to see what is being said or written from all points of views. I sort of began doing this when I first heard about the word jihad and the negative connotation associated with it. I asked some of my Muslim friends what it meant and how was it possible that a religion could condone something so “terrible.” What I learned was the word was not in the least bad, and in fact was only cast in a negative light by the interpretation of certain people. The word while construed by radical Islam as a necessity to destroy the evils of the world aka other humans actually meant to purge oneself of evils such as greed and hatred and deceptiveness. That was my first realization that maybe when I read or hear something, especially related to religion, I should take that piece of information with a grain of salt, or at least analyze it more and think about all the ways people may react towards it or analyze it as. I’ve always been a religious person. Religion to me is less about the stories and the history and more so about the values and ideas. I mean when it comes down to it all religions are exactly the same. They have the same fundamentals: kindness, truthfulness, generosity, selflessness and so on. Where each religion begins to separate is the interpretations of each. And the stories and tales that perpetuate the interpretation established for some value by a particular religion. For instance, to not harm other living beings can be looked at in so many different ways. It can mean just not to kill humans. Or it can mean to not kill any living creature whatsoever—bugs, animals, and even plants. Religion is a funny thing. The interpretations that have been established for different religions and the ones people decide to make can be a curse and a blessing. They not only create peace and love in the world, but are just as capable of perpetuating hatred and violence. So what do we do about that?
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This article does make you think, but I don't fully agree with the point that the author is trying to get across. Yes, there may be some parts of the Bible which seem inappropriate or sexually-charged, but I do not think the original writers of the Bible intended them to come off that way. It was just the culture and terminology of the day. They did not mean for it to sound "X-rated." In a thousand years, the way we talk today will probably seem weird (and possibly inappropriate) to those looking back and reading our documents. But the thing is, with language and culture, you don't think or worry about how people in the future will scrutinize what you say or do. That's why the Bible is written how it is. None of its authors would have ever imagined that what they were writing would be seen as offensive or cause any type of controversy. Even the way things are said in different cultures and society today can seem weird or inappropriate to some from the outside, so obviously texts from such a long time ago are going to seem unnatural to us.
Now, on the other hand, I also understand where the author of the article is coming from. The Bible can seem very hypocritical at times. And I say that as a Catholic. Good points are brought up about the incest, and prostituting your wife and/or daughter. This is unquestionably inexcusable behavior in today's civilized society. Which makes one wonder, even if it was acceptable back then, why wouldn't Church officials change or omit such texts in order to avoid sending and mixed or confusing messages? It is obvious that words and verses from the Bible, often written indirectly with a hidden message, can be twisted and given meanings different from what they appear to say, or from what the authors wanted them to say.
Overall, I don't think it is too big of an issue. Any young kid reading the Bible is not going to pick up on these sexual innuendos or hidden messages, so there is no need to worry in that aspect. Bible literalists are going to read what they read and believe that with all of their heart, so there is no changing their opinion. And for any Christians who read the Bible, they should be educated enough — either through regular school, or Sunday school, or whatever — to know that the Bible should not be taken literally in many aspects. Even the Church and Pope acknowledge that every word of the Bible should not be read as absolute fact. The important thing is to just read, think about it, and get the message.
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Maybe Hugh Hefner is closer to God than we all thought. If we focus on the sentiments raised in Adam’s Family Jewels it seems apparent that the bible is the precursor of Playboy magazine and a dearth of publications focusing on sex, nudity and lustful behavior. I don’t buy it. Let’s remember that the bible was written thousands of years ago at a time that America and its preoccupation with sex and body parts was not even a speck of a thought in anyone’s mind. I am sure that clothing was sparse and the occasional viewing of a person’s member or body part was not sexual or even of interest to the parties involved. Visiting a European beach as compared to a shoreline in the USA demonstrates that society’s views on sex and body language may be different depending on cultural background and mores. Because talking about sex is somehow provocative our society seems to find innuendo in almost all personal encounters. It is possible to take almost any conversation or writing and read into it sexual suggestion and purpose. A smile can be an invitation for an encounter. A kindness is viewed as a provocation for greater and more intimate acts to follow. The next thing we will be reading is that there are sexual overtones in President Obama’s meeting with the Senate Majority Leader or even the Russian Premier. Some things are certainly possible and maybe even likely, but that does not mean that they were intended or are true. It is just someone’s viewpoint which is likely premised on an overworked libido.
