Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with bible

"Bible Fan Fiction", maybe?

EmpressCallipygos — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 19:17:12 -0800

Seeking either a) a specific name for the literary genre best described as "literature based on or inspired by Bible stories", or b) EXAMPLES of major works of literature based on or inspired by Bible stories. This is for a short article I'm writing to accompany a production of a play based on Mark Twain's "The Diaries of Adam and Eve". The client asked for an article "about other works that have been based on Bible stories like that", and said that he didn't remember what the name of that genre of work was. I don't know that there is one, but if there is, what is it?

Because that would help me in my Google-fu -- unfortunately, though, trying to find a list of works based on Bible stories is turning up a lot of links to "Bible Stories retold for kids" kinds of sites. So if there is no name for that genre, I'll also take examples of that genre.

The works I DO know about, and plan on writing about, are:

* John Milton's PARADISE LOST
* Neil Gaiman's use of Cain and Abel in the SANDMAN series
* The Jewish tradition of Midrash
* Maybe the Narnia chronicles (it's a stretch, and I will clarify it as thus)
* The Canon itself, and some of the Gnostic gospels
* Arthur C. Clarke's THE STAR

Any others? Nothing that esoteric, please -- this is going to be a short article! Thanks.

Comparing Koran, Bible

jcdill — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 16:34:46 -0800

Comparing controversial sections of the Qur'an (Koran), and of the New and Old Testament sections of the Bible. I'm looking for a resource (ideally a website, could also be a book) that compares contraversial sections of the Quran / Koran and of the New and Old Testament sections of the bible to show that all 3 religious source books have sections that aren't taken literally (word for word) today by the majority of their followers (Jews, Christians, Muslims).

I'm looking to show that taking the controversial sections of the Koran in isolation by themselves (without comparison to similar sections in the Bible) as being "proof" of what Muslims today believe in (e.g. that Muslims believe that they have a holy duty to kill all non-believers) is without basis, as most of today's Muslims don't believe those sections any more than most Christians believe (or follow) outdated sections from the Bible that forbid divorce, allow slaves, forbid eating shellfish, etc. (I admit ignorance about the sections of the Old Testament that modern Jews don't adhere to - I know very little about modern Jewish beliefs other than there are various orthodoxies.)

I'm trying to reconcile what I found when searching, for instance:

http://www.islamicperspectives.com/Quran.htm

http://skepticsannotatedbible.com/quran/says_about/religious_tolerance.html

Clearly these interpretations are contradictory and both can't be correct. The Skeptics Annotated Bible seems to have a more open and skeptical view of the Bible, but a negatively slanted view of the Qur'an and I don't feel comfortable relying on this source.

Please help me read The Master and Margarita.

cranberrymonger — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 21:26:00 -0800

Please help me read The Master and Margarita. I started The Master and Margarita a couple months ago and really enjoyed the writing but struggled with the names, the plot and the biblical references (everything, basically.) I put it down for a while and now I can't remember what happened. I don't want to start over again (I'm on chapter 18) so I need to find a decent summary to remind me what's happened so far.

Unfortunately all the plot summaries I find are overly (for my purposes) concerned with the context and the important bits of Russian history, the allusions or they contain spoilers because they summarize each of the three stories as a whole.

My ideal format would be chapter-by-chapter, explaining what important happened in each. It would be great if it's an online guide but I would like to hear about hard copy guides too.

Another thing is that I'm completely unfamiliar with the Bible. I would love a link to an online summary (not original text) of the sections that would help me understand The Master and Margarita. I'm sorry I can't be any more specific as I don't know what parts those are.

(I realize that the beauty of both books is probably in the nuances and I don't mean to discount how important that is but my priority is comprehension.)

Need Good Christian DVD for five year old.

lynnie-the-pooh — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 21:51:21 -0800

What is a good Bible Based DVD or movie that I can offer to my five year old daughter. I want her to get more knowledgable about the bible, but at her age, I'm not looking for a lot of blood or violence. Also, she asks me a lot why there are not girls in the stories. So maybe you know of a good movie that has Mary or Ruth in it? I want her to learn, but I need it to be age appropriate. She likes animation or live people. Thanks, Lynnie-the-pooh

Looking for a book recommendation to study Revelations

snap_dragon — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 07:38:49 -0800

Been reading the Bible in One Year...and nearing Revelations. Can anyone recommend a book on Revelations that comes from a Reformed perspective that is for the layperson? If not Reformed, other perspectives will do if you have any suggestions. In the end, I am sure nobody understands it but I have been putting of reading it and reading about it for years.

