The Bible is the most important book EVER!

[Loki]

... and this in an absolute FACT, not my opinion.

It is the most-printed book in history, the best selling book of all time, the most widely distributed book in history, by far.... the most translated book in other languages, the most influential book in history, the 1611 King James Authorized Version is the most important book in English literature, is the book that has had the most profound influence on the English language and culture... far more than all the works of Shakespeare combined.

This is what quickly comes to mind.. and it only scratches the surface...

[Loki]

I have read so many books in my life... and looked through them.. but the Bible is the only one that has never bored me, I have never felt I know everything in it, it is so multi-faceted and there are always new things to discover!

[1R0N M4N XL]

quran is 2nd..

[Thanas Django]

quran is 2nd..

nah

[Gwydion]

While I can appreciate many things in the Bible, one has to question whether popularity and influence is necessarily correlated with truth and value. Reminds one of that Ibsen quote, "The majority is always wrong; the minority is rarely right." Take a large group of people and of them what percentage are idiots, what percentage are average, and what percentage are truly intelligent, wise, and insightful? I have a feeling that the latter group is probably the smallest of the three.

One further element which has secured the Bible, Christianity, and Islam greater influence compared to other religions is the combination of missionary zeal with sometimes violent enforced conversion (crusades, jihad) along with an intolerance of "the other" (heretics, pagans, etc.) that is present in Christianity and Islam which was not present in say European paganism or Eastern religious traditions. In other words take two groups, one which is intolerant and intent on destroying the other group and another which is tolerant and not intent on destroying the other group, which is going to likely triumph and gain a wider influence?

[Thanas Django]

While I can appreciate many things in the Bible, one has to question whether popularity and influence is necessarily correlated with truth and value. Reminds one of that Ibsen quote, "The majority is always wrong; the minority is rarely right." Take a large group of people and of them what percentage are idiots, what percentage are average, and what percentage are truly intelligent, wise, and insightful? I have a feeling that the latter group is probably the smallest of the three.

One further element which has secured the Bible, Christianity, and Islam greater influence compared to other religions is the combination of missionary zeal with sometimes violent enforced conversion (crusades, jihad) along with an intolerance of "the other" (heretics, pagans, etc.) that is present in Christianity and Islam which was not present in say European paganism or Eastern religious traditions. In other words take two groups, one which is intolerant and intent on destroying the other group and another which is tolerant and not intent on destroying the other group, which is going to likely triumph and gain a wider influence?

Can you cite the part in the Bible where violent enforced conversions are encouraged? I am interested.

[LoLeL]

Muslims say same thing about Quran.

[Gwydion]

Can you cite the part in the Bible where violent enforced conversions are encouraged? I am interested.

I am talking about the historic behavior of the Church or Christianity in general rather than the Bible. There are plenty of verses in the Bible which exult the triumph of the Israelites in warfare against their foes, which certainly carried a religious element to it.

The ultimate point is that intolerance of others and using force to spread ones religion will give it a distinct advantage over religions which tolerate others and either don't have a missionary component at all or don't use force if they do.

In general my point is that popularity or widespread influence might not necessarily be due to either truth or superiority.

[Loki]

While I can appreciate many things in the Bible, one has to question whether popularity and influence is necessarily correlated with truth and value. Reminds one of that Ibsen quote, "The majority is always wrong; the minority is rarely right." Take a large group of people and of them what percentage are idiots, what percentage are average, and what percentage are truly intelligent, wise, and insightful? I have a feeling that the latter group is probably the smallest of the three.

One further element which has secured the Bible, Christianity, and Islam greater influence compared to other religions is the combination of missionary zeal with sometimes violent enforced conversion (crusades, jihad) along with an intolerance of "the other" (heretics, pagans, etc.) that is present in Christianity and Islam which was not present in say European paganism or Eastern religious traditions. In other words take two groups, one which is intolerant and intent on destroying the other group and another which is tolerant and not intent on destroying the other group, which is going to likely triumph and gain a wider influence?

What a load of nonsense. I can see you know exactly nothing about the Bible. Don't pollute this thread please. Read the Bible first.

[Loki]

In general my point is that popularity or widespread influence might not necessarily be due to either truth or superiority.

You are certainly wrong.