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Bible API

bible-api.com

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Re: Bible API

#81

Post by skissane »

newacct583 wrote: post #72
wcarey wrote: post #58

One of the most interesting things to happen to the scriptures is their balkanization into verses. We generally don't atomize other writings that way, and when folks read the scriptures as a series of disconnected logical propositions all sorts of wackiness ensues. What would it look like to have an API for the collected works of Jane Austen that returned snippets (some of which are not even complete sentences)? How…

> That hermeneutic - texts are collections of independent logical propositions - was essentially unknown in the ancient world, and cedes immense epistemological ground to the project of the enlightenment that is diametrically opposed to a Christian reading of the Scriptures, which emphasizes their unity and their role in liturgical worship. I just had to quote that sentence construction without comment. But to reply…

> I mean, I agree it's dumb. I just don't see why it's not "Christian". Christians are what Christians do.

But American evangelical Protestants are a small minority of global Christianity. Catholics and Orthodox take a different approach, one which emphasises the binding role of church Tradition in interpreting the Bible, an idea which Protestants reject.

Re: Bible API

#83

Post by wcarey »

goto11 wrote: post #78
wcarey wrote: post #58

One of the most interesting things to happen to the scriptures is their balkanization into verses. We generally don't atomize other writings that way, and when folks read the scriptures as a series of disconnected logical propositions all sorts of wackiness ensues. What would it look like to have an API for the collected works of Jane Austen that returned snippets (some of which are not even complete sentences)? How…

The Bible was not written as single work the way novels like Persuasion are though. It is really a collection of books of very different origins and genre. Some books are laws where individual rules can be examined and there are collections of proverbs. But there are also parts which are longer narratives.

I think my point, though, that the unit of thought in the scriptures is not the atomic verse, still stands. If you'd like to emend "collected works of Jane Austen" to "collected works of 19th century authors", feel free.

Re: Bible API

#84

Post by wcarey »

seemslegit wrote: post #79
wcarey wrote: post #58

One of the most interesting things to happen to the scriptures is their balkanization into verses. We generally don't atomize other writings that way, and when folks read the scriptures as a series of disconnected logical propositions all sorts of wackiness ensues. What would it look like to have an API for the collected works of Jane Austen that returned snippets (some of which are not even complete sentences)? How…

Is "balkanization" really a general term for "dividing into parts" ? I think some sort of both internal and geopolitical strife needs to be involved. And verses are not disconnected logical propositions, they are a structure between a sentence and a chapter aka. a paragraph. If anything - the grouping of verses into chapters is far more arbitrary than that of sentences into verses.

I chose "balkanization" to connote the things you reference; the atomic quoting of verses of scripture does violence to the text.

Verses are definitely not functionally paragraphs. Some aren't even complete sentences!

Re: Bible API

#85

Post by jerkstate »

Intermernet wrote: post #26
lordleft wrote: post #12

This is neat. This makes me curious about the licencing around popular translations, like the Jerusalem Bible or the NIV; is it not legal to post those translations??

Apparently, the Bible is the Word of God. I'm not sure if copyright applies. Romans 13:1-2 says: "Obey the government, for God is the One who has put it there. There is no government anywhere that God has not placed in power. So those who refuse to obey the law of the land are refusing to obey God, and punishment will follow." Acts 5:29 says: "Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than human…

Nietzche originally published the words "Gott ist tot" in 1882, so the copyright would have expired on or before 1952.

Re: Bible API

#86

Post by gboone »

battery423 wrote: post #77

So absurd how people are really reading this. How can you take so much time on this Text while ignoring all issues this Text contains? All the contradictions? All the advise which is either sexist, rassist, homophobe, non homophobe etc.? I really really want to know, what other people think, when they read the bible every week like in a bible study, just to either: - Following it - Not following it but finding an exc…

Have you actually ready it?

Re: Bible API

#87

Post by zekrioca »

battery423 wrote: post #77

So absurd how people are really reading this. How can you take so much time on this Text while ignoring all issues this Text contains? All the contradictions? All the advise which is either sexist, rassist, homophobe, non homophobe etc.? I really really want to know, what other people think, when they read the bible every week like in a bible study, just to either: - Following it - Not following it but finding an exc…

It is only interesting that someone comes to comment about morals for a text written almost 3000 years ago..

Re: Bible API

#88

Post by [deleted] »

battery423 wrote: post #77

So absurd how people are really reading this. How can you take so much time on this Text while ignoring all issues this Text contains? All the contradictions? All the advise which is either sexist, rassist, homophobe, non homophobe etc.? I really really want to know, what other people think, when they read the bible every week like in a bible study, just to either: - Following it - Not following it but finding an exc…

[deleted]

Re: Bible API

#89

Post by HeckFeck »

wcarey wrote: post #58

One of the most interesting things to happen to the scriptures is their balkanization into verses. We generally don't atomize other writings that way, and when folks read the scriptures as a series of disconnected logical propositions all sorts of wackiness ensues. What would it look like to have an API for the collected works of Jane Austen that returned snippets (some of which are not even complete sentences)? How…

Correct, its very seldom indeed any other work - ancient or modern - is quoted in this way. You have entire generations of Christians thinking only in isolated "memory verses".

One wonders if this practice is connected to the degradation and commercialisation of worship and countless trivial splits. It just doesn't make for lucid thinking or deep understanding of any work.

It is worth noting that the chapter divisions came long before the verse divisions. For reading, the chapters are as helpful as they are in any other book. I recall the verses were introduced around the time of the Geneva Bible and were intended to cross-reference for the purpose of arguing doctrine. Perhaps useful for scholars - who'd already be deeply familiar with the text as a unit - but hardly a method for comprehension of the books as a whole.

Edit: This discussion reminds me of the so-called Reader's Bibles which were made a few years ago. They present the text as a flowing single-paragraph, with minimal distractions. One such example is the ESV Reader's Bible: https://www.bibledesignblog.com/2014/06/crossway-esv-readers...

Re: Bible API

#90

Post by jariel »

millerm wrote: post #20
TomMarius wrote: post #7

Meh. I would really love to see the day when religion stops being more than a fantasy fictional story. The project is nice, but I dislike its promotion of religion, and christianity in particular. This story has caused way too much suffering already. I wonder who will first use this project for children indoctrination.

I am sure both of us risk getting our accounts flagged or banned for having an opinion, but perhaps you could use the API to display what concerns you. I can say pretty much all of it concerns me. I don't believe in cherry picking "the good stuff" while avoiding all the atrocities that in there. It's amazing how most don't read their "most important book". They just wait for others to tell them the pretty verses they…

So tell us about Jesus' 'atrocities'.

If you're reference them, surely you be able to at least give us some examples?

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