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Reading the article, “Adam’s Family Jewels,” really did show the Bible in a different light. Attending a Catholic School for seven years and a CCD program for three years, I was given the sugar-coated version of the Bible. It was very PG. With age, I have been slowly been moving away from the Catholic faith and have not cracked open the Bible to read more about the stories included in it. Therefore, I never had the opportunity to pick up the sexual innuendos and lack of purity and innocence in some of the stories in the Bible. The article’s reinterpretation of parts of the Bible makes it seem like a soap opera that spans thousands of years. It has really made me want to read to Bible and verify the interpretations of some of these stories in included in the article. I really liked reading the article.
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I always wondered about this kind of stuff ever since I started reading the Bible. I am from a Baptist Christian background, and if you know about Baptists, you know that the Bible is THE authority, nonetheless I often wondered about the stories in the Bible. Seeing this topic only made me more interested in finding out what I wanted to know. Whenever I went to Church, the Reverend always candy coated the Bible in my opinion and give you me politically correct response to everything, and I knew it was something deeper to it, just never had a chance to get to know about it.
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Now I agree with the author of the "Family Jewels" article to a certain extent, but that is because I feel some type of way about the topic as well. I do not think the intention of the Bible was to be "sexually charged" and laced with "sexual innuendos", because it was a different time back in those days, it was a different mindset. Times change, and maybe sex and all the things that come along with it was not such a taboo subject as it is in today's society. I also wondered if the Bible was accurate in all of its stories as well. Me and a couple of my friends discussed this a few times, and it just made you think. Stories can be misconstrued all the time, and eyewitness accounts are fabricated and misstated quite frequently. You remember when you played that game in elementary school where the teacher would tell you something, and you had to tell it to the next person, and they had to tell it to the next person, until finally you got to the last person and they had to say what they heard, and it is completely different than what was first said? It could have been just like that.
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A lot of people can exaggerate and/or fabricate stories to make it better for them. So who is to say the Bible was not originally MORE "sexually charged" or laced with LESS "sexual innuendos”? I always had a feeling that the Bible could not have been as straight-laced as it was made to be. Whenever you read ANYTHING, you are going to take it however you are going to take it. Somebody might read this article, and not feel any type of way about it. It just depends on who you are and what you believe in. But I enjoyed the article and it's ideas. It really made me speculate in an unconventional way. It is always good/interesting to look at something you have always believed in or had an interest in from different angles.
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This is a very interesting topic. I grew up in a Catholic family and still practice the Catholic religion. My family would always go to church on the weekends and during every holiday. We listened to the Bible readings at church but never read it ourselves. It just didn’t seem necessary. I went to a Catholic high school for 2 years and we rarely read the Bible because the teachers did see its meanings as outdated. If we did read any part of the Bible, it would be to decipher a message that is relative to today’s societies and unfortunately, there weren’t too many of those. I always did find it strange that at a Catholic high school we never really turned to the Bible. To read the Bible literally today would just be nonsense. On thing that has helped me realize that the translations have changed over the years has been studying foreign languages. I have been studying Spanish and Italian for a few years and words get lost in translation. So the first translation of the Bible definitely has a different meaning than the most recent translation of the Bible. The ideas and messages are mostly the same, but there are things that are definitely different. Another reason why reading the Bible literally today isn’t the best idea because how much our society has changed over the years. I am pretty sure that everything has been proved to be physically impossible. For example, Noah’s Ark. As much as I would like to believe that it happened, I can only believe that it is physically impossible. With that being said, I still believe in God and the Catholic religion and criticism of the Bible is not going to change my beliefs and views. All of the criticisms definitely have made my faith stronger because they have questioned my ability to examine my beliefs. I like to challenge my beliefs because skepticism is included in every religion and if you cannot have a strong argument for what you believe in, then your beliefs are flawed. I can understand how people disagree with the Bible and messages it portrays because just like everything in the world today, the Bible consists of views from complete opposite spectrums. This is why we see some people who interpret the Bible as religious extremists and other people who think they know what God thinks or wants them to do. As we have been learning in class, I think the best place for anyone to be is in the middle. If we can keep an open mind and try to see the views from both sides, I think the number of criticisms and extremes will generally decrease.
