LOGO
Reply to Thread New Thread
Old 01-07-2010, 05:52 PM   #1
patrycjakolekk

Join Date
Oct 2005
Posts
564
Senior Member
Default Suggest a Biblical "Cliff's Notes"
So, my husband and I are atheist/agnostic yet have extensive knowledge of the Bible due to religious training as kids and teens. We don't attend church, but would like our daughter to have some knowledge of the Bible in a factual sense. I think that having very little knowledge of a text which is so influential in peoples lives can hinder empathy and understanding. My husband and I have discussed many aspects with her and her social studies class taught world religions, but the unit discussing Christianity and Judaism was very short as it was assumed that most kids already have exposure to it.

She's 14 and an advanced reader, but easily loses interest in books that aren't action-packed. She loves books by Christopher Moore, Anne Rice, etc. I'm considering getting her the R. Crumb Genesis. This only covers book one, however. Any suggestions for an interesting summary of the Bible for a non-believer?

Thanks.
patrycjakolekk is offline


Old 01-07-2010, 08:02 PM   #2
KahiroSamo

Join Date
Oct 2005
Posts
461
Senior Member
Default
I find this pretty amusing:

Skeptic's Annotated Bible / Quran / Book of Mormon
KahiroSamo is offline


Old 01-07-2010, 08:05 PM   #3
pE71J5Sw

Join Date
Oct 2005
Posts
433
Senior Member
Default
^beat me to it.
pE71J5Sw is offline


Old 01-07-2010, 08:06 PM   #4
soonahonsefalh

Join Date
Oct 2005
Posts
603
Senior Member
Default
I recommend the works of Paul G. Humber.
soonahonsefalh is offline


Old 01-07-2010, 08:17 PM   #5
dr-eavealer

Join Date
Oct 2005
Posts
603
Senior Member
Default
Most of the biblical stories in modern culture come from Genesis, Exodus, and the Christian Gospels.

Giving her the Crumb Genesis then watching The Ten Commandments and Jesus Christ Superstar (or Mel Gibson's Passion movie, if you want less singing and more antisemitism) wouldn't be a terrible background.
dr-eavealer is offline


Old 01-07-2010, 08:19 PM   #6
DrKirkNoliss

Join Date
Oct 2005
Posts
476
Senior Member
Default
I think this is a good idea as a part of a larger "world religions" education.

I was raised by non-religious (but not atheist) parents and I found myself religiously illiterate as a result. I've been declaring my atheism since I was 11, but I do think religious education is important even to the non-religious.
DrKirkNoliss is offline


Old 01-07-2010, 08:29 PM   #7
duncanalisstmp

Join Date
Oct 2005
Posts
396
Senior Member
Default
I think this is a good idea as a part of a larger "world religions" education.

I was raised by non-religious (but not atheist) parents and I found myself religiously illiterate as a result. I've been declaring my atheism since I was 11, but I do think religious education is important even to the non-religious.
The sad thing about religious class is that they only teach "their" religion. Much of it is from a 5-10 year old mentality/ perspective. I would be more open to religious class if it was taught in a broader sense, otherwise to me it seems more akin to brainwashing that isn't very educational.
duncanalisstmp is offline


Old 01-07-2010, 08:33 PM   #8
TZtrDuso

Join Date
Oct 2005
Posts
507
Senior Member
Default
What religious class are you talking about?
TZtrDuso is offline


Old 01-07-2010, 09:20 PM   #9
Blellurgews

Join Date
Oct 2005
Posts
442
Senior Member
Default
Most of the biblical stories in modern culture come from Genesis, Exodus, and the Christian Gospels.

Giving her the Crumb Genesis then watching The Ten Commandments and Jesus Christ Superstar (or Mel Gibson's Passion movie, if you want less singing and more antisemitism) wouldn't be a terrible background.
I like that idea^^. Esp Jesus Christ superstar, probably one of the best movies ever. I might have to watch it on YouTube right now, its just that good... WHY do you want to know, don't you mind about the future, don't you try to think ahead! save tomorrow for tomorrow, think about today instead...

YouTube - Jesus Christ Superstar (1973) What's The Buzz/Strange Thing Mystifying (3) (((Stereo)))
Blellurgews is offline


Old 01-07-2010, 09:38 PM   #10
Searmoreibe

Join Date
Oct 2005
Posts
384
Senior Member
Default
If she is interested in learning more about Judaism, she can contact your local synagogue (I'd suggest reform or conservative) and ask about up coming holiday festivals. Most will welcome people who are interested about learning more (Rabbis are first and foremost teachers). A lot of times they will have celebrations with lots of kids from the Hebrew school participating and explaining the history and aspects of the celebration. And you are unlikely to come across anyone proselytizing, just happy to share the information.

