Loved It a tremwndous amount . If you ever find yourself in Grand Cayman there is a drink in the SeaFire lobby bar (amazing place) inspired by the book.
Can someone explain me how so many people can consider the bible as the "greatest book in history"?
Make ready to slaughter his sons for the guilt of their fathers. - Isaiah 14:21
Happy is the one who seizes your infants and dashes them against the rocks. – Psalm 137:9 If the girls virginity is not found, they shall bring the girl to the entrance of her fathers house and there her townsman shall stone her to death, because she committed a crime. - Deuteronomy 22:20
You may purchase male or female slaves from among the foreigners who live among you. You may also purchase the children of such resident foreigners, including those who have been born in your land. You may treat them as your property, passing them on to your children as a permanent inheritance. - Leviticus 25:44
The people of Samaria must bear their guilt, because they have rebelled against their God. They will fall by the sword;their little ones will be dashed to the ground, their pregnant women ripped open. - Hosea 13:16
When a man strikes his male or female slave with a rod so hard that the slave dies under his hand, he shall be punished. If, however, the slave survives for a day or two, he is not to be punished, since the slave is his own property. - Exodus 21:20-21
If a man lies with a male as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination; they shall surely be put to death; their blood is upon them. — Leviticus 20:13
Slaves, obey your earthly masters with deep respect and fear. Serve them sincerely as you would serve Christ. - Ephesians 6:5
See, the day of the Lord is coming — a cruel day, with wrath and fierce anger. . . . I will put an end to the arrogance of the haughty. . . . Their infants will be dashed to pieces before their eyes; their houses will be looted and their wives violated. - Isaiah 13:9
And if ye will not for all this hearken unto me, but walk contrary unto me; Then I will walk contrary unto you also in fury; and I, even I, will chastise you seven times for your sins. And ye shall eat the flesh of your sons, and the flesh of your daughters shall ye eat. - Leviticus 26:27
Hear and give ear; do not be haughty, for the Lord has spoken. . . . And if you say in your heart, ‘Why have these things come upon me?’ it is for the greatness of your iniquity that your skirts are lifted up, and you are violated . . . because you have forgotten me and trusted in lies. I myself will lift up your skirts over your face, and your shame will be seen. - Jeremiah 13:15
Anyone arrogant enough to reject the verdict of the judge or of the priest who represents the LORD your God must be put to death. Such evil must be purged from Israel. - Deuteronomy 17:12
You should not let a sorceress live. - Exodus 22:17
When the LORD your God hands it over to you, kill every man in the town. But you may keep for yourselves all the women, children, livestock, and other plunder. You may enjoy the spoils of your enemies that the LORD your God has given you. - Deuteronomy 20:10-14
A man or a woman who acts as a medium or fortuneteller shall be put to death by stoning; they have no one but themselves to blame for their death.- Leviticus 20:27
All who curse their father or mother must be put to death. They are guilty of a capital offense. - Leviticus 20:9
If a man commits adultery with another man’s wife, both the man and the woman must be put to death. - Leviticus 20:10
A priest’s daughter who loses her honor by committing fornication and thereby dishonors her father also, shall be burned to death. - Leviticus 21:9
Whoever sacrifices to any god, except the Lord alone, shall be doomed. - Exodus 22:19
everyone who would not seek the Lord, the God of Israel, was to be put to death, whether small or great, whether man or woman. - Chronicles 15:12
Kill everyone whose forehead is not marked. Show no mercy; have no pity! Kill them all – old and young, girls and women and little children. But do not touch anyone with the mark. Begin your task right here at the Temple.” So they began by killing the seventy leaders. “Defile the Temple!” the LORD commanded. “Fill its courtyards with the bodies of those you kill! Go!” So they went throughout the city and did as they were told.” - Ezekiel 9:5
Their little children will be dashed to death right before their eyes. Their homes will be sacked and their wives raped by the attacking hordes. The attacking armies will shoot down the young people with arrows. They will have no mercy on helpless babies and will show no compassion for the children. - Isaiah 13:15