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I too have thought about this on random occasions. My family and I went to church when I was younger, Catholic, but once my parents got divorced church became an occasional/holiday event. My sister used to read me stories from the bible when I was younger but the only one I can really remember would be the commonly known Noah’s Ark. However, I remember as she was reading me these stories I used to think to myself that they were simply that, just stories. Even as a young child I did not think these events actually occurred. I mean I had been taught that Jesus died on the cross for us and comes back at Easter… for some reason there is a bunny, eggs, and a lot of chocolate involved (I’m still confused how that came about?). But things like that I believed actually did happen because they were taught to me in school (catholic school) but a lot of the other stories that were not popular but my sister still read to me I did not exactly believe to be truthful. In my eyes, especially as a young child, I just believed that I was getting read another short story that was of course fictional just like “The Cat in the Hat”.
I thought the article above was very entertaining. I have always thought that the Bible could very easily be interpreted in some spots as perverse, but thought no one would dare speak of it. I had no idea that there was so much research and material dedicated to this however, I am very interested in looking at The Uncensored Bible, I can only imagine how it might read. The author of the article makes a convincing argument about Eve coming from Adam’s penis instead of his rib as most people interpret the story. It makes more sense except for the fact that there is no actual bone in the human male penis, however it is often referred to as a bone, apparently as much in the Bible as it is in today’s society. It is my belief that the Bible is full of many sexual innuendos and obscenities and I get a little internal giggle out of the way hardcore Christians refuse to recognize it. Now, even though I believe that the Bible refers to sex and sexual metaphors a lot, I still believe in it. Actually, interpreting it this way actually makes me believe certain parts of it more because it seems more realistic. However, this is just another way of interpreting a book that is mostly likely other people’s interpretations of other people or God. Anyone and everyone can try and interpret the Bible as much as they want, but no one will truly ever know what is true and what is fiction, at least not until the day we all die.
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I've never really read the Bible, but I have heard on numerous occasions that there is indeed a lot of very sexual undertones throughout it, and in a lot of its more prominent stories. It was interesting to see that there is a whole area of research dedicated to finding these passages, and trying to 'expose' them for what they really mean. Did the writers of the Bible purposely do this, I'm not really sure. One thing I am certain of is that this type of research is good, because questioning religion is very important. The Bible is something that millions of people around the world hold dearly, and it is cool to see varying interpretations.
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I too have thought about this on random occasions. My family and I went to church when I was younger, Catholic, but once my parents got divorced church became an occasional/holiday event. My sister used to read me stories from the bible when I was younger but the only one I can really remember would be the commonly known Noahs Ark. However, I remember as she was reading me these stories I used to think to myself that they were simply that, just stories. Even as a young child I did not think these events actually occurred. I mean I had been taught that Jesus died on the cross for us and comes back at Easter& for some reason there is a bunny, eggs, and a lot of chocolate involved (Im still confused how that came about?). But things like that I believed actually did happen because they were taught to me in school (catholic school) but a lot of the other stories that were not popular but my sister still read to me I did not exactly believe to be truthful. In my eyes, especially as a young child, I just believed that I was getting read another short story that was of course fictional just like The Cat in the Hat.
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I have always thought of the Garden of Eden as some kind of secluded, intimate environment fostering untamed sexual fantasies. An au naturel bordello if you will. I cannot recall any memories of my life in which I would not have known of the Garden of Eden and the story of Adam and Eve. My mother, God bless her heart, ensured that I was a regular attendee of both church services and Sunday School each week. I was even sent to a religious pre-school from the ages of three to five before I was enrolled in Kindergarten. My point is: I can never remember a time when I did not want to “bone” Eve. I mean she has always been portrayed as this magnificently beautiful and promiscuous seductress in sketches and script. She is always BEAUTIFUL! And NAKED. She has great breasts, never-ending curves, and a spectacular ass. To add to the fantasy, she often teases with leaves covering her breasts and genitals. I have always kind of thought of her as a Mrs. Robinson type character. She is an extremely attractive older woman whose promiscuity has led her astray from her betrothed Adam into the “grasp” of a slippery serpent (Satan) and tempted to eat the forbidden fruit. I am finding it hard to believe that this forbidden fruit was not Satan’s cock – well, at least in my sexual fantasy that is.
