Top 5 books in St. Louis, Missouri, USA

[WarKirby]

Top 5 books in St. Louis, Missouri, USA

1 The Bible
2 Harry Potter
3 To Kill A Mockingbird
4 Angels And Demons
5 Catcher In The Rye

This got me thinking. These are all FICTION BOOKS!

I for one am happy that all of these books made the top 5 fiction books. Each one has done its part to add to the genre and find a way to be more and more ridiculous. I personally think that no other book deserves the credit for slot 1 more than the book above.

If you think about it, no other book has fooled people into believing that its
true, when it is actually complete bullshit, more than number 1. This book is such an exaggeration. Complete amazement that a man can take crazy ideas in his head and transform them into rational thoughts, that sound so fantastical on paper.

This guy pioneered the idea of a protagonist! What an unbelievable character. No where else will you find a character that everyone can latch on to so easily. If you think about it, this writer also pioneered some of the most used literary tools of the trade.

I mean take Creative license for example. Creative License is the Exaggeration or alteration of objective facts or reality, for the purpose of enhancing meaning in a fictional context. This guy totally blew realty out the window, and went 23 miles the other way with his ideas.

Another term pioneered was the idea of a "foil". A foil is a character who is meant to represent characteristics, values, ideas, etc. which are directly and diametrically opposed to those of another character. The guy who wrote this made this character up (as if we were to believe he was real! HA, how extraordinary) with all of these ideals, that were supposed to contrast human nature. Obviously.

Its not about something or someone real, its just there to represent this critique of humans and a possible goal to achieve. I mean come on, who would be crazy enough to think that this person was actually real?

Anyways. Something else this author did, was make the foundations for Symbolism. Somewhere in this book, i read all these stories that told of miracles, 6 day creations, talking bushes, plagues, parting of seas, and all works of this "god-person." When i read these things, my eyes opened wide as i came to the obvious conclusion: "once again! these things didn't happen, they are merely story telling devices used to tell a tale, and illustrate fantasies."

Finally, and most important i think , is the concept of allegory. Allegory is where every aspect of a story is representative, usually symbolic, of something else, usually a larger abstract concept. Does any book fit that description more than this book?

Alright, well, i don't mean to go on, but this book just caught me in amazement. I truly do feel that no other book belonged on the top slot in fictional books. For all reasons, i might even go to say that it started the fiction genre. But I'm sure other writers like this one started books very similar to this, under different names.

The only thing that i can find more fantastic than this, would be if people devoted their lives to this book! Imagine, a harry potter fan for life, organizing with other people in public meetings, and reading this book in front of everyone. How ridiculous. Then i suppose there would be Harry Potter sects, and they would have some influence over government and politics. HA! Who would be stupid enough to take all these things seriously, and actually make them into laws, or integral parts of a society. Now you CANT TELL ME that that would ever happen.

HA. The day we live our lives by a book!

[Yoggi]

hey, go to hell (ya thats right! i believe in it!)

ill beleive what i want to beleive i and i dont need you questioning my fiath about anything.

you will not do well here. Why not question your blind faith? If you cannot ask questions of yourself, why should you learn anything from others?

[magnesium]

hey, go to hell (ya thats right! i believe in it!)

ill beleive what i want to beleive i and i dont need you questioning my fiath about anything.

Wait a second... Do you believe everything in the bible literally, or at least think of it as metaphors for moral teachings?

Like... Do you really think we're all descendants from Adam and Eve and the incest that follows, or that God actually said "Let there be light" in the vacuum of space?

[Yoggi]

hey, go to hell (ya thats right! i believe in it!)

ill beleive what i want to beleive i and i dont need you questioning my fiath about anything.

Wait a second... Do you believe everything in the bible literally, or at least think of it as metaphors for moral teachings?

Like... Do you really think we're all descendants from Adam and Eve and the incest that follows, or that God actually said "Let there be light" in the vacuum of space?

even the pastor at the church my parents go to believes in evolution

[MetalMusicMan]

Great article, Andy!  I love the part about Harry Potter sects and religions, man that had me roffling.  But yeah, all great points that I have made one time or another, but fantastically put and very awesomely compared to the works of modern day fiction.  A great read and tons of fun!  Where'd you find the list at?

Also, who the fuck is Annexia and why does he/she defend the Bible?  I'm lol'ing already.

[Yoggi]

Great article, Andy!  I love the part about Harry Potter sects and religions, man that had me roffling.  But yeah, all great points that I have made one time or another, but fantastically put and very awesomely compared to the works of modern day fiction.  A great read and tons of fun!  Where'd you find the list at?

Also, who the fuck is Annexia and why does he/she defend the Bible?  I'm lol'ing already.

we've probably scared them off now

[spidey]

pure brilliance.

[The_Gamdol]

I'll defend the bible....




Edit: Oh btw, if that person comes back, if you really wanna support the bible side (as in you believe it's teachings etc.) the last thing you should tell anyone for any reason is 'go to hell.'  Just fyi, incase you've never actually read it.  Just something I'd like to point out before I support the unpopular side.

Edit: Edit:  I'm not gonna argue it now because I'm in Kara and maybe ZA after, I'll be back later tho.  Please post all anti-Bible things now so I have a good list to go off of.

[MetalMusicMan]

Gamdol man I don't think you've got a chance in hell on this one.