Suppose you hear in one of the towns the LORD your God is giving you that some worthless rabble among you have led their fellow citizens astray by encouraging them to worship foreign gods. In such cases, you must examine the facts carefully. If you find it is true and can prove that such a detestable act has occurred among you, you must attack that town and completely destroy all its inhabitants, as well as all the livestock. Then you must pile all the plunder in the middle of the street and burn it. Put the entire town to the torch as a burnt offering to the LORD your God. That town must remain a ruin forever; it may never be rebuilt. Keep none of the plunder that has been set apart for destruction. Then the LORD will turn from his fierce anger and be merciful to you. He will have compassion on you and make you a great nation, just as he solemnly promised your ancestors. “The LORD your God will be merciful only if you obey him and keep all the commands I am giving you today, doing what is pleasing to him. - Deuteronomy 13:13
Take the blasphemer outside the camp, and tell all those who heard him to lay their hands on his head. Then let the entire community stone him to death. Say to the people of Israel: Those who blaspheme God will suffer the consequences of their guilt and be punished. Anyone who blasphemes the LORD’s name must be stoned to death by the whole community of Israel. Any Israelite or foreigner among you who blasphemes the LORD’s name will surely die. - Leviticus 24:10
I repeat: Because the LORD considers it a holy day, anyone who works on the Sabbath must be put to death. - Exodus 31:12
Those are all from the Old Testament. The New Testament is fabulous
Can someone explain me how so many people can consider the bible as the "greatest book in history"?
Make ready to slaughter his sons for the guilt of their fathers. - Isaiah 14:21
Happy is the one who seizes your infants and dashes them against the rocks. – Psalm 137:9 If the girls virginity is not found, they shall bring the girl to the entrance of her fathers house and there her townsman shall stone her to death, because she committed a crime. - Deuteronomy 22:20
You may purchase male or female slaves from among the foreigners who live among you. You may also purchase the children of such resident foreigners, including those who have been born in your land. You may treat them as your property, passing them on to your children as a permanent inheritance. - Leviticus 25:44
The people of Samaria must bear their guilt, because they have rebelled against their God. They will fall by the sword;their little ones will be dashed to the ground, their pregnant women ripped open. - Hosea 13:16
When a man strikes his male or female slave with a rod so hard that the slave dies under his hand, he shall be punished. If, however, the slave survives for a day or two, he is not to be punished, since the slave is his own property. - Exodus 21:20-21
If a man lies with a male as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination; they shall surely be put to death; their blood is upon them. — Leviticus 20:13
Slaves, obey your earthly masters with deep respect and fear. Serve them sincerely as you would serve Christ. - Ephesians 6:5
See, the day of the Lord is coming — a cruel day, with wrath and fierce anger. . . . I will put an end to the arrogance of the haughty. . . . Their infants will be dashed to pieces before their eyes; their houses will be looted and their wives violated. - Isaiah 13:9
And if ye will not for all this hearken unto me, but walk contrary unto me; Then I will walk contrary unto you also in fury; and I, even I, will chastise you seven times for your sins. And ye shall eat the flesh of your sons, and the flesh of your daughters shall ye eat. - Leviticus 26:27
Hear and give ear; do not be haughty, for the Lord has spoken. . . . And if you say in your heart, ‘Why have these things come upon me?’ it is for the greatness of your iniquity that your skirts are lifted up, and you are violated . . . because you have forgotten me and trusted in lies. I myself will lift up your skirts over your face, and your shame will be seen. - Jeremiah 13:15
Anyone arrogant enough to reject the verdict of the judge or of the priest who represents the LORD your God must be put to death. Such evil must be purged from Israel. - Deuteronomy 17:12
You should not let a sorceress live. - Exodus 22:17
When the LORD your God hands it over to you, kill every man in the town. But you may keep for yourselves all the women, children, livestock, and other plunder. You may enjoy the spoils of your enemies that the LORD your God has given you. - Deuteronomy 20:10-14
A man or a woman who acts as a medium or fortuneteller shall be put to death by stoning; they have no one but themselves to blame for their death.- Leviticus 20:27
All who curse their father or mother must be put to death. They are guilty of a capital offense. - Leviticus 20:9
If a man commits adultery with another man’s wife, both the man and the woman must be put to death. - Leviticus 20:10
