I refuse to believe anybody actually reads the Bible. It’s not really laid out in such a way as to be readable, it’s just a bunch of events that ostensibly happened that you’re supposed to gleam some sort of lesson from. It’s really boring actually.
Comment on Anon doesn't enjoy anything
mfed1122@discuss.tchncs.de 1 day ago
The feel-good (and still very fake and gay) greentexts were always the worst, and largely because of these cringe messages. Implying becoming Christian was the first step. I wouldn’t be surprised if these types of posts are just grassroots conversion attempts from various evangelists.
echodot@feddit.uk 20 hours ago
WeirdGoesPro@lemmy.dbzer0.com 18 hours ago
I’m not a Christian, but I think you’re misunderstanding how “holy” texts are supposed to work. They aren’t designed to be a riveting story, or even to make any sense in order. They’ve been translated so many times that they are a labyrinth of words compared to whatever the original intent was. The only way they function now is like sifting through word salad to find the occasional insightful line that resonates with you.
That isn’t necessarily bad—it can actually make the kernels of wisdom more impactful when you’ve been using your interpretive brain to get through the rest of it—but the problem lies in people finding meaning or justification in the horrible bits.
I actually think Jewish scholars have the right idea in a way: they treat the Torah as a story, a mathematical puzzle, and a secret code all at the same time. The wisdom is in the interpretation, not the literalness of it. People are supposed to question it because there is no predefined truth to swallow from it.
Flax_vert@feddit.uk 12 hours ago
The New Testament is basically just a collection of witness accounts and letters. Papyrus was expensive so some things do have to be kept short and sweet.
Although they generally have only been translated once. Modern Bible translations go directly from the original greek.
Buddahriffic@lemmy.world 10 hours ago
Though not first hand witness accounts.
Cethin@lemmy.zip 19 hours ago
It also jumps around a bunch, with several people telling, supposedly, the same story but it happens differently each time.
WeirdGoesPro@lemmy.dbzer0.com 18 hours ago
That’s how a lot of eye witness accounts go, and the writers of the Bible aren’t even eye witnesses. It’s no wonder that everybody has a totally different version of events.
rumschlumpel@feddit.org 14 hours ago
Great point. The idea that a relatively normal person would completely turn their life around just because they read the New Testament is fairly absurd, especially if their issue is depression and not something that’s talked about more directly in the text like how you’re supposed to be compassionate and forgiving instead of hateful. Maybe if you’re already very religious and your old church is always preaching against compassion and forgiveness.
Flax_vert@feddit.uk 12 hours ago
Depends why you’re depressed. The book of romans is pretty reassuring
bent@feddit.dk 15 hours ago
I relate to the meme honestly. But my first step was LSD.
Kanda@reddthat.com 12 hours ago
The lsd only showed you what you brought with you.
lessthanluigi@lemmy.sdf.org 12 hours ago
Average MK-Ultra victim
Mpatch@lemmy.world 23 hours ago
Lol pastor got caught browsing b/ after dark. Had to come up with something quick.