The Ultimate Vampire Resource and Directory

Proverbs 30:14

There is a generation whose teeth are as swords, and their jaw teeth as knives to devour the poor from off the earth, and the needy from among men

Do you think this is a refrence to vampires?

Most of my biblical studies have been long forgotten. I think I would need the context of the surrounding verses to give the question it's just due. Offhand though, I don't remember anything in the King James that would be conclusive regarding vampires in biblical times.

I just found this about Cain... its def interesting. but thats not what i was telling u about in the first place, im still looking for other bible verses, i jus thought this was interesting.

http://www.angelfire.com/tn/vampires/step3.html

Heres the link again so anyone who wants to can just click on it, I thought it was quite interesting personally.


http://www.angelfire.com/tn/vampires/step3.html

JOH 6:53 Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you.

55 For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink.

I am having a hard time finding the site i saw. heres two more. im at work and so i have no bookmarks and im trying to do this by memory.. and my memory is not very good lol

this is a not a refrence to vampires. but it dose fit very well. the bible never mentions vamps. and jesus never brank blood. the apostils drank whine, jesus blesed and called his blood.

If you find this topic of interest, there are those who consider Fallen angels to be a possible origin of vampires. You can find references to the Nephilim in Genesis...6, I think...round about the flood. If this picques your interest, check the Apocryphal writings like Enoch for more!

Thjere are ay scriptures, not only biblical, but other culture too that refer to people of pronounced canines that digest blood. Those are more commonly referred to as demons.
Also, in the bible, there are references to angels with such fangs and who's to say that our of their jealousy of ma that they did not fee from us?

I'm not so sure
Usually when they something to the affect of "eating someones flesh" or something like that they are usually implicating turture but I suppose it's possible

The mythos around Caine and Lillith have always fascinated me, but remember society was way more harsh than it is now. Anything that wasn't understood was deemed "evil" and those that did not go with the norm were promply labelled as heretics or witches. Then those heretics or witches were hung, burnt, or if they were lucky, just excommunicated.

I think in these days, vampires aren't really made; people find out they enjoy the taste of blood and go with it.

I've read and heard a few verses from the bible that sound vampiric to me but I guess it depends on how you take it. Some ppl interpret the bible differently than others. I have this argument with my dad all the time. lol I hate the way he takes things he reads in the bible we see it totally differently.

It definitely sounds like a reference to Vampires. The problem with the bible is, whether it is a hoax, or just an extremely long book. Also, where this verse is placed in the bible, and the surrounding text, would definitely help in defining whether it is about warriors or Vampires.

oh dont no much about the bible n things liek that but that sounds rather cool and ive always thought the idea of drinking the blood of jesus and eating his flesh sounds very vampiric

Dark Greeting's,
Some of you may not like this but Oh Well.I'm not sure about the one you list,But at the last supper when Jesus said"Eat of my body and drink of my blood "I think that is vamperic,so in my opinion Jesus was a vampire.And let's not forget "On the third day he rose from the dead"

And let's not forget to give effort to read the other posts before YOU post.

I'm going to stray somewhat off topic here, but it follows the line of varying interpretation of the Bible, as well as the arguments of each side as to the Eucharist and vampirism.

The interpretation of the Eucharist varies from denomination to denomination. While most do view it as symbolism, the Catholic church still maintains a belief in transubstantiation.

TolietDuc is right about Catholicism... The Church teaches that it literally is transformed from wine to blood and bread to Jesus's body...

It is not merely symbolism... To be Catholic you believe you are ingesting blood and flesh.

Even if the drink and wafer still retain their properties of wine and bread...and thus the argument can be made that Catholics really arent consuming Jesus's body and blood... it still is interesting to believe that such a huge populus regularly believes themselves to be partaking in what many people view as vampiric and canaballistic.

I would say you could interpret it like that although it could mean many thins to many other people aside from this site. but it could mean that.