As I mentioned earlier, I first heard the story of Adam and Eve at a very young age – three years old if you are having difficulty remembering. How on Earth could a three year old begin to make these associations? I mean, I was not a child prodigy by any stretch of the imagination. Sex, but why? I guess it was Dr. Dre that once said, “Sex sells.” Is the sexuality within the confines of the scripture a mere marketing ploy? I guess old Jesus Christ had to stir up a little controversy somehow – as if, miracles, murder, betrayals, and execution did not offer enough plot twists. Personally, I like the idea of my Faith being based around sex. Sex is great. It’s fun, its healthy, it’s entertaining, it’s emotional, it’s relaxing, it causes awkward moments, you can boast about it in a man-tale to your friends. Sex is natural. Of course there is always that dreaded underlying aspect of sex – procreation. I guess that is what God wants though. Sex for reproduction; not sex for pleasure. I guess the question we all have to ask ourselves is: What would Jesus Do? All I am saying is if Jesus would not have sex with Eve, he is clearly a homosexual. But I thought that the Bible spoke out against homosexuality?
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I thought this article was very interesting because I am Jewish and I don’t read the bible nor have I ever read the bible, but to read these things that were written about it opened my eyes a lot more. I am not religious at all, I go to Temple when I need to or have to go.
I never knew the actual backgrounds of all the stories in the bible especially not to this extent. It totally opened my eyes to a new side of all the stories from the Bible that are also in the Torah. Its rather interesting to read about scriptures from the Bible and what they are actually about. People read the Bible every day and they read the Bible to their children not actually telling their children what the story is actually about.
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Being Jewish also opened my eyes because I had no idea what the terms actually mean. I found this article one of the most interesting articles I have read because it really shows me that there is so much more to stories then people think there is. I feel that sexuality was one of the biggest things during that time and of course
I don’t think it’s right or necessary for people to stand outside of the HUB and yell out parts of the Bible to people walking passed there. I feel that it doesn’t make any sense, and especially now after reading this article and learning things that I never knew before it really seems like bullshit. I think that the people saying these verses from the Bible should take a deeper look into what they are reading. I don’t think anyone should do that because they don’t think people should be gay, or having sex before you get married. I don’t understand why they do all of this when it was done way before they were even alive. It seems like a little bit of hypocrisy in my eyes.
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It’s not that I think people should believe in things or be religious its’ just that I shouldn’t have to hear about other people’s religion when I don’t talk about mine to people. Everyone should be able to be whatever religion they want and it not is a problem with things such as sexual orientation, or having sex before marriage. I just think that people should be able to feel like they can do things without being harmed or yelled at for doing so.
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I think that the discover of the true meanings of the bible is an important and apparently racy topic. I was not at all surprised hen i read some of the corrected translations that implied masturbation and other sexual actions. The truth of the matter is human have been having sex since the creation of man. So why would the times of the bible be any different? I think that there will always be some people who choose not to believe the translations and meanings no matter how accurate they are. TO these people i say, how can you go through life blatantly and stubbornly denying somthing that is scientifically and logically correct? the answer? faith… its not always a good thing.
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The bible being a generally great book has been flawed and contradicted and sometimes thought to be out dated. If we took this book literally as we do towards homosexuals, we should also take adulterers out in the street and stone them to death. The bible, more in particularly the old testament, is full of all kinds of crazy shit. People love to twist around verses to meet there ideals. Homosexuality is easy to single out as morally wrong. The question is…are gays going to hell for engaging in homo sexual activity? I think if we take a fundamental veiw from the bible the answer is yes. This being said if we want to interpret the bible literally we need to sell all our possessions and follow Jesus or we will never see heaven…In this economy I can't afford to sell anything or give offering. I guess I'm going to hell with every one else!
