I would like to read the bible or the koran.....If I had time I would read both, so which one should it be? do I have to flip a coin?
2006-08-16 04:21:50 · 37 answers · asked by mystic_speculator 1 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
Please, PLEASE choose the Bible. Not the Koran.
2006-08-16 04:25:38 · answer #1 · answered by Kat 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
As you have stated that you are not a religious person, then I can assume that you are reading one of these two books for your education. I think in this time with he world being what it is it would be best for you to read the Koran. I think you should read both but if it comes down to it so many fewer intellectuals have read the Koran than have read the bible so you will be able to spread your knowledge.
2006-08-16 05:30:56 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Since it's purely for intellectual interest and not for faith - I suggest reading the first Chapter of both. Give both Chapters some thought and then choose the book that interests you more.
I don't think either book is designed or intended to be read from cover to cover. I tried reading the Bible from cover to cover once and I only got through the first two books.
If you choose to read the Bible, I would suggest that you also get a Bible companion guide to use with it. You will find that you get more out of your reading. It would ask some thought provoking questions and help you understand the context of what is written. For example, the life and culture of the author was very different from our own and understanding those differences can give us interesting insights into what is written.
I would expect there to also be guides to the Koran as well.
Good luck and happy reading!
2006-08-16 04:32:20 · answer #3 · answered by Tamborine 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can read both. Set aside 15 minutes in the morning to read the Koran and then set aside 15 minutes in the evening to read the Bible before bed. It may take you a while, but you'll get through both. If you finish one before the other, then use your 15 minutes in the morning/evening to keep reading the remaining book.
Both are very worthy of study and reflection. If you're a university student, see about signing up for a comparative religions course. They can be pretty fascinating!
The scripture in the Bible were texts written down based upon stories told when teaching was mostly by an oral tradition of sharing wisdom and knowledge of God and Christ by word of mouth and story from parent to child....it's why the parables that Christ used were so effective because it followed the story-telling pattern everyone was so accustomed to.
The text of the Koran is from the teachings of the prophet Mohammed. Most think that Christianity and Islam have no ties to one another but it is false. They are very intimately connected....
In the old testament, Sarah, the wife of Abraham, grew impatient with God because he had promised Abraham that his descendents would be as numerous as the stars in the heavens but she was getting older and had not yet bore a child so she told Abraham to go unto her maid Hagar and Abraham and Hagar had Ishmael. Not long after, God kept his promise and Sarah gave birth to Isaac. And Sarah, not wanting the son of her servant to be heir with her son told Abraham that he should send Hagar away. So Abraham cast out Hagar and her son Ishmael to wander the desert and from the descendents of Ishmael came the Arabs and the Jews were the sons (descendents) of Isaac.
When you're done reading both, I highly advocate reading other religious texts like the Tao te Ching by Lao Tsu and the Annals by Confucious. It is a good thing to be well-read and educated about World religions and the beliefs of others.
2006-08-16 04:29:44 · answer #4 · answered by Molly M 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Why do you not have time to read both are you dieing? The bible takes about 9 months to read at a chapter a night. The Koran I do not know. But I would read them both.
2006-08-16 04:29:01 · answer #5 · answered by curiosity 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Read the Bible first, the torah, the first 5 books of the bible, were written way before the Koran.
2006-08-16 04:30:43 · answer #6 · answered by vihlee 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The bible. It's deeper than the Koran and all the Koran talks about is to destroy the infidel. Also the bible was written first and by God. The Koran was written by some crazy guy, Mohammed who thought all sorts of illogical things.
2006-08-16 04:27:56 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
READ about Buddhism instead. It makes a LOT more sense! There is no god to praise, they don't disagree with science, and they believe in taking good care of themselves and others. It is a reasonable alternative to praying to clouds or trying to believe that someone died and came back to life.
You might read parts of the bible and parts of the koran. Go to the library.
Go to belief.net and see what you already believe in.
Figuring out how and what you believe about this topic will shape and help determine the rest of your life--you have the time for that don't you?
Jonathon, you are full of holes. Don't pay any attention to bone-heads.
2006-08-16 05:01:16 · answer #8 · answered by Lottie W 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Read 10 pages of the bible and 10 pages of the Koran, any ten, then decide.
2006-08-16 04:41:37 · answer #9 · answered by Franklin 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i suggest excerpts from each
although it is valuable and interesting to slug your way through either book, their are generally short sections to start with that will give you more information and flavor and insight in a much shorter read
then you can always go back and read more or read straight through
I am not famaliar enough with the koran to make a recommendation, but for the bible, I would suggest starting with the book of John in the new testament (that's the fourth book in the new testament)
2006-08-16 04:40:14 · answer #10 · answered by enginerd 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Really, read both. How about Old Testament and then half of the Koran.
2006-08-16 04:30:10 · answer #11 · answered by Milana P 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