I completely agree with meeper on this. Altough it is a bit off topic, it is interesting to see that if the metaphor of the wine and bread were true, catholics would be the very creatures they believe are sent from hell.
As for the fact that are vampires mentioned in the bible I do no believe so. There might pasages that could be interpreted to fit the definition of vampire but there is nothing concrete, nothing that could not be interpreted as merely a demon. But then again the Bible doesnt mention Lilith nor does it specify what did the demons do to humans or how the "ate the flesh".

I dont think it was in relation with vampires, it could some malformation or something of ppl, it was pretty close minded at that time..lol.

I think it is possible because vampirism is a very old thing. It predates the bible by many many centuries. I do like the reference in the apocryphal writings. I enjoyed reading everyone else's view on this too.

* There will definitely be references to vampires and the unknown in the bible. It will just be hidden away in the words as they must have had fears of them back then. *

I too have studied the Bible and am a fan of Vampires, but I do not think the Bible mentions vampires as we think of them. And no Jesus never drank blood. He offered wine to his disciples as a symbol of his blood and bread as a symble of his body. Both of those are still part of Christian ceremonies today as a way to remember his sacrifice.

This has really turned out more interesting than I thought. I have enjoyed reading everyones opinions on this subject. I do believe it's talking about vampires, just not the vampires we normally think of, I think it's talking about evil humans who wish to do harm. There all around us.

dyingme, the wine is a symbol of the blood. and in catholic churches when they drink the wine it is engrained in their heads that it is blessed and is now, no longer wine, but the blood of christ. So how can we be sure that just because it is not real blood that it never was during that time? the bible has been rewritten by people who had to translate. we can never be sure what it really said.

I do not believe the Catholics believe consiously believe themselves to be a vampiric at all... I don't think any branch of Christianity embraces vampires in their modern day or mythological practice.

It is interesting though that they do believe themselve to be drinking blood for eternal life. Obviously this is refering to spiritual life where as (mythological) vampires are often seen to exist on the physical plane and never being able to transcend into the spiritual.

On topic again, imho the important word is here is generation not race, family, tribe or anything like that but ... generation

To me a generation is part of the long line of evolution, you can chose to apply the term to a grandparent or however far back you want to go

Could Agur simply not have been saying that n the past man behaved like beasts, cannibals etc and simply ensured survival of the strongest ~ evolution

In Judaism, in the light of the Torah, it was believed that blood was the container for the soul, it was that which fed the soul, nourished it and kept it alive. For this reason the consumption of blood is prohibited.
Christianity too is inescapably blood based. Old Testament writers describe blood sacrifices in painstaking details and their New Testament counterparts layer those symbols with theological meanings.
The word "blood" occurs three times as often as the "cross" of Christ, five times as frequently as "death." And daily or weekly, we commemorate Christ's death with a ceremony based on his blood.
From a biblical perspective, as noted by Stephen Peele (The Blood of the Covenant, 2003):
"Blood to the believer is like oil to an engine, neither can survive without it".
Blood is understood as an appeasement to God, first exemplified in the Garden of Eden by his slaughter of two animals to cover the sins of Adam and Eve. Peele argues, with detailed scriptural evidence, that the significance and power of the blood shed by Jesus is demonstrated from eight perspectives:
redemption
propitiating
cleansing
forgiveness
access to God
justification
sanctification
commemorative celebration

The role of blood is strongly stated for Christianity as follows:
“I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him. Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me”. (John 6:53-37, NIV).
Peele further indicates the manner in which wine was understood to substitute for blood in celebration:
in the Old Testament: "He washes his garment in wine, and his robes in the blood of grapes." (Genesis 49:11); "of the blood of grapes you drank wine." (Deuteronomy 32:14)
in the New Testament (on the occasion of the Last Supper): "This is the new covenant in My blood" (Matthew 26:28; Luke 22:20; I Corinthians 11:25), indicating that the juice represented His blood which would be shed in sacrificial death.


FROM THE CHRISTIAN HOLY BIBLE

Revelation 16:6
for they have shed the blood of your saints and prophets, and you have given them blood to drink as they deserve."

Revelation 17:6
I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of the saints, the blood of those who bore testimony to Jesus.

Leviticus 17:11
For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one's life.