A priest’s daughter who loses her honor by committing fornication and thereby dishonors her father also, shall be burned to death. - Leviticus 21:9
Whoever sacrifices to any god, except the Lord alone, shall be doomed. - Exodus 22:19
everyone who would not seek the Lord, the God of Israel, was to be put to death, whether small or great, whether man or woman. - Chronicles 15:12
Kill everyone whose forehead is not marked. Show no mercy; have no pity! Kill them all – old and young, girls and women and little children. But do not touch anyone with the mark. Begin your task right here at the Temple.” So they began by killing the seventy leaders. “Defile the Temple!” the LORD commanded. “Fill its courtyards with the bodies of those you kill! Go!” So they went throughout the city and did as they were told.” - Ezekiel 9:5
Their little children will be dashed to death right before their eyes. Their homes will be sacked and their wives raped by the attacking hordes. The attacking armies will shoot down the young people with arrows. They will have no mercy on helpless babies and will show no compassion for the children. - Isaiah 13:15
Suppose you hear in one of the towns the LORD your God is giving you that some worthless rabble among you have led their fellow citizens astray by encouraging them to worship foreign gods. In such cases, you must examine the facts carefully. If you find it is true and can prove that such a detestable act has occurred among you, you must attack that town and completely destroy all its inhabitants, as well as all the livestock. Then you must pile all the plunder in the middle of the street and burn it. Put the entire town to the torch as a burnt offering to the LORD your God. That town must remain a ruin forever; it may never be rebuilt. Keep none of the plunder that has been set apart for destruction. Then the LORD will turn from his fierce anger and be merciful to you. He will have compassion on you and make you a great nation, just as he solemnly promised your ancestors. “The LORD your God will be merciful only if you obey him and keep all the commands I am giving you today, doing what is pleasing to him. - Deuteronomy 13:13
Take the blasphemer outside the camp, and tell all those who heard him to lay their hands on his head. Then let the entire community stone him to death. Say to the people of Israel: Those who blaspheme God will suffer the consequences of their guilt and be punished. Anyone who blasphemes the LORD’s name must be stoned to death by the whole community of Israel. Any Israelite or foreigner among you who blasphemes the LORD’s name will surely die. - Leviticus 24:10
I repeat: Because the LORD considers it a holy day, anyone who works on the Sabbath must be put to death. - Exodus 31:12
Another unbeliever with an entirely superficial understanding of The Bible coming to lecture believers and knowers of the truth. You speak of the laws of the hebrews, mosaic law, which some are still practiced by those vile serpents called Jews in their cherry-picked “Torah.” Christ, through fulfilling the prophecies of the Old Testament and sacrificing himself on the cross, has made a new covenant with his followers. I exhort you to turn to The Gospel and understand that Jesus Christ is your savior and your only means of salvation.
Can someone explain me how so many people can consider the bible as the "greatest book in history"?
Make ready to slaughter his sons for the guilt of their fathers. - Isaiah 14:21
Happy is the one who seizes your infants and dashes them against the rocks. – Psalm 137:9 If the girls virginity is not found, they shall bring the girl to the entrance of her fathers house and there her townsman shall stone her to death, because she committed a crime. - Deuteronomy 22:20
You may purchase male or female slaves from among the foreigners who live among you. You may also purchase the children of such resident foreigners, including those who have been born in your land. You may treat them as your property, passing them on to your children as a permanent inheritance. - Leviticus 25:44
The people of Samaria must bear their guilt, because they have rebelled against their God. They will fall by the sword;their little ones will be dashed to the ground, their pregnant women ripped open. - Hosea 13:16
When a man strikes his male or female slave with a rod so hard that the slave dies under his hand, he shall be punished. If, however, the slave survives for a day or two, he is not to be punished, since the slave is his own property. - Exodus 21:20-21
If a man lies with a male as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination; they shall surely be put to death; their blood is upon them. — Leviticus 20:13
Slaves, obey your earthly masters with deep respect and fear. Serve them sincerely as you would serve Christ. - Ephesians 6:5
