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Author Topic:   Read anything by God or Darwin lately?
Son Goku
Inactive Member


Message 30 of 35 (510310)
05-29-2009 9:18 PM


Bible
I have read the Bible cover to cover in my teen years and again when I was around 20. My basic synopsis:
Genesis is quite interesting in a thematic way. The creation story isn't that good, but the flood and the stories of Abraham, Joseph and Jacob. They have a tactile "life in the ancient desert" feel. Especially good if you reading it with other Mesopotamian literature.
The next four books are mind crushingly boring, Exodus is a big let down.
Then next few prophet books are just dull.
The books concerning the Kings are very interesting because they're legendary rather than mythical in that they're probably based on some nugget of fact. They tell you a lot about what Israel thought of itself. Plus the language they use is so rich with idioms.
The Proverbs and Psalms books are just silly nonsense, "stay away from scary men!", e.t.c. There are a few good poems, but they're probably best analyzed independently.
The later prophet books like Hosea are some of the most random and crazy things I've ever read. By the end you wouldn't be surprised if cowboys and cyborg-Moses appeared.
The New Testament is just to "nice" or neutral or something. Acts are quite interesting in a pseudo-historical way. Paul is a weirdo. Finally Revelations is too difficult to read, you'd probably need to be an expert in first century symbolism.
Darwin I haven't read, for the same reason I never read Newton's Principia. You can learn it better with modern books, I'd read them only for historical interest.

Replies to this message:
 Message 32 by AZPaul3, posted 06-30-2010 2:24 AM Son Goku has not replied

  
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