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Thanks. That reminds me of what I was going to post.
I don't think the Bible is fiction in the sense that it is a knowingly fabricated story just for amusement. It may be that Job could qualify as fiction as a moralistic tale intended to illustrate a point, just as not a few novels are intended to push a particular viewpoint.
It could be classified as Myth but myth is just religious truth that other believers don't believe in.
It is not actually history though it does contain quite a bit of history, or can be given the benefit of the doubt. It occurs to me that a lot of 'prophecy' is taken as restrospective history but, if it was written beforehand, it may not have happened. Those events which can be cross - checked independently look to be based on some history but are 'tweaked' to show the hand of God.
It's not a history just for the sake of it, though. Book 1 is history to show how God made the Jews his own people. Book 2 is to prove that Jesus was who the Christians said he was.
So it's a work of propaganda. It may contain history, exhortations, poems and illustrative tales. It contains a lot of things but religious propaganda is basically what it is. Whether it's true religious propaganda is for the individual to decide.
It could be classified as Myth but myth is just religious truth that other believers don't believe in.
I hear what you are saying, but the last part of your statement, I think, moves it to the realm of myth - depending on point of view. I agree that myth is "religious truth", but would append to that: for those for whom those myths are written. In the case of the Old Testament, I would say that those stories are myths for the Jews as those books were written by and for them. For Christians (evangelicals and fundamentalists, that is) , I would agree that the Old Testament is propaganda as they misuse those books that were not written for or by them (with the exception of the deliberate and accidental mistranslations and additions/deletions) to "prove" their points.
I hear what you are saying, but the last part of your statement, I think, moves it to the realm of myth - depending on point of view. I agree that myth is "religious truth", but would append to that: for those for whom those myths are written. In the case of the Old Testament, I would say that those stories are myths for the Jews as those books were written by and for them. For Christians (evangelicals and fundamentalists, that is) , I would agree that the Old Testament is propaganda as they misuse those books that were not written for or by them (with the exception of the deliberate and accidental mistranslations and additions/deletions) to "prove" their points.
I think we are on the same page. I'm thinking of myth as in a lot of stories about gods but not with a lot of history about them. The Illiad could be regarded as myth but is more history or a historic novel, depending upon how much one believes it.
Remarkably atheism isn't a religion when it is needed to say it doesn't belong on a religion forum and a religion when it is needed to argue that it is merely a 'Faith'.
Atheists don't think it is a religion at all but theists do, so it should not be excluded from a religion forum. Nor is it a philosophy, but some theists have insisted that it is. So it belongs in a philosophy forum.
"We demand that you can't keep us out!" (Hitch-Hiker's Galactic guide)
Now that's a disagreement with flair, wit and brilliance. It brings energy to the table. You continue to impress, AREQUIPA
If only everyone else on the A&A is like you, I'd enjoy that board. All I find there is grievance, disgruntlement and no class
Tolkien and Lewis were thick friends coz despite one's atheism and the other's theism, they were men of class, wit and literary genius.
Perhaps you would like to give us a historical accounting of what species of fish would be capable of holding a man intact and alive for three days in its stomach. Or, perhaps you would help us to understand the science behind a the playing of a musical instrument that is capable of destroying masonry walls?
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