See, the day of the Lord is coming — a cruel day, with wrath and fierce anger. . . . I will put an end to the arrogance of the haughty. . . . Their infants will be dashed to pieces before their eyes; their houses will be looted and their wives violated. - Isaiah 13:9
And if ye will not for all this hearken unto me, but walk contrary unto me; Then I will walk contrary unto you also in fury; and I, even I, will chastise you seven times for your sins. And ye shall eat the flesh of your sons, and the flesh of your daughters shall ye eat. - Leviticus 26:27
Hear and give ear; do not be haughty, for the Lord has spoken. . . . And if you say in your heart, ‘Why have these things come upon me?’ it is for the greatness of your iniquity that your skirts are lifted up, and you are violated . . . because you have forgotten me and trusted in lies. I myself will lift up your skirts over your face, and your shame will be seen. - Jeremiah 13:15
Anyone arrogant enough to reject the verdict of the judge or of the priest who represents the LORD your God must be put to death. Such evil must be purged from Israel. - Deuteronomy 17:12
You should not let a sorceress live. - Exodus 22:17
When the LORD your God hands it over to you, kill every man in the town. But you may keep for yourselves all the women, children, livestock, and other plunder. You may enjoy the spoils of your enemies that the LORD your God has given you. - Deuteronomy 20:10-14
A man or a woman who acts as a medium or fortuneteller shall be put to death by stoning; they have no one but themselves to blame for their death.- Leviticus 20:27
All who curse their father or mother must be put to death. They are guilty of a capital offense. - Leviticus 20:9
If a man commits adultery with another man’s wife, both the man and the woman must be put to death. - Leviticus 20:10
A priest’s daughter who loses her honor by committing fornication and thereby dishonors her father also, shall be burned to death. - Leviticus 21:9
Whoever sacrifices to any god, except the Lord alone, shall be doomed. - Exodus 22:19
everyone who would not seek the Lord, the God of Israel, was to be put to death, whether small or great, whether man or woman. - Chronicles 15:12
Kill everyone whose forehead is not marked. Show no mercy; have no pity! Kill them all – old and young, girls and women and little children. But do not touch anyone with the mark. Begin your task right here at the Temple.” So they began by killing the seventy leaders. “Defile the Temple!” the LORD commanded. “Fill its courtyards with the bodies of those you kill! Go!” So they went throughout the city and did as they were told.” - Ezekiel 9:5
Their little children will be dashed to death right before their eyes. Their homes will be sacked and their wives raped by the attacking hordes. The attacking armies will shoot down the young people with arrows. They will have no mercy on helpless babies and will show no compassion for the children. - Isaiah 13:15
Suppose you hear in one of the towns the LORD your God is giving you that some worthless rabble among you have led their fellow citizens astray by encouraging them to worship foreign gods. In such cases, you must examine the facts carefully. If you find it is true and can prove that such a detestable act has occurred among you, you must attack that town and completely destroy all its inhabitants, as well as all the livestock. Then you must pile all the plunder in the middle of the street and burn it. Put the entire town to the torch as a burnt offering to the LORD your God. That town must remain a ruin forever; it may never be rebuilt. Keep none of the plunder that has been set apart for destruction. Then the LORD will turn from his fierce anger and be merciful to you. He will have compassion on you and make you a great nation, just as he solemnly promised your ancestors. “The LORD your God will be merciful only if you obey him and keep all the commands I am giving you today, doing what is pleasing to him. - Deuteronomy 13:13
Take the blasphemer outside the camp, and tell all those who heard him to lay their hands on his head. Then let the entire community stone him to death. Say to the people of Israel: Those who blaspheme God will suffer the consequences of their guilt and be punished. Anyone who blasphemes the LORD’s name must be stoned to death by the whole community of Israel. Any Israelite or foreigner among you who blasphemes the LORD’s name will surely die. - Leviticus 24:10
I repeat: Because the LORD considers it a holy day, anyone who works on the Sabbath must be put to death. - Exodus 31:12
Those are all from the Old Testament. The New Testament is fabulous
Nope. Ephesians is part of the New Testament. It seems you haven’t really read it.
Slaves, obey your earthly masters with deep respect and fear. Serve them sincerely as you would serve Christ. - Ephesians 6:5
Can someone explain me how so many people can consider the bible as the "greatest book in history"?
