Random Rantings

Summer is busy. Its been almost a month since I’ve updated, but I’ve thought about things to write. I’ve been majorly busy with work and sleeping when I can. I’ve been working on this and I’m tired of working on it, so I’m just going to post it. My shoulder still hurts. A lot. The doctor things I might have a problem with my rotator cuff. I had an MRI last week, so I’m just waiting for the results now. Fun. Anyways, I’ll write more later, but for now here’s a random ranting. Its not finished or edited or corrected. But yeah….

“You should read the Qoran, the Bhagavad Gita, The Iliad and The Odyssey. You don’t have to believe everything, but just read it. It would be good for you.”

That’s been said to me at least half a dozen times, if not more, in various forms. Depending on the time of year, my response varies. Sometimes I’m open to it and heartily agree, “Yeah, I’ll add that to the growing list of books I want to read someday.” More often than not, I’ll respond with a “I don’t have enough time to practice or study, let alone sit and read a good book.” My life just doesn’t have spaces of time where I can sit and read books like I used to. I love to read. I never got grounded growing up because it was never a punishment. Not being allowed to read was more of a punishment to me than not being allowed to go outside. My point, I love to read. I just don’t have the time.

I’m also annoyed that the list of great books I’m told to read doesn’t include the Christian Bible. I won’t argue the validity or realism of it, at least not here and now. But if the Qoran is such a good read, why can’t the Bible be as well? There are life philosophies and explainations to evil and life and death. There are ideas and concepts that are not completely unforeign to our culture. There are great thoughts and comments. There are great stories and life lessons, just the same as every other religious book. But for some reason, I rarely come across a non-Christian who admits they’ve read the Bible.

Now I know, its long and tedious and there are so many versions to pick from. There are entire chapters of books about the lineage of Jesus. I don’t know a lot of Christians who have read the Bible all the way through. So I’m not faulting or belittling anyone for not reading the entire thing. But there are good stories, good thoughts, good ideas in it. Why do people tolerate the Torah, Qoran and other holy books, but berate the Bible?

I’m obviously putting aside a few things. I willingly admit that I believe the Bible to be truth and not fiction. I accept it as my belief. I do not believe in the Qoran or Bhagavad Gita. I do not accept them as my belief. But that doesn’t mean I write them off completely. They are as much a part of the culture as the Bible is. I respect them as schools of thought and philosophies, even though I am not a follower. So why is there this stigma that you shouldn’t read the Bible?