Leviticus 17:14
because the life of every creature is its blood. That is why I have said to the Israelites, "You must not eat the blood of any creature, because the life of every creature is its blood;

Deuteronomy 12:23
But be sure you do not eat the blood, because the blood is the life, and you must not eat the life with the meat.


Proverbs 30:14
those whose teeth are swords and whose jaws are set with knives to devour the poor from the earth, the needy from among mankind.

Job 29:17
I broke the fangs of the wicked and snatched the victims from their teeth.


Zechariah 9:7
And I will take away his blood out of his mouth, and his abominations from between his teeth: but he that remaineth, even he, shall be for our God, and he shall be as a governor in Judah, and Ekron as a Jebusite.

Micah 7:2
The good man is perished out of the earth: and there is none upright among men: they all lie in wait for blood; they hunt every man his brother with a net.

Lamentations 4:14
They have wandered as blind men in the streets, they have polluted themselves with blood, so that men could not touch their garments.

Colossians 1:20
And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.

Additions to Esther (Apocrypha) 16:5
Oftentimes also fair speech of those, that are put in trust to manage their friends' affairs, hath caused many that are in authority to be partakers of innocent blood, and hath enwrapped them in remediless calamities.

Romans Chapter 3
13: Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips:
14: Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness:
15: Their feet are swift to shed blood:
16: Destruction and misery are in their ways:
17: And the way of peace have they not known:
18: There is no fear of God before their eyes.

Wisdom of Solomon Chapter 12
3: For it was thy will to destroy by the hands of our fathers both those old inhabitants of thy holy land,
4: Whom thou hatedst for doing most odious works of witchcrafts, and wicked sacrifices;
5: And also those merciless murderers of children, and devourers of man's flesh, and the feasts of blood,

1 Chronicles 11:19
And said, My God forbid it me, that I should do this thing: shall I drink the blood of these men that have put their lives in jeopardy? for with the jeopardy of their lives they brought it. Therefore he would not drink it. These things did these three mightiest.

1 Maccabees (Apocrypha) 7:17
The flesh of thy saints have they cast out, and their blood have they shed round about Jerusalem, and there was none to bury them.

Proverbs 1:11
If they say, Come with us, let us lay wait for blood, let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause:

Proverbs 1:16
For their feet run to evil, and make haste to shed blood.

Proverbs 1:18
And they lay wait for their own blood; they lurk privily for their own lives.

Proverbs 6:17
A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,

Proverbs 12:6
The words of the wicked are to lie in wait for blood: but the mouth of the upright shall deliver them.

Proverbs 29:10
The bloodthirsty hate the upright: but the just seek his soul.

Luke 11:50
That the blood of all the prophets, which was shed from the foundation of the world, may be required of this generation;

Luke 11:51
From the blood of Abel unto the blood of Zacharias, which perished between the altar and the temple: verily I say unto you, It shall be required of this generation.

2 Esdras (Apocrypha) 15:58
They that be in the mountains shall die of hunger, and eat their own flesh, and drink their own blood, for very hunger of bread, and thirst of water.

1 Samuel 14:32
And the people flew upon the spoil, and took sheep, and oxen, and calves, and slew them on the ground: and the people did eat them with the blood.

1 Samuel 14:33
Then they told Saul, saying, Behold, the people sin against the LORD, in that they eat with the blood. And he said, Ye have transgressed: roll a great stone unto me this day.

Genesis 9:5
And surely your blood of your lives will I require; at the hand of every beast will I require it, and at the hand of man; at the hand of every man's brother will I require the life of man.

Genesis 9:6
Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.

Genesis 42:22
And Reuben answered them, saying, Spake I not unto you, saying, Do not sin against the child; and ye would not hear? therefore, behold, also his blood is required.

Revelation 18:24
And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth.

Psalms 9:12
When he maketh inquisition for blood, he remembereth them: he forgetteth not the cry of the humble.

Psalms 16:4
Their sorrows shall be multiplied that hasten after another god: their drink offerings of blood will I not offer, nor take up their names into my lips.

Pslams 51:14
Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.