Make ready to slaughter his sons for the guilt of their fathers. - Isaiah 14:21
Happy is the one who seizes your infants and dashes them against the rocks. – Psalm 137:9 If the girls virginity is not found, they shall bring the girl to the entrance of her fathers house and there her townsman shall stone her to death, because she committed a crime. - Deuteronomy 22:20
You may purchase male or female slaves from among the foreigners who live among you. You may also purchase the children of such resident foreigners, including those who have been born in your land. You may treat them as your property, passing them on to your children as a permanent inheritance. - Leviticus 25:44
The people of Samaria must bear their guilt, because they have rebelled against their God. They will fall by the sword;their little ones will be dashed to the ground, their pregnant women ripped open. - Hosea 13:16
When a man strikes his male or female slave with a rod so hard that the slave dies under his hand, he shall be punished. If, however, the slave survives for a day or two, he is not to be punished, since the slave is his own property. - Exodus 21:20-21
If a man lies with a male as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination; they shall surely be put to death; their blood is upon them. — Leviticus 20:13
Slaves, obey your earthly masters with deep respect and fear. Serve them sincerely as you would serve Christ. - Ephesians 6:5
See, the day of the Lord is coming — a cruel day, with wrath and fierce anger. . . . I will put an end to the arrogance of the haughty. . . . Their infants will be dashed to pieces before their eyes; their houses will be looted and their wives violated. - Isaiah 13:9
And if ye will not for all this hearken unto me, but walk contrary unto me; Then I will walk contrary unto you also in fury; and I, even I, will chastise you seven times for your sins. And ye shall eat the flesh of your sons, and the flesh of your daughters shall ye eat. - Leviticus 26:27
Hear and give ear; do not be haughty, for the Lord has spoken. . . . And if you say in your heart, ‘Why have these things come upon me?’ it is for the greatness of your iniquity that your skirts are lifted up, and you are violated . . . because you have forgotten me and trusted in lies. I myself will lift up your skirts over your face, and your shame will be seen. - Jeremiah 13:15
Anyone arrogant enough to reject the verdict of the judge or of the priest who represents the LORD your God must be put to death. Such evil must be purged from Israel. - Deuteronomy 17:12
You should not let a sorceress live. - Exodus 22:17
When the LORD your God hands it over to you, kill every man in the town. But you may keep for yourselves all the women, children, livestock, and other plunder. You may enjoy the spoils of your enemies that the LORD your God has given you. - Deuteronomy 20:10-14
A man or a woman who acts as a medium or fortuneteller shall be put to death by stoning; they have no one but themselves to blame for their death.- Leviticus 20:27
All who curse their father or mother must be put to death. They are guilty of a capital offense. - Leviticus 20:9
If a man commits adultery with another man’s wife, both the man and the woman must be put to death. - Leviticus 20:10
A priest’s daughter who loses her honor by committing fornication and thereby dishonors her father also, shall be burned to death. - Leviticus 21:9
Whoever sacrifices to any god, except the Lord alone, shall be doomed. - Exodus 22:19
everyone who would not seek the Lord, the God of Israel, was to be put to death, whether small or great, whether man or woman. - Chronicles 15:12
Kill everyone whose forehead is not marked. Show no mercy; have no pity! Kill them all – old and young, girls and women and little children. But do not touch anyone with the mark. Begin your task right here at the Temple.” So they began by killing the seventy leaders. “Defile the Temple!” the LORD commanded. “Fill its courtyards with the bodies of those you kill! Go!” So they went throughout the city and did as they were told.” - Ezekiel 9:5
Their little children will be dashed to death right before their eyes. Their homes will be sacked and their wives raped by the attacking hordes. The attacking armies will shoot down the young people with arrows. They will have no mercy on helpless babies and will show no compassion for the children. - Isaiah 13:15
Suppose you hear in one of the towns the LORD your God is giving you that some worthless rabble among you have led their fellow citizens astray by encouraging them to worship foreign gods. In such cases, you must examine the facts carefully. If you find it is true and can prove that such a detestable act has occurred among you, you must attack that town and completely destroy all its inhabitants, as well as all the livestock. Then you must pile all the plunder in the middle of the street and burn it. Put the entire town to the torch as a burnt offering to the LORD your God. That town must remain a ruin forever; it may never be rebuilt. Keep none of the plunder that has been set apart for destruction. Then the LORD will turn from his fierce anger and be merciful to you. He will have compassion on you and make you a great nation, just as he solemnly promised your ancestors. “The LORD your God will be merciful only if you obey him and keep all the commands I am giving you today, doing what is pleasing to him. - Deuteronomy 13:13
