seriously, let's talk about something

Night_Sprite · August 2009

The different versions of the Bible are all translations. A smart person would know they are just translations. There are some churches that cling to old versions. That is part of what causes the different sects/denominations. Some really like the King James translation, which is an old version with some big errors.

Soon-to-be Mrs. Vogt · August 2009

I laughed out loud Bec. That's awesome! E - the theory I've read is that the differences come because the books were written by 4 different people. If 4 people tell any lengthy story, there will be different versions. People have different points of views and different ways of describing things. So the contradictions could all be true, or they could be true for the person writing that particular book. There's a really great book called Questions from My Father - it's a series of letters an atheist father writes to his Baptist minister son. Really amazing and true to life now, rather than life at the time of Christ. It answers a lot of questions about Christianity - I would highly recommend it.

crfische · August 2009

I think it's more or less that people interpret the same words differently than it is that the actual verses contradict themselves.

mrsLesGrossman · August 2009

les grossman, can you give an example of different versions contradicting each other? Just as a note, I am not challenging anyone's beliefs, this is what we learned in one of my theology courses. Regarding who was in the tomb is one good example- MAT 28:1 In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre. MAR 16:1 And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him. JOH 20:1 The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre.

gkb0910 · August 2009

Night-The thing that gets me, is that my brother's friend jumped into this, stopped drinking and totally changed (he was Catholic). Now, a couple of years after his wedding, he has regrets because he sees some of that as ridiculous. There were a lot more problems with that wedding that weren't religious, but the ceremony is still talked about by his friends. Another part was when the minister talked about how it was Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve. He paused for laughter, but there was none. Even people who weren't as open about gay rights felt uncomfortable and that it was inappropriate. I could never marry into that either.

SwedishChick2011 · August 2009

gkb, that is like FI's church. The women aren't official people. I went to a service once there. Afterward I got shuffled downstairs to make potluck with the women while FI, then boyfriend, stayed at the meeting. When they were done I took him outside for a second and said, "You know I'd never marry into this church, right?" What denomination was it? That's just...wow.

Lauren Beth · August 2009

A smart person would know they are just translations.Night Sprite, I do realize that there are different translations of the Bible, but I don't think that means that those who seek to know what the Bible means can't learn. I personally don't think God expects people to learn Hebrew to be able to understand the Bible.

Night_Sprite · August 2009

Mark is actually the oldest gospel. The other three are called the synoptic gospels and are all, at least in part, derived from Mark. I took a class on the New Testamant. I can keep trying to help.

danieliza1127 · August 2009

Here's what I really want to know - how is it possible that my banana actually got through a sealed zip lock baggie and made my pretzels taste like banana?!

SwedishChick2011 · August 2009

MAT 28:1 In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre. MAR 16:1 And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him. JOH 20:1 The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre.Those passages don't contradict. They each just give a different amount of information, IMO.

mrsLesGrossman · August 2009

Until I can learn Hebrew and read the original text for myself, I have no way of knowing if it was translated correctly. I am fluent in Hebrew and can slowly read some Aramaic. If you translated verbatim, there are significant differences but I think some of them are because of the differences between Judaism and Christianity. My asking is really about within Christianity, not comparing both religions. Super chilled and dry martini served.

Soon-to-be Mrs. Vogt · August 2009

LOL DaniI love you

Night_Sprite · August 2009

No, I lied. Mark, Luke, and Matthew are synoptic. John is not. Mark is the oldest, Luke and Matthew are roughly contemporary, and John is much later.

crfische · August 2009

Shiit, I went to a private Lutheran College. Took religion every freakin' year I was there. Intense religion. What it taught me, was to be more open minded to others and to not take the Bible literally.

vallyhoo · August 2009

So are you asking us if we would eat a pretzel that tastes like banana?!

BecW2be · August 2009

Dani, that's easy. It was God's will. Just ask any pregnant teenager.

Night_Sprite · August 2009

Historically speaking, there is no "right version." The very first writings were done after the first generation of Christian followers were dying and they wanted to save everything. There is a whole century of oral tradition before anything was ever written. Also, everything was written in Aramaic, rather than Hebrew, so even Hebrew is a translation.Just recently biblical scholarship has started going in the route of Aramaic translation rather than Hebrew.

