Bible Discussion Thread

[Pablo Rafael]

I was just wondering if anyone would be interested in adding an ongoing Bible Discusion thread.

I was thinking along the lines of maybe going through selected books of the Bible. We could have a chapter or so weekly. Throughout the week people could post their thoughts, items they found in study, any events that happened during the week that fit with that chapter, any prayer requests that the reading brought to mind.

This group would be interesting to do this with. There would be many interesting opinions and insights. I would also like to know what the non-Christians think as well.

Tu Amigo, Pablo

[u-dog]

That sounds like GREAT fun! maybe we could start with Galatians? ("there is no longer male or female, slave or free, Jew or gentile" comes from there.) It seems to me like all of our discussions about the bible get thrust upon us by outsiders and we get driven by THEIR agenda. We could choose books/letters/passages that we find affirming and life giving to US. I'm all for it.

[Steven E. Webster]

Friends,

Perhaps one of the Bible threads could be a discussion of lectionary texts. I think many of us may be from churches that share a common lectionary.

Here's a link to an online lectionary.

http://divinity.library.vanderbilt.edu/lectionary/

It would be a way to get away from gravitating around the same old pro and anti LGBT proof texts.

Steven Webster

[u-dog]

Originally Posted by Steven E. Webster

Friends,

Perhaps one of the Bible threads could be a discussion of lectionary texts. I think many of us may be from churches that share a common lectionary.

Here's a link to an online lectionary.

http://divinity.library.vanderbilt.edu/lectionary/

It would be a way to get away from gravitating around the same old pro and anti LGBT proof texts.

Steven Webster

This is ALSO a most excellent suggestion! when we used to live near my Lutheran sister we would often go there for Sunday dinner and it was always facinating to explore the different directions that two sermons on the same text had taken.

[Gennee]

Sounds like a great idea.

Gennee

[dsdrane]

...just be patient with those of us who are biblically-challenged.



[I'm a quick study!! ]


P.S. Pablo: this is your idea so forge ahead with wherever you'd like to start!

[BrentRichards]

I'm all for it ... though I have a sense I'll be a bit absent around here for a while ...

[dsdrane]

Originally Posted by BrentRichards

I'm all for it ... though I have a sense I'll be a bit absent around here for a while ...

What? Who? When? Where? Why??

What's going on!??

[BrentRichards]

Originally Posted by dsdrane

What? Who? When? Where? Why??

What's going on!??

Job transition ... I'm going to have no life for a while. That's all.

[sailaway58]

Give it a shot

[Steven E. Webster]

Friends,
Here's a link to Human Rights Campaign funds Bible commentary page. They present some of the current lectionary (scripture) readings used in many churches' sunday services.

http://www.hrc.org/scripture/week.asp

[Steven E. Webster]

Here's a nice prayer from the same scripture commentary at:
http://www.hrc.org/scripture/week.asp

Our Creator beyond us,
Yet you dwell among us,
We praise you.
We pray for the home of promise
(which we've never fully known)
as we work to be your welcome in the world.
Grant us this day abundant life.
And forgive us our exiling
as we pray for the peace
to forgive those who exile us.
Lead us out of our need to create boundaries,
and delight us in the diversity of life!
For you are the Keeper of Community,
the Source behind our deepest longing,
and the One who provides an eternal Home.
Amen.

[BrentRichards]

What a neat take on the Lord's Prayer! Thanks for posting that!

[antonyh]

Originally Posted by Pablo Rafael

I was just wondering if anyone would be interested in adding an ongoing Bible Discusion thread.

I was thinking along the lines of maybe going through selected books of the Bible. We could have a chapter or so weekly. Throughout the week people could post their thoughts, items they found in study, any events that happened during the week that fit with that chapter, any prayer requests that the reading brought to mind.

This group would be interesting to do this with. There would be many interesting opinions and insights. I would also like to know what the non-Christians think as well.

Tu Amigo, Pablo

Sounds like a really great idea. One of my favorite books is Ecclesiastes...kind of how I feel about life right now. Perhaps we should do Galatians after all. Since there are so few anti-gay verses in the Bible navigating around them should be no problem. I say we just plow right through them.

[Pablo Rafael]

OK, sound good; there is enough support to give this a start.

This weekend I will start a thread for the week. It will go for a week, but people can keep posting on it if they get any new insights. I like the single book of the Bible idea a little better than the lectionary idea. (I shouldn't say that as a Catholic, I know) That way we can keep to one reading instead of the three lectionary readings. Plus I have a stubborn streak and don't like to adhere to a preset schedule. (Inherited from dad;he was stubborness personified.)

Also the lectionary does a somewhat hit and miss approach with the epistle readings and especially with any old testament reading. With one book we can go along as we want changing things as the situation evolves.

Galatians looks good to me. It will be a good first try at the idea. Ecclesiates would indeed be a challenge, but interseting. Right now I am finishing Deuteronomony. It is a militant book that I have real difficulties with, not the best for a Bible study either probably.

Tu Amigo, Pablo

[Steven E. Webster]

Originally Posted by Pablo Rafael

OK, sound good; there is enough support to give this a start.

This weekend I will start a thread for the week. It will go for a week, but people can keep posting on it if they get any new insights. I like the single book of the Bible idea a little better than the lectionary idea. (I shouldn't say that as a Catholic, I know) That way we can keep to one reading instead of the three lectionary readings. Plus I have a stubborn streak and don't like to adhere to a preset schedule. (Inherited from dad;he was stubborness personified.)

Also the lectionary does a somewhat hit and miss approach with the epistle readings and especially with any old testament reading. With one book we can go along as we want changing things as the situation evolves.

Galatians looks good to me. It will be a good first try at the idea. Ecclesiates would indeed be a challenge, but interseting. Right now I am finishing Deuteronomony. It is a militant book that I have real difficulties with, not the best for a Bible study either probably.

Tu Amigo, Pablo

Pablo,
Cool! I like Paul--that is the genuine Paul and not pseudo-Paul (the later anonymous writers who added things like "women should be silent in church". I'm glad we're starting with Galatians. Isn't it one of the earliest books written in the New Testament?

Steven Webster

[antonyh]

Originally Posted by Steven E. Webster

Pablo,
Cool! I like Paul--that is the genuine Paul and not pseudo-Paul (the later anonymous writers who added things like "women should be silent in church". I'm glad we're starting with Galatians. Isn't it one of the earliest books written in the New Testament?

Steven Webster

According to Marcus Borg, of the books where there is consensus about Paul's authorship, they fall out in the following chronological order: I Thessalonians, Galatians, I and II Corinthians, Philemon, Philippians and Romans. He believes all of these were written in the decade of the 50s.