Maybe trite, but the Bible. For a mind-blowing experience, read Matthew chapters 5–7, and have in mind that the topic is: “what it means for a person to be righteous, or good.” The analysis of the role of moral rules, the place of worry and anxiety in driving us to short-sighted compromise, the tension between “secret” good-doing versus good-doing for public recognition, are all potent, helpful, and life-changing.
The Book of Mormon as well, for those of us raised in a certain cult. Also D&C 132[0] where Joseph Smith has a "Revelation" about taking multiple wives and basically threatens his wife with hell if she doesn't go along with it (she wasn't a huge fan of polygamy).
> And I command mine handmaid, Emma Smith, to abide and cleave unto my servant Joseph, and to none else. But if she will not abide this commandment she shall be destroyed, saith the Lord; for I am the Lord thy God, and will destroy her if she abide not in my law.
You have to keep in mind that this was written by multiple authors 2000 years ago in a different culture using different ways of putting things. It is also a good exercise to entertain a mental position that is not yours; read a hindu verses assuming hindu gods exist, read the bible assuming God exists. That way you are not in danger of loosing out on valuable concepts just because the supernatural is alien to you.
For a book used by millions of people as the only source of wisdom for over a dozen centuries, I can hardly disagree more about the 'overlooked' part.
I am not commenting about its actual merits, as it has some merits and some beautiful verses. But it is just a book among many. It should stop being the only book many people read.
They may not have meant this, but I took it to mean "overlooked by some groups". Especially nonreligious types, I feel, could learn from a lot of the secular wisdom in the Bible (and I say this as an agnostic). And I know there are many contradictory, sexist, barbaric, and other awful things in there, and I'm not trying to apologize for those bits. Just that there's more good things in there than many nonreligious types often know.
As an example, my agnostic, very nerdy brother read the whole thing and said he learned a lot from it. I figure there's a lot of potential people out there just like him.
You dont even have to take it literally. I learned from Asop's fables and I acknoledge animals can't talk. What I got from Noah's ark wasnt that God is a genocidal maniac or he loves us all very much, but that if you know what needs to be done, do it and don't care what others think.
Yeah, even if the whole base of the story is lunatic.
Sorry, but the Noahs story does not makes sense logically (all the different animals on one ship) nor morally. Killing everyone and only spare some lunatic.
But if you can take from it "do what needs to be done" well, good for you. But I would argue a common trivial dantasy book contains as meaningful wisdom if you neglect 90% like with the bible.
I do not call the flood lunatic. I rather meant the idea that the all-loving god send it to wipe out his own creation but then decides to spare some and instruct him zo build a boat so humans and animals can survive....
Btw. that the scenario is allmost word for word the same as in the Gilgamesh epos, is another funfact.
My experience is, that the Bible shows you what the reality is really is. If you truly reflect on it for yourself you will uncover how right it is. But this assumes you really want to think and see the truth. And yes it will hurt (in a good way).
Every other statement, "I have my own beliefs" is short sighted.
And Bible is not equal to the institution you call "Church"!