Lauren Beth · August 2009

Regarding who was in the tomb is one good example- MAT 28:1 In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre. MAR 16:1 And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him. JOH 20:1 The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre.That is a good example, but I don't see how these contradict each other? The first two verses say the same thing pretty much because I believe that "the other Mary" and "Mary the mother of James..." are the same person. As for the third verse, while it does not list the "other Mary", what is stated is that Mary Magdalene came to the tomb, and that is what is said in above verses. There is a different in contradiction and not stating the exact same information in both places. Note: I am not really trying to start a Biblical debate, but this is something interesting to me, so that is why i continue to respond.

tlv204 · August 2009

E, is your husband Jewish? I'm just curious and couldn't remember. I still stick with the theory that, if you were a monk several centuries ago, and your only job was to translate or copy Bibles by hand every day, wouldn't you get a little bit bored and have fun with the translations? I know I would, but that's why I'm not a monk I guess. Anyway, those inconsistencies are a major reason why I'm not Christian anymore. I was raised Episcopalian too.

danieliza1127 · August 2009

So are you asking us if we would eat a pretzel that tastes like banana?!Eh, I ate them all already.

I just don't understand how the banana could get through the sealed plastic baggy like that. It tis a mystery to me.

Soon-to-be Mrs. Vogt · August 2009

What it taught me, was to be more open minded to others and to not take the Bible literally. This, exactly.I went to work for a Christian mission (I actually ran the program) a few years ago, thinking it would make a stronger Christian.What it taught me was that I needed to open my eyes, take off my blinders, and question what I'd been taught. When I went to learn about different religions, I could see the similarities in many of them that I never knew were there. E - isn't it Judaism that teaches you to question your teachings in an attempt to strengthen your faith? Forgive me if I'm remembering incorrectly.But whichever religion that is from - I think it is exceptionally wise.

mrsLesGrossman · August 2009

NiteSprite, that was a fairly ignorant comment. They are not direct translations, at all. I can give you specific Old Testament in Hebrew and the English has several different interpretations, especially with how flawed the prose in King James version is, the interpretations actually change the meaning. The three verses I posted do contradict each other, there have been lengthy scholar discussions about the details and how they don't add up. Here is another which interests me greatly because it seems to promote ignorance. How can you make a firm decision yourself if you are not told to question what you are learning? PRO 4:7 Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding. ECC 1:18 For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow. 1CO 1:19: "For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent."

sarah0725 · August 2009

Bananas can do anything. They are a super food.

Night_Sprite · August 2009

That is another good point, TLV. Biblical translations are fraught with errors.

tlv204 · August 2009

Ditto vogt. All religions have something to teach people about how to be better people. It's the parts that people use as cause to fight each other that I ignore, and therefore why I'm not technically a Christian.

Night_Sprite · August 2009

I didn't say they're direct translations. There have been massive interpretational difference. I never even commented on the passages you posted. Coco, his family is Church of the Lutheran Confession.

Lauren Beth · August 2009

I think that you can find inconsistencies and "contradictions" in the Bible if you look for them. When passages are taken out of context then they may look like they contradict each other. If you leave the Bible in context and read it with an open mind, then more things can make sense that way. Too many times people make up their mind first, then find a Bible verse to prove their point and make it fit with their own beliefs/ideology.

gkb0910 · August 2009

Vogt-I had a religion class in college about Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam. One of them taught about 'breaking the glass.' I think it may have been Islam. Basically it says that everyone questions their religion, and when that happens it is called breaking the glass. Often times questioning it makes your beliefs stronger.

BecW2be · August 2009

Oh I wasn't arguing between the religions either. I just meant that for me I can't believe in a loosely and multiply translated text, no matter how divine it's supposed to be. Hell, a PP also made a good point in that it was passed on orally before it was even written, so there's not a language on earth that will help me know what God originally meant. I'm screwed! But I'll never believe word for word something that a human wrote, no matter how closely he spoke with God. Humans are flawed, and every time I try to get into organized religion a flawed human takes the "word" of God, effs it up the A, and then I'm pissed off at heaven again. It's not God's fault humans are fucktards. So, in the end, I believe in God, and I believe we all call and see something different when we reference him. I believe it will never take a building, a book or a person to get me into heaven, and no person will ever control any part of my life as a means to make me "obey" God. Especially my mind. And I still want a martini. I'm pretty sure God is A-ok with that.

danieliza1127 · August 2009

Too many times people make up their mind first, then find a Bible verse to prove their point and make it fit with their own beliefs/ideology.Exactly my point. Christians do it to prove their points and non-Christians do it to prove their points.

seriously, let's talk about something

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