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I am a person who follows the Hindu religion, so even though most of my friends and roommates are Christian, and have heard stories about going church and bible studies and what not, I’ve never actually read more than a page of the bible. I think because I am looking at the Bible and Christianity from the outside but have also had it around me for my whole life since I was born and raised in the United States, I can be neutral towards it. Looking back at this article, I think it was intriguing and almost a bit humorous if you read it with an open mind. Any time you read something people follow, it makes for some interesting ideas.
Now I do not agree with everything in this article about a bible, and that is my honest non-bias opinion. I don’t think that people should have to follow every single word in the bible or whatever book in the religion people follow. Certain decisions need to be rational in believe. Not everything we are taught when we are younger is true, and I think that it is up to us to decipher the differences in what we believe to be true and what is a little farfetched. It is important I think in society to play devil’s advocate and think really deep about some of the things we hear and believe with religion, the bible and Christianity in this case.
Analyzing this article even further, I will say that I’m not one of these people who refuse to look into and consider evolution, and the same goes for religion. I do believe in god, but I am also open to the theories of evolution. For the people who do take an extreme stance against religion or evolution, I think they are depriving themselves of having full knowledge. As I stated before, you have to be rational when you try to judge evolution or what the bible says in this case. When these people say that the only way to do things right is to do them by the Bible, I believe that is wrong and those people are being close minded. Christ, god or whomever in any given religion should be part of your beliefs and ideologies in my mind, not the only thing.
In conclusion, I can say that yes I do find some of the religious preachers for any religion kind of annoying, but at the same time I do respect what they do. Their great in their approach about god and everything, but I think that those type of people and others need to be more open-minded. At the same time the people who strongly advocate evolution should not be so radical in their theories either. I definitely think this was a good article, that made me think, and I would definitely suggest it to others.
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I agree that this was hilarious. I have taught Catechism for a few years and it is always interesting to come across a bible verse that is less than Christians in its innuendoes. I have always wondered where man kind came from after Adam and Eve. And let’s not even begin to talk about Mary Magdalene. I do believe in God, but I do not believe in the people who write the Bible. It always pisses me off when I see the preacher at the hub forcing his beliefs on me and telling me I’m a bad person. God encourages love but not fornication? I think no. There is a verse in the Corinthians that states we should more or less fuck all the time, pray when we are frustrated, and then go back to fucking. Think about it. Second of all, who is to judge our beliefs besides God? A priest cannot tell me I am a bad person for not attending mass when his fellow fathers are touching children. I had to teach “Touching Safety” to my 1st graders and could not believe the church had come to this. Anyways, back to the provocative stories. If we truly analyze the bible and take the sayings literally, we would be disappointed (and probably horny) from the outcome. We take the stories in the bible as a way to learn lessons.
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I have to admit, I am not a religious person and view the bible as many people on here have referred to it, FICTION. I have never read the bible, have not even read the title yet (yes joking). Maybe some day, but probably not. Religion is fine and I do not have a problem with it. I do not have a problem with organized religion either, but when I told my mother that I was not going to go to church on Christmas Sunday, it made her cry. Okay, I did feel bad about it, but I stood my ground and did not go to church that day. What was the result? I have never been to church since. Victory! But more than feeling sad that I made her very upset, I felt sad for her that she put such a great importance on religion. She was raised in a very religious Catholic family and that is the reason for her religious views today. But I was also raised in a Catholic family, yet I decided to make my own decisions and realized that organized religion is simply a joke. As long as people who are religious are not overly public about it or try to tell me why I am wrong for not being religious I do not have a problem with them. Everyone is free to make their own decisions, no matter how ridiculous they may be. There are a bunch of religions out there and they all claim that there is one and only one God. Well that would mean that only one religion could possibly be right. But most likely none are. I view believing in God as the same as believing in Santa Claus, The Tooth Fairy, or Big Foot for that matter. What's the difference. In the past, priests of the Catholic church had their own armies. They did not want to spread the word, they wanted money and power. So when they did not think they were getting enough money, they invented purgatory so that people that did not know any better would pay money to ensure that their loved ones would not go there. Come on people, think about it. Religion does not make sense. Do not believe just because you want to go to "heaven" or because your family believes. Make your own decisions, think about it. That is what I did and I realized that it is irrational and a waste of my time. I would like to reiterate that I have no problem with anyone, no matter how religious they may be. Just let me do my own thing. All of my friends know I am not religious and were recently teasing me on Ash Wednesday about eating me and not getting ashes. I did not bring the conversation up, hell, I did not even know it was Ash Wednesday. But they provoked me then wonder why lash out at religion. So I did not get ashes and ate meat that day. Uh oh, straight to hell. Rant over.