Hebrews 2:14
Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;

Numbers 11:33
And while the flesh was yet between their teeth, ere it was chewed, the wrath of the LORD was kindled against the people, and the LORD smote the people with a very great plague.

Micah 3:5
Thus saith the LORD concerning the prophets that make my people err, that bite with their teeth, and cry, Peace; and he that putteth not into their mouths, they even prepare war against him.

Mark 9:18
And wheresoever he taketh him, he teareth him: and he foameth, and gnasheth with his teeth, and pineth away: and I spake to thy disciples that they should cast him out; and they could not.

Deuteronomy 32:24
They shall be burnt with hunger, and devoured with burning heat, and with bitter destruction: I will also send the teeth of beasts upon them, with the poison of serpents of the dust.

Lamentations 2:16
All thine enemies have opened their mouth against thee: they hiss and gnash the teeth: they say, We have swallowed her up: certainly this is the day that we looked for; we have found, we have seen it.

Daniel 7:5
And behold another beast, a second, like to a bear, and it raised up itself on one side, and it had three ribs in the mouth of it between the teeth of it: and they said thus unto it, Arise, devour much flesh.

Daniel 7:7
After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it: and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns.

Job 16:9
He teareth me in his wrath, who hateth me: he gnasheth upon me with his teeth; mine enemy sharpeneth his eyes upon me.

Job 41:14
Who can open the doors of his face? his teeth are terrible round about.

Matthew 8:12
But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Psalms 35:16
With hypocritical mockers in feasts, they gnashed upon me with their teeth.

Psalms 37:12
The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth.

Psalms 57:4
My soul is among lions: and I lie even among them that are set on fire, even the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword.

brokenhearted, it says teeth like swords this could simply be prehistoric man with very sharp meat tearing teeth. The proverb also mentions devouring, since when do vampires eat people?

LordOfNoctemAeternus, I found those websites too but couldn't get my head around the logic, for example, of course the symbolic 'blood' was mentioned more than 'cross' - when Jesus mentioned blood he didn't know he was going to be hung on a cross did he. It seemed very much that whoever wrote them was angling everything to prove a point

In reference to the Bible, are there any other historical references to vampires during biblical times that in turn would help clearify anything written in the Bible about them or assumed to be written about them?

These are once again- sentences taken out of a COMPLETE story making them incomplete thoughts. You cannot decipher a picture if all but 1% of the brushstrokes are erased.

Yes Art, I agree and accept we cannot know exactly. And I can even tell you a story in the Bible off the top of my head where a human WAS eaten- but this was during a famine but was NOT accepted, or the norm.

heres my thoughts on the theories of vampires and werewolves...the thoughts and origins had to develop from something its not like someone woke up one morning and thought HEY!!! im gonna make some creature up and call him a vampire who drinks blood, and hey while im at it make him vunerable to sunlight, the stories or legends had to have some from some grain of truth but as far as what is believed today who knows, and as for the bible...its just a nice story book to me...and sometimes its even a good picture book. lol

i got a second appinion from a friend that reas the bible alot n he said that the bible speaks in metaphors so they could be talkin about just people that are evil/bad that killed people that werent as rich or somethin along the lines

The Bible is jammed-packed with metaphor~ but there seems to be no room for metaphors for some people in this thread. It makes me wonder if some people here have even had education in writing, poetry, an other forms of literary expression.

In just responding to a message- it made me think about this more. Instead of me being critical and judgemental of education levels~ how about I just say people should challenge themselves to read the entire text before coming to a conclusion. And if you add some research on literature- I am sure you will have a better understanding of these words.

It's true, even some of the most intelligent people of the world can't even use a computer. Hats off to us for even making it here. lol... we've 'one upped' them with something we find basic common knowledge in this generation.

Now, empower yourself inhale the common knowledge of someone else's world. You don't have to take on the belief-system as your own to find a grasp on written expression and form.

