Picking up a Bible for the first time

[BloomingAzaleas]

I've never really been religious or grew up in a religious family, but I used to live in a very religious area and I didn't really understand everything about it.

Today, I was just a little curious about religion again for once, so I picked up a Bible and started reading it. I've only read a bit of Genesis right now but I'll give my impressions on it.

1. It's very interesting to draw connections between what it says and how it relates to western culture in general, I really like picking apart value systems and understanding it.

2. The lore is somewhat entertaining to be honest, and there's a lot of implications on the world if taken literally, I still wonder what a serpent would look like before being cursed…

3. It's honestly kind of poorly written, and by that I mean the structure of its stories is rather, unimpressive and uninteresting…. There will also be entire chapters just listing out who was born from who.

4. Reading it gave me a weird feeling, like comprehending what it means to be estranged from God kinda gave me chills for some reason.

Has reading this made me a believer? I don't think it has. But it does have me more interested in Christian culture, maybe I'll check out a church some time too.

 

[Pluto]

 

[Halfhourdays]

May I recommend this book?

 

[BloomingAzaleas]

May I recommend this book?View attachment 163324

Unironically I would read something like this if it was in manga/comic format

 

[Nobody'sHero]

 

[Halfhourdays]

Unironically I would read something like this if it was in manga/comic format

Crumb's work is amazing, the illustrated Genesis is actually quite good.

 

[The_Hunter]

4. Reading it gave me a weird feeling, like comprehending what it means to be estranged from God kinda gave me chills for some reason.

I'm curious to hear your feelings on this. Feel free to have at it!

 

[BloomingAzaleas]

I'm curious to hear your feelings on this. Feel free to have at it!

It was kinda like feeling watched honestly!
Like that reading it made me feel kinda meek and shy.
It's kinda hard to describe but I liken the feeling similar to another spiritual experience I had, where I believed I had met an angel.

 

[KillingPain267]

I've read the Bible cover to cover over 20 times and even studied the genealogies. You learn something new every time.

 

[The_Hunter]

It was kinda like feeling watched honestly!
Like that reading it made me feel kinda meek and shy.
It's kinda hard to describe but I liken the feeling similar to another spiritual experience I had, where I believed I had met an angel.

would you describe this feeling as positive or negative? (feel free to be honest, too--!)

 

[possessed]

I used to be a really dedicated Christian. But after reading the Bible and hearing what the "professionals" have to say about, I became an Atheist.

 

[BloomingAzaleas]

would you describe this feeling as positive or negative? (feel free to be honest, too--!)

Neutral, a little bit afraid or meek as I said before, but I consider that a neutral thing

 

[The_Hunter]

would you prefer to have this feeling or to have this sensation subside?

 

[BloomingAzaleas]

I used to be a really dedicated Christian. But after reading the Bible and hearing what the "professionals" have to say about, I became an Atheist.

Tbh I wonder how many people have actually read it or just absent-mindedly just follow what other people have to say…

would you prefer to have this feeling or to have this sensation subside?

I have no preference for how my emotions play out frankly, even if it made me sad I wouldn't mind if it stayed or left, same for happy and comfortable.

If it is God's will to make me feel like this than so be it, or something like

 

[The_Hunter]

I think if divine enstrangement is possible, then the idea of God really does lose a lot of it's value--after all, I imagine the whole purpose of the God concept itself is to include and embrace every consciousness--so I think if there was a God, then enstrangement would not be possible, and it likely wouldn't give people side eyes for insignificant ideas such as opinions on religions. Just my own take!
I don't think divine enstrangement is possible [if we want to give genuine weight to this paradigm of divinity]. If there truly is a divine consciousness, a higher sentience comprehending all of us--it makes no sense for this entity to bestow side eyes to anybody for inconsequential things like opinions on religions.

One may feel estranged, but any divinity worth trusting ought to embrace regardless, and not reject or estrange at all--if refuge cannot be sought in it no matter what, if one must fear estrangement, then that's no good--it ought to be a source of hope, not fear. That is what I think all people interested in less materialist convictions should keep in mind when finding their feel in supernatural concepts. It should make your life better, is what I firmly believe on that concept.

 

[BloomingAzaleas]

From what I've read so far in Genesis, there seems to be a lot of themes of might-makes-right. For even though we would have the same understanding of right and wrong as God who are we to judge Him and His actions, for how could we ever make Him face consequences?
That kind of powerlessness is what made me feel kind of meek when reading. It doesn't matter what he does, in the end his "will" is always right.

As for estrangement… I always liked the interpretation that Hell is not a place but a position estranged from God.
I… don't like feeling abandoned, even if it is from parents who I don't like, feeling abandoned in a sense itself a personal hell, so it makes me feel a little odd when I read.

 

[Forveleth]

Tbh I wonder how many people ...absent-mindedly just follow what other people have to say…

Most of them. There is a running joke that Christians know less of the Bible than anyone else (Catholics, especially) and it is very true. I was raised Catholic and let me tell you NO ONE in my family could quote you a verse outside of the major ones everyone knows.

Sheep is the correct word for Christians. They mindlessly follow whatever the church leaders say to them. They do not think for themselves. If someone tells them to do something blatantly against the Bible, they do it because no one bothers to fact check. It is how Christianity has become such a mess.