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Like many of the other posters, I too, grew up in a Catholic family. I went to church every Sunday as a child, and as I became older it became more of a few time a year type arrangement. I very much believe in God, although I can honestly say that I am not a biblical scholar by any means. I have probably read from a bible only a few times in my entire life. Growing up with some catholic education, I was exposed to a number of the more well-know biblical stories. Noah's Ark and Adam and Eve are among my favorites. Growing up and realizing that scientifically, a lot of these stories are not plausible, I have come to accept the fact that they are all lessons and metaphors, in one way or another.
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. There may have been a great flood at one time on this planet, but can anyone honestly believe that Noah was able to build an Ark that could accommodate every known species of animal. I guess it's almost plausible that the Ark was gigantic, that Noah built something of Titanic proportions, but the part of the story that I do not think is plausible is the actual capture of the animals. How could a South American land animal make it to the middle- east? Surely, Noah did not go there to get it. Maybe, the South American land animals before the great flood did not survive simply for logistical reasons. Maybe, the story should be taken for what it is, a lesson. Noah did what God told him to do, he planned ahead, and he got the job done. This does not mean that this actually happened.
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I have thought about Adam and Eve, and their children’s possible incest, as well. Yes, if Adam and Eve were to multiply there probably had to be incest, but I think that is missing the point of the story. One of the major points of Adam and Eve is that one should not give into temptation. So, there may never have been a Garden of Eden or a serpent. There is a lesson behind the story that has been preached and listened too for a long time. No one knows the answers exactly; people are starting to get a better idea through science, but no one will ever know every little detail. If people say that I am not a good Christian because I do not take the Bible factually word for word, than I do not really care.
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This XXX Bible makes a person think, a little, but I realized while reading it that I was not really going to make much of it. Old language translations and ancient double entendres are not exactly something that pique my interest. It's like looking for innuendo in Disney movies, I guess it's interesting, but who really cares. They too are just teaching us lessons. There may or may not be a penis on the cover the Little Mermaid VHS. Who cares? It's probably just an undersea castle. I have learned to stop looking into things for double meanings, I take them for what they are worth, and if people are happy following the Bible verbatim that's good for them. On the same note if there are people who enjoy looking for Biblical porn, good for them too. All I know is that I will not be purchasing their book any time in the future.
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It seems understandable that the bible verses and structures are interpreted completely different for different people. From what I understand, (I could be wrong) we don’t exactly have hardly any “real” part of the bible to begin with. We have accounts that were written and sent down through generations. Then they were taken by the Catholic Church and only God knows what they did with them. So the bible could have been an X-rated sex story about how the earth was created.
Okay that probably isn’t true. But honestly, look at how many versions there are of the bible. It is ridiculous that anyone could believe that one of those versions is the absolute definite original copy. That is just complete ignorance. I am all for having a complete spiritual belief in any sort of way, but I really don’t think that a book could be passed through that many generations and remain the same. It’s like the telephone game, where people tell a secret and pass it through a bunch of people and at the end it isn’t even remotely similar to what it began as.
This being said, it would make more sense that the bible was more sexual, and realistic than it has been perceived in the “present”. Personally, I believe that the bible was completely tampered with by whomever, and made so that people stick to good morals. This is well and dandy, until you realize that you could possibly be living an entire lie. It’s as Sam said today in class, people should be able to choose completely in what they do and suffer the consequences of their actions. But who gets to say what is right or wrong so that we base our governmental system on it? God? Well how the hell do we actually know that God said these things. Jesus? Well.. how do we know that God even spoke to Jesus? Miracles? Well how do we know that these miracles that were stated in the bible are true? Faith. And that is what is awesome about it.
