Bible or Babble?

This article is designed to provoke thought and is not intended to change people's existing beliefs; on the contrary, it will hopefully enhance them.

If you took a census with Christians in the Western World; it would be interesting to see how many people have read the Bible.

Here's a wonderful pie chart that was put together by www.adherents.com

It shows the major religions; of which as far as we can establish, in 2005, there were in the region of 2.1 billion Christians, 1.3 billion Islamics and 900 million Hindus; in a population of 6,446,131,400 according to USA CIA records in July 2005.

So out of 2.1 billion people, how many have read ALL the pages of the bible? I suspect less than 5%.

Which Bible did they read?

Did they understand it?

Were they literate enough to understand it?

Literal translation. Attempts to keep the exact words and phrases of the original. It is faithful to the original text, but sometimes hard to understand. Keeps a constant historical distance. Examples: King James, New American Standard.

Dynamic equivalent translation. Attempts to keep a constant historical distance with regard to history and facts, but updates the writing style and grammar to attempt to give the most natural translation. Example: New International Version (NIV), New English Bible.

Free translation (to paraphrase). Translates the ideas from the original text but without being constrained by the original words or language. Seeks to eliminate historical distance. Readable, but not always exact because interpretation depends upon the translators. This makes the Bible more readable; but is subject to how the author understands and interprets the tex; which must give the translation the author's behavioural opinion and slant. Example: Contemporary English Version (CEV), "The Message."

Add to this the many different styles of the above translations and interpretations. Here are 'some' of them:

Study Bible. Sometimes called a Student Bible or Learning Bible. Study Bibles usually have extensive footnotes and explanatory notes at the side of the page or embedded in the text. They may also have extensive cross references, a narrative commentary, and maps. (Some also have a cyclopedia index and/or a concordance—see Reference Bible.)

Reference Bible. Usually has a cyclopedia index (like an encyclopedia with a reference to the verse where the word or thought is used), a concordance (like a dictionary of common words with examples of their usage and verse references for each example) and maps.

"Place in Life" Bible. Has meditations and thoughts about issues of concern to people at a particular stage in life. There are versions of these Bibles aimed at men, women, sports players, recovering addicts, new believers, converted Jews, small group members, and many others.

One-Year Bibles. Divided into 365 readings for each day of the year, usually with each having a portion of the Old Testament, New Testament, Psalms, and Proverbs.

Pastor's Bible. Includes protocol outlines and recommended verses for hospital visits, weddings, funerals, and other events. Often has answers to frequently asked questions.

Children's Bible. Usually includes colour drawings, maps, and simplified stories.

Parallel Bible. Has from two to eight translations side by side.

Chronological Bible. Entire Bible in one continuous story with narration to cover gaps and make everything flow. The four gospels are harmonised into one, for example, and the writings of the prophets are placed in the proper place.

The Serendipity Bible.

The Quest.

Key Word Bible.

Leadership Bible.

Hebrew-Greek Keyword Bible.

"Here's Hope" Bible.

Serenity Bible.

Now take into account that there are over 140 translations of these Bibles into languages other than English.

Are you starting to get the message?

Each time a Bible is re-translated and re-interpreted from the original writings, there has to be a loss of some kind from the original text.

Let me give you a few examples, just in the misinterpretation of English. (Now is that English USA or English UK I hear someone thinking.):

The buck stops here: It's my responsibility.

The buck stops here: This is where the buck stays.

The buck stops here: The young animal stops here.

The buck stops here: The buckwheat stops here.

The book stops here: This is where the book will stop.

The book stops here: This is where the book stays.

OK; here's another:

I didn't say she stole my money.

I didn't say she stole my money.
It wasn't me!

I didn't say she stole my money.
I definitely didn't say it!

I didn't say she stole my money.
I might have inferred it, but I didn't say it.

I didn't say she stole my money.
It was someone else.

I didn't say she stole my money.
But she's done something with it.

I didn't say she stole my money.
It was someone else's.

I didn't say she stole my money.
She stole something else!

Seven words in a sentence, allowing seven different interpretations of the same sentence. The emphasis on the word creates the interpretation.

Here's yet another one to look at:

Woman is now here.

Woman is nowhere.

Just by closing the gap between two words gives us two almost opposite meanings from the same letters.