Take the blasphemer outside the camp, and tell all those who heard him to lay their hands on his head. Then let the entire community stone him to death. Say to the people of Israel: Those who blaspheme God will suffer the consequences of their guilt and be punished. Anyone who blasphemes the LORD’s name must be stoned to death by the whole community of Israel. Any Israelite or foreigner among you who blasphemes the LORD’s name will surely die. - Leviticus 24:10
I repeat: Because the LORD considers it a holy day, anyone who works on the Sabbath must be put to death. - Exodus 31:12
Another unbeliever with an entirely superficial understanding of The Bible coming to lecture believers and knowers of the truth. You speak of the laws of the hebrews, mosaic law, which some are still practiced by those vile serpents called Jews in their cherry-picked “Torah.” Christ, through fulfilling the prophecies of the Old Testament and sacrificing himself on the cross, has made a new covenant with his followers. I exhort you to turn to The Gospel and understand that Jesus Christ is your savior and your only means of salvation.
I wasn’t lecturing anyone. Just asking a question, which you apparently didn’t understand.
Another unbeliever with an entirely superficial understanding of The Bible coming to lecture believers and knowers of the truth. You speak of the laws of the hebrews, mosaic law, which some are still practiced by those vile serpents called Jews in their cherry-picked “Torah.” Christ, through fulfilling the prophecies of the Old Testament and sacrificing himself on the cross, has made a new covenant with his followers. I exhort you to turn to The Gospel and understand that Jesus Christ is your savior and your only means of salvation.
I wasn’t lecturing anyone. Just asking a question, which you apparently didn’t understand.
Why should I be saved? From what?
From the judgement weighed upon you for your sins.
6 pages and not one nomination for Atlas Shrugged. I guess they're all citing Art of the Deal now.
Some very good books on this list. I'm inspired to try the Brothers Karamazof now.
Quite a few Steinbeck upvotes. I don't think I saw East of Eden on the list though. I'll add that one in there. Someone a few pages back said Grapes of Wrath was great because it was instructive for today's world and that Steinbeck was apolitical. Steinbeck was NOT apolitical. He was an avowed communist. Still a great book though. When I first got to Hughson, a lot of the old timers still talked about how they had to live in an apricot orchard with blankets draped around trees as their shelter for the first year they lived here.
My own grandparents came out west from Nebraska during the dustbowl period. If there's anything really instructive about that book, though, it's how wherever you go, people want to sh!t on newcomers, a trend which has gone nationwide today.
When Ezra Pound declared that Ulysses was a “monumental” work he meant exactly that - it functions as a monument to a time, place, and social scene. This is why Ulysses is great, because it offers an unabridged glimpse into the “present” of the Modernist movement. What I am getting at here is that there is no “greatest book ever” and any such list misses the point of literature and art in general.
What you are all reflecting on is the experience of reading X, Y, Z, P, or Q - this is what makes something meaningful. A better discussion would compare authors against one another, as the oeuvre of an individual is a better expression of artistic or intellectual genius than a single work, and it takes a considerably higher degree of attention to seriously evaluate.
This all being said a few books that changed the way I thought about literature or the world and are easily accessible:
Labyrinths - Jorge Luis Borges
Pale Fire - Nabokov
The Origin of Consciousness and the Breakdown of the Bicameral Mind - Julian Jaynes
Understanding Media: The extensions of Man - Marshall McLuhan
Dante’s Commedia (not just the inferno!!) in the Ciardi translation is also worth mentioning. “Better” than most of Shakespeare.
I'm just putting up a book that hasn't been mentioned and I really enjoy, Roadside Picnic. Also totally true about all said negative about the bible. It is a bunch of writings cobbled together akin to an anthology. And it is full of morally disgusting things. Not one person that says they like the bible has read it with an honest lens. No one reads the Bible for entertainment. It's propaganda.