I was afraid of stating this before do not want to be accused of preaching but I notice many have stated fact or sentences form the bible and it seem sokay for them so here is goes
I have studied the bible for over 14 years in a row and still do, I have books for researchs, cd-roms, old litterature, I also had and still have access to researches and to some of th eppl who did those, I know ppl form museum, I know historian, and archeologist, and all the research agreed on the fact that there is ( I mean serious research not fiction or speculation ) that there is no reference to the vampries in the bible and also that when jesus say to drink his blood and eat his body it was a figure of speahc, to explain things and events that were coming up. But then again its all up to the person who reads it to ether read or interprete what is written. If I found something about that I would defenetly knwo and also post it, but I never did.
(btw I also possess about 8 bible from diferent culturs and religons)
Anyway it still is interesting to see what a cupe of words well place can lead to as speculation about the vampires, about the true vampires and their origin.

I think everyone interprets the bible in different ways.

good point meeper. catholics do believe they are drinking jesus blood. its beliefs based on the faith and thats why the wine is actually blood even tho its not. but it is more on the spiritual plane rather than the physical.... but i bet there is a way that they connect.

It is entirely possible that almost any of the individuals mentioned in the Bible could be vampires, as they walk undetected among us now. I don't think anyone mentioned in the Bible is referred to or identified as a vampire, though.

Whether something is a metaphor or should be taken literally is a huge controversy within the Christian faith and that has led to many sects breaking away from the Roman Catholic Church.

There are religions out there that will hold that everything in the bible should be taken literally. Even at that, I am not sure that those quotes would unequivocally be describing vampires. As it has been mentioned several times on this thread- everything must be looked at in context. Rather than citing one verse, you would have to examine the chapter and the book for more clues as to if it really is talking about a vampire.

For the ones who believe that the Bible has parts to be taken literally and figuratively, than it gets even harder to speculate that those specific versus are truly discussing vampires rather than using the language of sharp teeth and blood as metaphorical or poetic...

Finally the ones who believe that the book is just a bunch of stories to draw upon that teach good morals... obviously the Bible is not seen in this light as being a written document of what has 100% happened and thus cannot be used to authenticate vampires.

Agreed Meeper and Images...

Yet if it is to be taken totally literally then it also needs to be taken in the text of the time, the society and the people it was written to.

Viewing the metaphors is far easier because then the contradictions don't matter it is the message that is the focus of the verses.

In regards to the question, I think that metaphorically there have always been those that are considered vampires, but not the blood sucking versions of today. It was the spiritual ideals and if you were to look for vampires in the bible you would have to look at a loss of spirit, and disconnection with god.

So in regards to all the verses put here, no I do not think that is the message either of the literal translation or the metaphor.

I think thats the whole point... the bible is nothing more or less than a metaphor. guidlines for those who want them, history for those who study them... its how u perceive it or want to perceive it.

To a degree, the history is written elsewhere as are many of the descriptions of the people. Only with the metaphor can one say it's how you take it.

When viewing the known history in relationship to that metaphor, the metaphor takes on a greater context.

Simply put you cannot just take one or the other. Both need to be understood before any conclusions are made about a text. As Images stated, that is why theology students view scripture of any religion differently. They are taught both and to look for both, not just the work as it is written.

well said. this thread is becoming very intense and being raised catholic i have many feelings about what the bible really means, and then many about what i really feel/think about it. and other religions and perspectives. its hard to really say anything on the topic of just the bible becasue each religion's bible is different and each religion considers other religions to be less than the other.

so without understanding all of them equally, i dont think we can generate meaning through just metaphor and history.

(nor do i have any idea if i made sense just then and i went to school for creative writing)

You did. That is the failing point is many people believe what they wish to based off how the metaphor applies to their lives and beliefs as they stand right now.

To really determine what a text is referring to, one must use other forms to cross reference with. And that sometimes changes the belief a person once had.

It is the separation of historical what we know against the beautiful metaphors that are life enriching to many that is often the cause of much disagreement.

Both are correct, if people merely just state from what aspect they are giving their beliefs or thoughts from.

Maybe, maybe not..Everyone interprets what they read differently. Some will say thats a reference to campires & others will say it could be a reference of what people in hell will be like..To each their own on that 1

indeed we could interpret or speculatew to infinity, I agree, it is still hard to follow facts and the lines themselves without going around and speculating or interpreting, I guess its all in the mind of the reader it all starts to ether go one way or another.