And if you think 'that's' interesting; take a look at this:

THE IMPORTANCE OF CORRECT PUNCTUATION

Dear Nick:

I want a man who knows what love is all about. You are generous, kind, thoughtful. People who are not like you admit to being useless and inferior. You have ruined me for other men. I yearn for you. I have no feelings whatsoever, when we’re apart. I can be forever happy – will you let me be yours?

Kim

Dear Nick:

I want a man who knows what love is. All about you are generous, kind, thoughtful people, who are not like you. Admit to being useless and inferior. You have ruined me. For other men, I yearn. For you, I have no feelings whatsoever. When we‘re apart, I can be forever happy. Will you let me be?

Yours,

Kim

From Games Magazine (1984)

“Don’t write merely to be understood.

Write so that you can’t possibly be misunderstood.”

Robert Louis Stevenson (1850-1894)

Writer

What message am I trying to deliver here? That the vast majority of people who call themselves Christians, have never read the Bible. Those that have, may have read one of the many different versions out there. Those that haven't but have listened to extracts from the bible, have listened to someone reading from one of those many versions; giving their 'own' interpretation of what it might mean.

When the people that wrote on the papyrus scrolls, which became a part of the books of the bible, were writing; what were they thinking at the time? Did they get their message down in the way that 'they' meant to?

How often have you read something yourself and interpreted it one way, only to have someone say to you, "But I didn't mean it to 'sound' like that! This is what I meant!"...

The written word is so fickle. It's easily misinterpreted without the emotion, feeling, mannerisms, slang understanding and correct word emphasis that went with the writer's thoughts.

The Bible was written by men (maybe women too). Not by God. Perhaps if God wanted us to have a God Manual; a Creation Manual or a Life's Journey Manual; he'd have dictated it himself/herself/itself.

What if some young Hebrew scholars got together at a 'frat party' a few thousand years ago and decided to write a few books, just to see what might happen to them in the future; write them separately, so there were different accounts; pass a chain letter on to the Greeks to do the same; chuck a few in the Dead Sea, and leave a few around for people to find? It's not impossible! Unlikely, but not impossible.

There are other books written at similar periods to the bible; yet they didn't make it to print in the Bible.

So what we have to go on, is 'seeded' information. We only get to read what some Religious organisation 'wants' or 'allows' us to read.

Taking all those interpretations apart, of what's left for us to read, it's reasonable to apply the 80:20 law.

80:20 law, discovered by Vilfredo Pareto in the late 18th century. He discovered that the Law of the Universe dictated that mankind never put in 100% of effort all of the time; and that there was always a disproportionate amount of reward from effort put in: 20% of effort often brought in 80% of the reward.

80% of the time, man is idle; but the 20% of hard work brings in 80% of the reward.

Pareto applied this to business in Italy, and then all over the world:

20% of customers give 80% of income.

And then he applied it to life:

You won't see all of the carpet in the room all of the time. 20% is covered.

20% of all road traffic accidents are caused by people under the age of 25, which results in 80% of the cost of 'all' accidents.

80% of the cost of all criminal damage is the responsibility of 20% of the criminals.

Only 20% of the clothes in your wardrobe are worn regularly.

And so it goes on. In this case we can say that 80% of the interpretation and translation of the Bible(s) has the same meaning.

But please don't look at any bible and think that every word is;'chipped in stone', sacrosanct.

Treat it as a guide; and remember, there are lots of other great books out there to help you with your life. The books in the Bible are thousands of years old. Times have changed. We've moved on. The pace is faster.

Is it any wonder that people don't read the Bible in the archaic way it was written?

Here's another thought for you about how we can get history wrong:

Heard of Shakespeare? The play write? What many people aren't aware of, is that he never recorded his name the way that I just wrote it. Apparently there are 12 other recorded ways he wrote his name e.g., Shackspear, Shuckspear. Shakespur; but never recorded as Shakespeare.

He used supposedly old English words such as thou, thee, art thou, dust thou. We seem to have interpreted these plays as though 'well educated' people were supposed to use them.

So here's a thought. What if Shakespeare was writing about the 'common man'?

I came from a 'rough' 'common man' area of Sheffield in Yorkshire in the UK. I'm going to try and phonetically (as it sounds) write some Yorkshire slang:

"H'art tha doin thee?"

"Dust tha no wot thart doin?

How are you doing You?

Do you know what you're doing?

Shakespeare may have written: " How art thou doing thee? "Dust thou know what thou art doing?"

