Religion

edhopper

(33,551 posts) Sun Jul 22, 2018, 10:35 AM Jul 2018

Why is the Bible So Badly Written? [View all]

https://valerietarico.com/2018/01/28/why-is-the-bible-so-badly-written/

Millions of Evangelicals and other Christian fundamentalists believe that the Bible was essentially dictated by God to men who acted as human channelers. Each phrase is considered so perfect that it merits careful linguistic analysis to determine His precise meaning.

If that were the case, one would have to conclude that God is a terrible writer. Although some passages in the Bible are lyrical and gripping, many would get kicked back by any competent editor or writing professor— kicked back with a lot of red ink.

Interesting article

84 replies

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Highlight:

Why is the Bible So Badly Written? [View all] edhopper Jul 2018 OP

god never wrote the bible for starters beachbum bob Jul 2018 #1

Nothing new there, but she puts it together nicely. TreasonousBastard Jul 2018 #2

That is what I thought too edhopper Jul 2018 #6

If clearly written, then there safeinOhio Jul 2018 #3

Great article. onlyadream Jul 2018 #4

easy DBoon Jul 2018 #5

If you believe all contradictions without question atreides1 Jul 2018 #29

The bible is a compendium of oral history told by many different people, and Nitram Jul 2018 #7

Ya know, it is also odd how they left out a few "books". tonyt53 Jul 2018 #8

All Jewish people are quite aware of that. Gnostics, too. Nitram Jul 2018 #17

I think you mean divinely inspired edits Lordquinton Jul 2018 #19

I don't believe a single word of the bible is divinely inspired in the Evangelical sense of the Nitram Jul 2018 #21

There in lies the joke Lordquinton Jul 2018 #22

So why hasn't it been delegated to the ash heap of history like so many other badly written pieces? Major Nikon Jul 2018 #46

The majority of Christians through out history edhopper Jul 2018 #56

The Vast Majority... MineralMan Jul 2018 #58

You're supposed to sign up first, then maybe read it later. nt Permanut Jul 2018 #67

reading the Bible edhopper Jul 2018 #68

See there, you did it backwards. Permanut Jul 2018 #69

The Church doesn't care if you read it Ferrets are Cool Jul 2018 #80

I like this writer thucythucy Jul 2018 #9

There are also contradictions, as I recall left-of-center2012 Jul 2018 #10

They plagiarized a few older religions. Pope George Ringo II Jul 2018 #13

IMO the contradictions are one of the strengths of the bible, not as a holy work, but a Nitram Jul 2018 #18

They did exactly that Major Nikon Jul 2018 #47

The whole point of the OP was the contradictions in the bible. Nitram Jul 2018 #55

There were several points listed Major Nikon Jul 2018 #70

A random internet blogger with a Wordpress site. guillaumeb Jul 2018 #11

As compared to a random poster on a discussion forum, MineralMan Jul 2018 #12

Yes, she has a degree, and likes to write. guillaumeb Jul 2018 #24

Actually she quotes a number of biblical sholars throughtout the piece. edhopper Jul 2018 #31

I make no claim of superior knowledge. guillaumeb Jul 2018 #33

You claim the Bible edhopper Jul 2018 #37

The article expresses a viewpoint. guillaumeb Jul 2018 #71

As far as scholarship is concerned, nothing factual she said is outside scholarly consensus marylandblue Jul 2018 #42

Scholars can be found to support both sides. guillaumeb Jul 2018 #72

Both sides of which issues? marylandblue Jul 2018 #73

Her post is essentially literary criticism. guillaumeb Jul 2018 #74

Please explain your assertions in posts 33 and 72 marylandblue Jul 2018 #75

Here is an outright error, or misstatement if you prefer: guillaumeb Jul 2018 #78

Not sure if your dates are typos marylandblue Jul 2018 #82

And....... guillaumeb Jul 2018 #79

Don't see a problem here either marylandblue Jul 2018 #84

Lots of Fundies do believe it was dictated. Mariana Jul 2018 #14

"The God-Given Scriptures" MineralMan Jul 2018 #15

"God-breathed" Mariana Jul 2018 #59

Yes. So it was written. MineralMan Jul 2018 #60

I understand that's your opinion. MineralMan Jul 2018 #16

Do you consider what you said dialogue? Lordquinton Jul 2018 #20

Apparently so. MineralMan Jul 2018 #23

Better person to ask, do you consider that post to be dialogue? Lordquinton Jul 2018 #38

Nope. It's just an insult, directed at an author MineralMan Jul 2018 #39

I do. guillaumeb Jul 2018 #25

I understand your need to discount the author.. Permanut Jul 2018 #40

How did your gods inspire the authors? Voltaire2 Jul 2018 #43

So the question for believers in a god (and its associated holy text) becomes... trotsky Jul 2018 #49

So many translations by non-experts that it's hard to know what the no_hypocrisy Jul 2018 #26

Lost in translation wasupaloopa Jul 2018 #27

I blame poor handwriting True Dough Jul 2018 #28

I wouldn't call it "badly written" because that presumes a single author The Velveteen Ocelot Jul 2018 #30

You seem to be making two claims. Voltaire2 Jul 2018 #44

My point was that it doesn't make sense to call this particular "book" badly written The Velveteen Ocelot Jul 2018 #45

We can dismiss those beautiful bits of translation edhopper Jul 2018 #57

Exactly! The Velveteen Ocelot Jul 2018 #61

and we can assume edhopper Jul 2018 #62

Actually, they did. The committee that translated the KJV consisted of 47 scholars, The Velveteen Ocelot Jul 2018 #63

I had thought it is suspected edhopper Jul 2018 #64

Rumored for many years; no actual evidence exists. The Velveteen Ocelot Jul 2018 #65

Thanks edhopper Jul 2018 #66

God is divine, all powerful, all knowing, God's wisdom is beyond human kin... Thomas Hurt Jul 2018 #32

And God has no problem edhopper Jul 2018 #36

Where to start? Igel Jul 2018 #34

Your partly make and partly miss the article's point marylandblue Jul 2018 #41

As an historical document, it is fascinating. mn9driver Jul 2018 #35

Their origins are basically the same Major Nikon Jul 2018 #48

It's all marketing. Once the Romans adopted Christianity and canonized the Bible, MineralMan Jul 2018 #50

yes - and like all good marketing departments Locrian Jul 2018 #53

Yup. MineralMan Jul 2018 #54

Marking to read later underpants Jul 2018 #51

Don't blame Shakespeare...he only wrote one Psalm!! malchickiwick Jul 2018 #52

Authors got paid by the word? Freethinker65 Jul 2018 #76

you win the thread edhopper Jul 2018 #77

"Meaningless! Meaningless!" Bok_Tukalo Jul 2018 #81

from the article edhopper Jul 2018 #83