[The_Gamdol]

Not that hard of a start, considering with all the manuscripts and shit they've found over the years that show the Bible hasn't been changed and matches with actual events in history, most scientists don't consider the New Testament fiction.  Jesus Christ was a real person, everyone mentioned was an actual person, the only part that can really be contested is whether or not Jesus was the son of God.  That kinda nulls the argument for the New Testament.  All the Old Testament people are real too, but because of the whole seeing and speaking with God it's a lot more personal accounts than documented (though all the prophecies and shit did happen, 600+ prophecies just about Jesus included), so you can't really claim the entire testament as a documentation of history.  That and the whole creating the earth in 7 days thing, which can be explained in this extremely weird way that some smart physics guy came up with.

Maybe I'll actually get the shit to document this, but like, I didn't get a list of stuff to debate against so fuck you guys.

[Yoggi]

Not that hard of a start, considering with all the manuscripts and shit they've found over the years that show the Bible hasn't been changed and matches with actual events in history, most scientists don't consider the New Testament fiction.  Jesus Christ was a real person, everyone mentioned was an actual person, the only part that can really be contested is whether or not Jesus was the son of God.  That kinda nulls the argument for the New Testament.  All the Old Testament people are real too, but because of the whole seeing and speaking with God it's a lot more personal accounts than documented (though all the prophecies and shit did happen, 600+ prophecies just about Jesus included), so you can't really claim the entire testament as a documentation of history.  That and the whole creating the earth in 7 days thing, which can be explained in this extremely weird way that some smart physics guy came up with.

Maybe I'll actually get the shit to document this, but like, I didn't get a list of stuff to debate against so fuck you guys.

the bible has stories that were added because people thought they sounded good.  This has been proven. No one owns an original copy and the translations from Hebrew are dicey.  There were at least 12 gospels left out because they supported things such as womens rights, which the church didn't want. The bible contradicts itself massively. In the story of moses, god promises to no longer interfere in the affairs of man. then, see rest of bible.

[WarKirby]

the Bible hasn't been changed and matches with actual events in history, most scientists don't consider the New Testament fiction.  Jesus Christ was a real person, everyone mentioned was an actual person, t

The bible has been translated so many times the "works of god" have been exaggerated to such. the parting of the red sea was denounced a couple of years ago because of bad translations. through the years, the Reed Sea, was somehow converted into the Red Sea. The Reed sea has been known to part ways with the tides, and create an empty path in the middle. You cannot tell me that this is the only mess up from mis-translations. By nature, if you translate something, over 2000 years, its going to lose parts to it. Undeniable. Thats part of the differences of languages. Each one has its own words, and can mean different things when converted. Anyone who believes the bible word for word is mistaken, if for anything, simply be because it was translated so many times, and lost some of its original context.

SECOND

The bible was assembled to tell a STORY. plain and simple. I have no doubt that there is some minuscule basis of fact, because even the old anglo-saxxon writings of beowulf had some historical significance.  but they were passed down, and exaggerated. and became fiction, not historical writing.
People in the bible may have existed in essence (that is, maybe they had a few ideas right. Like there was a guy named John) but their roles as read today are not historical in context.

every time that science proves this stuff wrong, religious people come and denounce it by "faith not fact" or made up statistics like scientist have actually proven that the bible was historically correct. That is such bullshit.

[The_Gamdol]

Dead Sea Scrolls are a major supporter of the Bible NOT having been largely mistranslated over time.  When translated they matched the Bible to something like 99% or more, which if it had been constantly mistranslated over the years, would not be the case.

Jesus Christ was a real person.  He had 12 (confirmed) followers (the disciples), and traveled around preaching the word of God according to the Old Testament.  Jesus Christ was crucified by the Romans.  Over 500 people claimed to see him after he was crucified and buried in a tomb, these people being spread across an immensely large area.

This is all fact, the ONLY thing in the New Testament that really isn't proven as such is that Jesus was the Son of God.  But ya know like, the fact that he fulfilled hundreds of prophecies regarding his birth, life, death, and (based on witnesses) resurrection kinda support that.  Something like 1/(10^157) that someone would fulfill every single one of those prophecies made about the Son of God up to a few thousand years before he was even born.  I stick with the belief that has more numbers behind it, thanks.

[WarKirby]

Dead Sea Scrolls are a major supporter of the Bible NOT having been largely mistranslated over time.  When translated they matched the Bible to something like 99% or more, which if it had been constantly mistranslated over the years, would not be the case.

Jesus Christ was a real person.  He had 12 (confirmed) followers (the disciples), and traveled around preaching the word of God according to the Old Testament.  Jesus Christ was crucified by the Romans.  Over 500 people claimed to see him after he was crucified and buried in a tomb, these people being spread across an immensely large area.

This is all fact, the ONLY thing in the New Testament that really isn't proven as such is that Jesus was the Son of God.  But ya know like, the fact that he fulfilled hundreds of prophecies regarding his birth, life, death, and (based on witnesses) resurrection kinda support that.  Something like 1/(10^157) that someone would fulfill every single one of those prophecies made about the Son of God up to a few thousand years before he was even born.  I stick with the belief that has more numbers behind it, thanks.

you say this is all FACT. and that there is proof, but you keep coming up with facts to support your argument that just say Jesus waas real. thats not a fact, its an opinion. nop matter how much you say (all his followers and that he did exist,  and was crucified) you are still only supporting your opinion with your own beliefs. there is no hard evidence that jesus existed as the person they claim him to be.

and you can preach all you want about the "numbers" behind your side, but what you have is still only opinion and speculation. fulfilling  prophecies is not hard factual evidence. its merely someone saying that something would happen, and then bending the understanding of it to fit what you are looking for.

[Yoggi]

The bible contradicts itself massively. In the story of moses, god promises to no longer interfere in the affairs of man. then, see rest of bible.

please, prove me wrong. Either God was lying, or he didn't interfere and doesn't exist.