Get the picture?

Last night (14th September 2005) I flicked the TV over to see how many religious channels there were on Satellite TV. I was curious, because 6 years ago when I looked, there was only one: The God Channel. Last night there were 10 religious channels.

God is big business. The Bible is big business. It was interesting to see a very good presenter on God Channel 2 interpreting the Bible to a huge crowd of people.

He DIDN'T say, "This is what this verse 'might' mean." He proceeded to force his ideas and opinions on the crowd of people, as to what 'he' thought it meant. There was no discussion. No 'what if?'. Just preaching.

Mankind has free will and can veer or be veered in whichever direction they please. I just wish that more of us would 'wake up and smell the roses'.

The Bible is a history book. There are other great history books. There are great spiritual books. And there are great books on self-awareness, self improvement and self-esteem.

Most people that attend Ministry speaking events and churches are seeking salvation. Salvation starts from within. You have to find yourself first. Who are you? How do you behave? What are your values? Where do you want to be in your life? How will you get there?

Most people are drifting. There's an old saying. "If you're on the road to no-where, you'll get there. There's another! "If you don't know in which direction you're going, you'll get there."

Here's another: If you keep on doing the same old things, you'll get the same results; or worse."

The Bible is a tradition. A very old tradition. Treat it that way. Take some things with a 'pinch of salt'. Challenge it!

My Archangel Mentor, Azrael, tells me that salvation has to start within you. You have to learn about self-reliance and self-esteem so you can help yourself. God isn't going to help you. Even in the Bible there are words from God saying not to look to him for help, you need to help yourself.

Here's an interesting question I came across on a web site:

"I was reading your web page on the King James version of the Bible. I'm hoping you can answer a question for me?

Is there a difference in the King James Bibles? You said that you use the 'authorized' KJV. I have a Spirit Filled Life Bible , a Thompson Chain , a 1917 Scofield Reference edition, and a Full Life Study Bible, all in the KJV. But only the Scofield says "authorized". Is there a difference? I have been very confused about Bible versions, to the point where I felt tormented with doubt. I have purchased so many different ones trying to find peace as I read. I have the NIV, NAS, RSV, LB, NLT, and NKJV. (all in all I have 21 Leather Bibles) how's that for confusion? My husband has always stuck with his King James, but I had to read everything and now have a whole sack of confusion and heartache. Can you help? Which one do I use?

I want to know and receive every word God has to say and I don't want verses missing or changed anymore. I'd really appreciate any advice you have. Thank you."

This lady is really 'lost'. I hope she finds her way to this site. Her name or contact details weren't available.

She seems to be putting all her faith in finding the original words of God in a Bible.

If she really wants to know and receive every word God has to say; she's going to have to live for a very long time.

There's an argument that no-one in the Bible references has 'ever' spoken to God. It seems there's a lot of confusion about whether people were speaking to an angel acting for God or even acting 'as' God. Archangel Azrael tells me that mankind is not in a position to communicate with the creator. We can't comprehend the communication channel; so the communication is via the angels. But then again, Jill and I just might be verging on madness: Jill for channeling, and me for listening. Time will tell.

My recommendation is that this lady gets in touch with her spiritual side through meditation. Done right, she should be able to communicate with angels; the messengers of the creator.

But here's another old saying: "Be careful what you ask for, because you just might get it."

Getting in touch with angels may be too much for the person who's unprepared. The unprepared person may think of it as a sign of madness. Be prepared.

This lady needs to recognise that the Bible is the writings of mankind, and not God.

Scientists are finally having to admit that they keep coming across an intelligence that they can't account for.

The world used to be flat; or so we believed.

We BELIEVED the world was flat.

We BELIEVED that mankind would never fly.

We BELIEVED that we'd never be able to run a mile in less than 4 minutes.

We BELIEVED that man would never be able to get to the moon (But there's another conspiracy debate.).

Beliefs are programmes.

Beliefs are very powerful.

It will take a long time for people to eventually get round to believing that what most people call God, is an energy force that we can't comprehend; that angels are the messengers of this energy force; that the Soul is part of a complex balance of the Universe; and that without the belief in the soul, the after-life, the creator and angels, the soul doesn't pass on, which upsets the balance of the Universe. This is the creator's concern; so Azrael tells me.

TAKE TIME TO LIVE

To you and your loved ones, I WISH YOU ENOUGH!!!

Glenn