You are right that everyone might read and interpret differently. But the point is that some interpretations can be completely wrong if it is not cross referenced with other historical texts.

Everything must be viewed in context with the time the Bible was written, translated, and the different versions of the Bible.

This post is getting some amazing responses. I personally don't believe anything I can't see, but given the benefit of the doubt I'd have to say that the metephors being used in the bible are to get the people of that day and age to understand better that times are going to get evil and harsh.

i seen a show called Decoding the Past the Vampire Secrets on the histort channel last night and the said that vampires are in the bible ok

please go too www.history.com and look for Decoding the Past the Vampire Secrets please

While that was an interesting Docu-Drama about vampires... those shows are predominately inconclusive on mysteries. Just as many on here have read the versus and say yup vampires are in the bible, there are just as many who look at it and realize that it was poetry and metaphor along with it being taken out of context.

the possiblity that vampires were refered to in the bilble is something that i just cant think of. but that is only because one i dont belivie in god and satan and two i dont belive the in the bible. but thats only my option and everyone of us is entitled to there options.

I honestly don't think that there is an actual mention of vampires in the Bible. I just feel like what is perceived as vampires is just explanations of occurances.

like i said bible=story book
i went to a private school up until 4 grade and then i still got religion drilled into my head after that due to my grandparents, and granted they go to a lutheran church, just packed full of stubborn germans, the reference to blood in the bible is a metaphor, when they drank his "blood" it was wine and they still use the verse today during communion. I feel sorry for the gods of some peoples beliefs because all they seem to be something to blame
"oh its raining...well its gods doing, he planned this" bullshit! take geology and biology people and you might learn something.

Don't use this thread as your ticket to offend people who actually believe in the Bible as the foundation of their faith.

It's hard to get a thread going where we can debate the meaning of things- because someone always stops in to get offensive.

If you can't just step aside and talk about the Bible as literature without putting people down- DO NOT post here.

I watched this show last night on the history channel . It was called Decoding thePast: Vampire Secrets. It actually discussed Vampirism and the bible. Very interesting. If you ever get the chance to watch, I would. It is very interesting and informative.

People of that day already knew the world was harsh, just as people of this day know it. The metaphors drive home not just what is wicked, but why it is so important not to be that way yourself, to guard yourself against exploiting the weak.

Sometimes WE are the metaphors...we are the ones with swords for teeth. The metaphors make you ask, "which one am I? Which one SHOULD I be?" That is their value.

Yes, it is a refenence to vampires, because there are other scriptural verses which indicate vampiric activity.

Most of which are strictly against it... this is only one example, but if you google it, you can find others:


Deuteronomy 12:23
Only be sure that thou eat not the blood: for the blood is the life; and thou mayest not eat the life with the flesh.

Joli, that is a most excellent point, and I am sorry people are over looking it.

We are one of the greatest metaphors in the bible, from the psalms to the song of songs. There is so much humanity written there. It is too bad people refuse to see and acknowledge that in themself.

XXgoddessXofXtheXnightXX- your post from Deuteronomy is yet another poor excuse for claiming vampirism in the Bible. Have YOU read chapter 12?

That verse (and the surrounding ones) are explaining to the people that before they eat meats from their herds and flocks- that the blood MUST be drained first. The same practice of hunters and butchers today. The animal is drained, then butchered.

Liebe and Images, you make me proud. It's so refreshing to see people who give a damn about the opinions they forge. A 5 minute search will never replace real time immersed in a subject you care to learn about.

I taught at the high school level which meant reading religious doctrines of all different faiths, ancient and modern so that I could know what I was talking about on the subject of World Literature. The stories of creation, man's good and poor choices, his fall, and redemption are worth more than a cursory glance in order make a worthless non-contextual point.

honestly, I don't believe anything in the bible, I think it's just a hoax to lure people into trying harder to be good, if not, oh well, I guess I'll burn in hell, which doesn't really seem to bother me for some reason, but I'll not get into what I feel about god, if there is one. I never expected so many good posts to this thread, but I never expected so many closed minded ones either.