Looking for an old children's Bible story book

katillathehun — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 10:33:48 -0800

It's probably a long shot, but I'm looking for an old (1980s or older) children's Bible story book I had when I was a kid. I can't quite recall the name, but it might have been called something like "The Children's Bible Story Book." What I remember most about it were the awesome illustrations. Can anyone help? Here's what I remember about it:

* I had it in the '80s.

* It was hardbound

* The cover was sort of sky blue in color - I think there was a picture of Noah's ark on it with animals trailing out of it. This cover illustration wrapped around the spine and back cover.

* This wasn't an actual children's Bible - it was a collection of Bible stories.

* The illustrations were full of bright, vibrant colors and had a painted look to them. They were fairly realistic - not silly or cartoony in any way.

*It wasn't any of the books mentioned in this previous thread.

* The title was something like "The Children's Bible Story Book" but it was not the one by David C. Cook or Anne DeGraaf (I don't think so, anyway. The publishing dates and cover art shown on Amazon don't match). That might not have even been the title, but it sounds close, and my dad seemed to think it was something similar, too.

*Some images that particularly stuck out to me: Mary in purple weeping in a graveyard full of white lilies, Esther reclining while Haman begs for his life, a wealthy Ethiopian (with a goatee?) being baptized, Samson just before he was crushed to death.

It would be just awesome if I could find this again. The illustrations in that book taught me a lot about art and color. I used to spend hours studying the pictures and coming up with my own stories for them. I miss it!

Homosexuality in the Bible?

jca — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 14:21:46 -0800

Homosexuality and translations of the Bible? In an episode of the documentary series One Punk Under God, assistant pastor Matt Debenedictis says the following with regards to homosexuality and translations of the Bible:

"...the word homosexual never appeared in a translation of the Bible until 1949."

Can anyone find any information with regards to this claim? Such as which particular translation of the Bible and was it in the year 1949?

What is a great Biblical animation for kids

lynnie-the-pooh — Sat, 30 May 2009 22:39:10 -0800

Looking for a good animated Biblical DVD for my five year old. My daughter loves a DVD called Prince of Peace by Vision Video and it was made in the year 2004. Are there any other good videos or DVD's from that company or another company that make great animated Biblical stories for youngsters?

Thanks,
Lynnie-the-Pooh

Why Did Mary And Joseph Have To Go To Bethlehem?

Fiasco da Gama — Sun, 03 May 2009 17:40:25 -0800

What technology would have been available to Biblical census-takers? In Luke 2:1-7, everyone had to go back to their town to be registered. Assuming that these were actual events—and I know that the history is sketchy at best—why would a Roman/local regulation have mandated people to go back to their birthplaces for counting, instead of simply counting everyone in place with their birth details, as we do?

Is there a technological up-side to uprooting large numbers of people for a head-count?

Bible desert ice?

Baby_Balrog — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 18:33:02 -0800

What's the bible verse that tells how to make ice in the desert? I swear it was something other than Exodus 16:14 but I could be wrong. I thought it mentioned a damp depression or something.

(I'm familiar with evaporative cooling and how ice in the desert can be made - looking for the bible verse about it.)

Atlas of Biblical Rome in Detail ...

snap_dragon — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 15:50:06 -0800

I'm trying to find a good atlas that shows all of the Roman Roads built throughout the Roman Empire for my pastor friend. I think there were some 53,000 miles of highway built by the Romans, and, as he is preaching through Acts and following Paul's journeys, he'd like to have a good atlas that shows the period Roman district names, cities, terrain features, and especially the roads. Do you have any idea where he might find something like that?

"It was a quarter past two when Moses parted the waters..."

np312 — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 00:32:08 -0800

Are specific times of day ever mentioned in the Old Testament or in its apocryphal writings? I know that somewhere in the New Testament it talks about Jesus doing something on the "9th hour of the 14th day of " etc.

But specifically in the Old Testament, are there any mentions of "noon" or "three hours past dawn" or anything like that? My google-fu is plumb tuckered out.

I'm also interested in any Biblical references to time that come from an astronomical perspective, like if the Old Testament references a particular arrangement of constellations overhead when something was happening.

The more specific you can be, the better! Thanks!