You can believe whatever you want, as long as you have faith in it. So if this guy thinks that there were sexual innuendos in the bible? Cool. I just don’t believe in basing my life off a book. In a society where basically everything can be pre-determined for you, you have to start coming up with your own ideas/beliefs.
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sjn5014 Reply:
February 25th, 2010 at 6:56 am
Religion is such an interesting topic, the belief that people have. Its interesting to analyze. To me religion has been created by humans for humans. It’s the meaning to our existence, we of conscious thought have needs, we want to know why…
Maybe that’s why some question religion, and way why does religion exist. It all comes down to a certain type of faith. Maybe be that faith is in logic, maybe in God, maybe science, maybe family. Whatever it is; who knows if what we believe as fundamentally true, really is the truth. One day we may find a loop hole in gravity for that matter, or that the world isn’t flat, maybe paradox’s like time travel are really solvable, just as the notion of flight is as well.
So when I read this article, a moral critique on the bible and our society, I think of the hard on that the Sultan has in Disney’s Aladdin. I mean many argue that the porn industry is a critical driver to our economy and its evolution. It makes perfect sense to me that the individuals writing the bible were influenced by human nature, just as we see in our culture today. History is a slippery and subjective beast.
I sit here and write and wonder what people are thinking as they finish my entry above? I feel that doubt and skepticism may come readily to many. I probably would. I mean this is a complex world that we live in. There must be something that I am not thinking about. Most likely that’s the truth of it, but I also do believe that our society/culture informs what we believe and that anything that goes against the grain often has a reaction of doubt. This doubt is a reaction, a thought that often has not been thought through.
What if we grew up in a society that was centered upon a philosophy or religion with a foundation of questioning? What would our thoughts reflect? Either way I say that the bible is twisted, filled with sexual innuendos because our society worships the porn industry. From where I sit that isn’t a new thing either. I also realize that I may be wrong, but the beauty of it is that Im probably right in one sense or another, from one perspective or another, just as the bible is morally sound from certain perspectives and morally unsound from another. All is truth and all is a lie.
Free will or determinism, I’m sticking with determinism, then I dont have to be all anxious about how messed up the world is. I don’t feel all the weight of my life and the people that my actions effect, because I don’t have a choice.
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I wasn’t far into the Adam’s family jewels article when I became appalled. I have been unsure about the bible for a long time and I knew that there was a translation there that I did not understand, but what I have read in this article is not what I was expecting at all. There were so many things that I did not know about the bible. I think it’s so weird that men used to grab each others testicles to prove they were telling the truth. I suppose it isn’t a coincidence that the two words testes and testify are spelled so similarly. I am glad I read this article because it is helpful in deciphering the bible. I am interested in hearing what other phrases from the bible translate too and now I wouldn’t be surprised what I hear. I really agree that the bible is very dirty and I can’t imagine hearing the words that I read in the article in mass. I wonder if most priests believe that the bible really translates into sexual innuendos and if they do believe I would like to hear what they have to say. I cannot believe that I have been abiding by rules in practically a pornographic book. I also think its funny that people place their hand in the bible in court when they are under oath. I no longer find significance in being under oath while holding onto the bible. This makes me wonder so many things and my imagination is soaring. Was Mary really a virgin? Was incest a commonality in ancient times and why are things no longer ok today when they were back then. Why incest is looked down on and why did fathers use to offer their virgin daughters to house guests are two questions that are stuck in my mind. The sentence about fathers offering their wives and daughters made me feel disgusted. I am glad that times have changed since then and that fathers cannot just offer up their daughters. I would be very unhappy if men still grabbed each others testes, if women got their hands chopped off as punishment, and if siblings slept together today. I also agree that the world would be a barbaric place certain beliefs and the cultural expectations that we have today. I notice that in this article they said a bone was taken from the first man’s penis and that is the reasoning why no man has a bone in his penis, but you could also argue that women have one extra rib then men and it could be because the first woman was indeed made from the first mans rib. It’s a shame that we will never no the truth and I feel that the bible will be argued about until the day the world ends.
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