Best holy book! (In terms of narrative) (paradise, hell, Egyptian)

[Fillmont]

So which is the best holy book, when taken solely literature? The one with the best characters, best story arcs, most satisfying resolution.

[ovcatto]

Well it isn't a book per se (unless you can count Edith Hamilton's Mythology:Timeless Tales of Gods and Heros) but I think that you would have a hell of time finding better plot lines, characters or story arcs.

[brooklynborndad]

Originally Posted by ovcatto

Well it isn't a book per se (unless you can count Edith Hamilton's Mythology:Timeless Tales of Gods and Heros) but I think that you would have a hell of time finding better plot lines, characters or story arcs.

isnt it based on specific books like Homer, Ovid, etc, etc? Wouldnt it be more fair to throw them in - or at least Homer, which IIUC was treated somewhat like scripture (I think Ovid etc were not).

I mean I could come up with a bunch of literary works BASED on the bible that might be better in plot lines, characters, and story arcs than any particular holy books.

I might even mention The Satanic Verses in lieu of the holy Quran, but then I never did finish it. Are there any literary works by believing muslims based on the Quran?

[ovcatto]

Originally Posted by brooklynborndad

I mean I could come up with a bunch of literary works BASED on the bible that might be better in plot lines, characters, and story arcs than any particular holy books.

You are obviously biased.

isnt it based on specific books like Homer, Ovid, etc, etc? Wouldnt it be more fair to throw them in - or at least Homer, which IIUC was treated somewhat like scripture (I think Ovid etc were not).

I thought of that, but considered each to be part of a compendium much as any particular book of the Bible or the Torah would be.

I might even mention The Satanic Verses in lieu of the holy Quran, but then I never did finish it.

I have to plead guilty on the account as well. I am so bogged down in non-fiction that I can't remember the last time I read a fictional account.

[Fillmont]

Originally Posted by ovcatto

Well it isn't a book per se (unless you can count Edith Hamilton's Mythology:Timeless Tales of Gods and Heros) but I think that you would have a hell of time finding better plot lines, characters or story arcs.

I do remember reading Hamilton's Mythology in high school, although details elude my memory. I have read the Iliad a few times, which is pretty amazing.

Originally Posted by brooklynborndad

isnt it based on specific books like Homer, Ovid, etc, etc? Wouldnt it be more fair to throw them in - or at least Homer, which IIUC was treated somewhat like scripture (I think Ovid etc were not).

I mean I could come up with a bunch of literary works BASED on the bible that might be better in plot lines, characters, and story arcs than any particular holy books.

I might even mention The Satanic Verses in lieu of the holy Quran, but then I never did finish it. Are there any literary works by believing muslims based on the Quran?

As stated before, the Iliad is pretty much amazing. I wasn't that big a fan of the Odyssey though.

I have also read several works of fiction based on biblical stories, some of which I have enjoyed greatly. I'm mainly wondering how well holy books work as literature on their own, though.

I also realize that most holy books are actually collections of individual books themselves, so it's not exactly fair to try to compare them to literature written by just one author. So maybe the better question would be which "chapters" or subset books are the best in terms of literature?

[brooklynborndad]

Originally Posted by ovcatto

You are obviously biased.
.

The mind is its own place, and in itself
Can make a heav’n of hell, a hell of heav’n.

Paradise Lost, John Milton




"Ithat, but considered each to be part of a compendium much as any particular book of the Bible or the Torah would be."

I would toss together the Illiad and the Odyssey, as the ancients did. If you are going to do ALL greek myths together, you need to add to the bible the legendary material found in Midrash = see Amazon.com: Legends of the Jews (2-Volume Set) (9780827607095): Louis Ginzberg, David Stern: Books

[ovcatto]

Originally Posted by brooklynborndad

I would toss together the Illiad and the Odyssey, as the ancients did. If you are going to do ALL greek myths together, you need to add to the bible the legendary material found in Midrash = see Amazon.com: Legends of the Jews (2-Volume Set) (9780827607095): Louis Ginzberg, David Stern: Books

I do hate it when folks demonstrate their intellectual superiority.

You may now join Rifleman, Sanspeur, and AREQUIPA at the head of the class.

[Stavemaster]

Originally Posted by Fillmont

So which is the best holy book, when taken solely literature? The one with the best characters, best story arcs, most satisfying resolution.

Maybe the Bhagavad-Gita? I hear the Mayan Popol Vuh is pretty cool but I've never read it myself.

[Fred314X]

I don't know if it qualifies as a 'holy book,' but I'm casting my vote for the ancient Egyptian Book of the Dead.

[Fillmont]

Originally Posted by Fred314X

I don't know if it qualifies as a 'holy book,' but I'm casting my vote for the ancient Egyptian Book of the Dead.

Hey, close enough! As long as it's good reading, I'm interested.

Definitely going to be checking out the Gita and the Popul Vuh too. Popol Vuh. Heh.