Alternatives to family bible for tracking family tree, offline or otherwise

GPF — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 08:02:39 -0800

I'd like some suggestions for a place to keep track of family births and events, much like traditionally done in a family bible. Books are nice, but all media considered. Points given in three categories: potential longevity, flexibility of data handling, and style. Some examples:

An acid-free archival printing of the Gutenberg bible:
- high longevity scores (books can last a long time)
- low data handling scores (once the system starts, its tough to change)
- mid style scores (admittedly subjective, but though iconic, its still a bible)

A full-blown premium plus account at Ancestry.com:
- mid longevity scores (the technology is unproven on large time scales)
- high data handling scores (much flexibility on online solutions)
- low style scores (can't really put it on a pedestal in the family library)

A mural in oil paint on the stone fence out back:
- low longevity scores (needs constant maintenance)
- low data handling (needs professional assistance)
- high style scores (probably the only one in the neighborhood)

Who were the members of the council of Laodicea?

bigmusic — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 10:30:33 -0800

I am looking for a list of people that participated (the people actually voting) in the Council of Laodicea. Any books or papers that detail their life would be beneficial as well.

Looking for contextual understanding of Hebrews 10:23

iamkimiam — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 17:07:13 -0800

Seeking advice about a quote from Hebrews 10:23, which states "Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful." This is from one of the books of the New Testament (Epistle to the Hebrews). I have no religious background knowledge. This quote is referenced in the data portion of a research paper I'm writing. I'm trying to not only understand the quote and what type of message it sends to an audience, but how the quote itself fits into the big picture of Epistle to the Hebrews, and the New Testament. The Wikipedia page is not very useful because it doesn't explain the quote, or the book of Hebrews in context. I'd like to know what was going on before, after, during this time/passage/letter. What is Epistle to the Hebrews for? What is the significance of the message? If you are a religious person, what does this passage mean to you?

A brief summary of events is great...book recommendations or heavy reading material not so much. I just need a basic understanding for now, so that I can apply the knowledge and move on with writing.

Thanks so much!

bible, book, children, religion, philosophy

jujube — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 06:55:38 -0800

Please recommend a good Bible for children. My daughter has become interested in Christianity, and would like to have a Bible. Please recommend a good Bible for children.

By good, I mean:
1. It must be well-written.
2. The illustrations (if it is illustrated) should be somewhat "historically accurate." Meaning, Mary and Jesus should not look Anglo, etc.

For example, this makes me cringe. This one, on the other hand, looks more promising.

Thanks in advance.

Help me read the Bible

arcticwoman — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 05:45:40 -0800

I've never read the Bible, and I'd like to. Which version should I read and what resources are good ones to help me understand and historically contextualize what I'm reading?

Bible quotes for a play

pipti — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 10:36:25 -0800

Working on a play. A character--a minister--makes a passing comment about the evils of gentrification. I'd like him to wryly refer to...[insert Bible quote here]. Any ideas? This minister reverses himself later, if it matters.

Book about the Bible

justkevin — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 09:45:23 -0800

What's a good book about the Good Book? I'd like to read the Bible again. I was raised Catholic and have the general memory of Bible studies that most ex-Catholics have. Since my apostasy I haven't really looked at it, except to occasionally verify that it says what some people might be claiming it said.

What I'd like to read (and maybe this hasn't been written yet) is a version that attempts to annotate the text of the bible with the following sorts of information:

Who do we think originally wrote this passage?
Is there a general consensus on what this means and why it's in here?
If this is referring to an historical event, what do we know about this event from outside sources?
How do the different Judeo-Christian denominations differ on this section?

I'm not looking for a maximalist interpretation that makes any assumptions about the accuracy of the Bible. On the other hand, I definitely do not want a text that was written mainly to point out the many logical flaws of the bible (like the Skeptic's Annotated Bible).

Does the book or resource I'm describing exist? If not, what's the next best thing?

Of the many, many Bible translations available, which is the "best" and most thorough?

GilloD — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 09:07:22 -0800

I have recently become interested in Christianity. I wouldn't call it "born again" as much as "Got around to it". Anyway, I need a Bible. Being a book nerd, I consider this a serious task. More inside. It has come to my attention that a Bible is not a Bible is not a Bible. Just last night at Fellowship I saw that the words being read aloud were not the same as the words in the Bible I'd borrowed, nor were they the same as the words in the Pew bible.

So, there are a lot of variations. I'm deeply interested in the text and I'm looking for what might be generally accepted as the "best" translation, but also something with a lot of footnotes and addendum to explain why "rest" was chosen and what the original Greek/Hebrew word was and what it's implications may have been.

In short, I'm looking for the direct opposite of "The Message". Something dense and thorough. I want the ur-Bible. Suggestions welcome!

(And, yes, I know that the message of the text is more than just the words on the page and I understand that. But I'm also interested in expanding my, uh, field of thought, so to speak.)