Particularly fun holidays for kids are:
Purim 2/28
Sukkot 9/23
Hanukah 12/2
Searmoreibe is offline


Old 01-07-2010, 11:14 PM   #11
jokiruss

Join Date
Oct 2005
Posts
394
Senior Member
Default
She might find books by Emmett Fox interesting.
jokiruss is offline


Old 01-08-2010, 04:06 AM   #12
Dertrioz

Join Date
Oct 2005
Posts
470
Senior Member
Default
What religious class are you talking about?
Sunday School
Dertrioz is offline


Old 01-08-2010, 04:13 AM   #13
7kitthuptarill

Join Date
Oct 2005
Posts
494
Senior Member
Default
Yeah, there are other, better choices for religious education for those not seeking conversion.
7kitthuptarill is offline


Old 01-08-2010, 04:14 AM   #14
myhackingtosh_ws

Join Date
Oct 2005
Posts
493
Senior Member
Default
That's meant as indoctrination, not as anything to do with comparative religions or history of religion.

If I ever have children, while the other kids are having nonsense crammed into their brains they'll be watching Cosmos on whatever format it is then instead.
myhackingtosh_ws is offline


Old 01-08-2010, 04:23 AM   #15
SHpuntik

Join Date
Oct 2005
Posts
608
Senior Member
Default
Buy her a New Revised Standard Edition of the Bible and just have her read the damn thing, or at least the first five books of the Old Testament and the Gospels. None of the individual stories or books is really that long, and (as Alex in A Clockwork Orange pointed out) there are all sorts of exciting stories of sex and murder in there.
SHpuntik is offline


Old 01-08-2010, 04:28 AM   #16
AmericaAirline 111

Join Date
Nov 2005
Posts
443
Senior Member
Default
My favorite is all the laws and junk cuz it's essentially the law code from an ancient civilization.

Also it's hilarious in its barbarity.

My other favorite is the story where she-bears eat children.
AmericaAirline 111 is offline


Old 01-08-2010, 04:42 AM   #17
AlexanderDrew

Join Date
Oct 2005
Posts
609
Senior Member
Default
I like that idea^^. Esp Jesus Christ superstar, probably one of the best movies ever. I might have to watch it on YouTube right now, its just that good... WHY do you want to know, don't you mind about the future, don't you try to think ahead! save tomorrow for tomorrow, think about today instead...

YouTube - Jesus Christ Superstar (1973) What's The Buzz/Strange Thing Mystifying (3) (((Stereo)))
Oh Gawd yes. When the movie was in the theaters I recall I saw it 3 or 4 times. Kind Herrod's song is my favorite number.

YouTube - Jesus Christ Superstar (1973) King Herods Song (16) (((Stereo)))
AlexanderDrew is offline


Old 01-08-2010, 04:51 AM   #18
68AttendGem

Join Date
Oct 2005
Posts
407
Senior Member
Default
I want a gold lame fishnet shawl, some ugly trannies and my own private island!

To balance out JCSS, I recommend Scorsese's Last Temptation, which is slow but makes you think at the end.
68AttendGem is offline


Old 01-08-2010, 05:15 AM   #19
Doncarlito

Join Date
Oct 2005
Posts
538
Senior Member
Default
One of the problems with basing one's biblical knowledge upon Cecil B. DeMille's "The Ten Commandments" is that, unlike in the Torah, there is a character, Nefretiri, (played by Frank Lloyd Wright's granddaughter, Anne Baxter), who utters the line, ``Oh Moses, you stubborn, splendid, adorable fool!"
Doncarlito is offline


Old 01-08-2010, 05:27 AM   #20
RagonaCon

Join Date
Oct 2005
Posts
484
Senior Member
Default
Thanks for all the great ideas, everyone!
RagonaCon is offline



Reply to Thread New Thread

« Previous Thread | Next Thread »
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 

All times are GMT +1. The time now is 06:42 AM.
Copyright ©2000 - 2012, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Search Engine Friendly URLs by vBSEO 3.6.0 PL2
Design & Developed by Amodity.com
Copyright© Amodity