What Bible be this?

bukharin — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 16:34:19 -0800

I am searching for the translation of the Bible in which the Book of Job 14:12 is rendered thus..... "Man, that is born of woman,
Is of few days and full of trouble.
Like a blossom he comes forth and is withered,
And he flees like the shadow and does not endure.
And he wastes away like a rotten thing,
Like a garment which the moth has eaten.
Yet upon such an one thou openest thine eye,
And bringest me into judgment with thyself.
O that there were a pure one among
the impure! There is not one.
If his days are decreed,
and the number of his months is with thee;
If thou hast established his bounds so that he may not pass over,
Look away from him that he may cease,
Until he enjoy, like a hireling, his day.

For there is hope for the tree;
If it be cut down, then it will sprout again,
And its shoots will not cease.
If its root becomes old in the ground,
And its trunk dies in the soil,
At the scent of water it will bud,
And put forth shoots like a young plant.
But man dies, and is powerless.
And man expires, and where is he?
Water departs from the lake,
And a stream parches and dries up;
So man lies down and does not rise.
Until the heavens are no more they will not awake,
Nor will they be roused from their sleep.
O that thou wouldst hide me in Sheol,
That thou wouldst conceal me until thy wrath turn,
That thou wouldst set me a time and remember me!
If a man dies, does he live?
All the days of my service I would wait
Until my turn should come;
Thou wouldst call and I would answer thee;
Thou wouldst yearn for the work of thy hands.
But now thou dost number my steps;
Dost thou not watch over my sin?
My transgression is sealed up in a bag,
And thou dost plaster over my guilt.
But if a mountain falls, it crumbles away;
And a rock moves from its place;
Water wears away stones;
Its torrent sweeps away the soil of the earth;
So thou destroyest the hope of man.
Thou dost overpower him forever and he passes on;
Thou dost change his looks and send him away.
His children come to honor, but he does not know it;
And they sink into insignificance, but he does not perceive them.
But he grieves over himself,
And he mourns over himself."

The poetry of this translation (this chapter was Xerox'd to me years ago) exceeds in my opinion that of others. As I wish to be more familiar with the Bible as a work of literature, I'd like to read it in this form. Anyone know?

"Your hair is like a flock of goats..." "Ooh baby, talk dirty to me!"

jluce50 — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 08:57:45 -0800

Is there any sort of modern translation of Song of Solomon that actually makes this literary work culturally accessible? I have long been fascinated by the erotic reputation of the biblical book of Song of Solomon. The problem is that any romantic ideals tend to evaporate upon actual reading of the book. There is just too much of a cultural divide to actually get caught up in the supposed eroticism.

For example:

"Turn your eyes away from me,
For they have confused me;
(N)Your hair is like a flock of goats
That have descended from Gilead.
"(O)Your teeth are like a flock of ewes
Which have come up from their washing,
All of which bear twins"

Uh, okay. I'm sure that was meant to be very complimentary but it's lost on me.

I've Google'd my heart out but I can't find any sort of translation that actually attempts to make it culturally relevant. I've found bits a pieces explained but I was hoping to find something a little more thorough. A complete translation with the weird parts changed to make sense to a modern reader would be ideal. I'd be perfectly willing to settle for an exposition or commentary that focuses on explaining the entire book verse by verse though.

I should add that all commentaries I've seen tend to explain it from an allegorical perspective (i.e. Solomon represents Christ and the Shulammite represents the church). I think this is a valid interpretation but it only works as an allegory if the story also works from a literal perspective (e.g. The Chronicles of Narnia only works as an allegory because it's a good story taken at face value). I'm only interested in the literal perspective at this point.

animals in the old testament

low affect — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 11:26:13 -0800

Where in the Old Testament can I find some mention of laws about the treatment of animals. I know there were all kinds of laws about animals; what to eat, what makes a suitable sacrifice, etc... I'm looking for anything about requirements during the raising of livestock. And I guess during the slaughter; Actually any laws about animals.
I know about the Kosher stuff, but is that in the actual Bible, or some other source?

If you can think of specific verses off the top of your head, great, but just pointing me to somewhere good to look for this stuff would be really helpful. Right now my google is failing me.

Animals on the Ark?

rachelpapers — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 11:07:50 -0800

Can you point me to a list of animals that were on Noah's Ark? My google skills have failed me. Could you help me find a list of animals that were on Noah's Ark? I'm less interested in those explorations of how Noah's Ark may or may not have been possible, and more interested in just a simple list of what animals the Bible says were on the ark.

Leviticus 20

plexi — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 13:38:05 -0800

Who decides what passages of the Old Testament are no longer relevant in Christian theology, and who grants this authority of interpretation?