Old Testament Sunday School

[HuskyFreeNorthwest]

This class might end up being the cause of me leaving the church. We are only a month in, and I am going nuts. I never realized how literal everyone takes the bible.

Perhaps my strict following of CUF has changed me, but I have a hard time thinking we are to take the stories of the Old Testament as literal. Rather that we are to use them as parables that can inspire and strengthen us.

Last week in the lesson about Cain and Abel, one of my fellow ward members started talking about how Cain's sacrifice was fruits that are now hard to come by and we shouldn't eat them because God did not find them fit for human consumption since Cain defiled them. Then launched into a lengthy discussion about how Cain and Satan held a meeting in which Satan agreed to follow Cain for all eternity, it was stated that this meeting probably took place in Ohio area (I was tempted to ask if it was near Dayton, but I refrained).

Yesterday someone commented that since it was Fast Sunday we were not to do anything that was enjoyable to the body, including having sexual relations with your spouse (I was tempted to ask if that meant we should also not poop or pee since often times that is enjoyable to the body, but again I did not).

The lesson was about Noah. After several comments more concerned with the literal details of the Noah story, than anything spiritual that could be taken from it I decided to interject. I said that I preferred to look at most biblical stories as parables and try to see how they could help my life, rather than worry about how the details of Noah getting a lion and a zebra to spend time together without one eating the other. I had no effect though, and we went right back to wondering how big the Ark was.

[SoonerCoug]

The lesson was about Noah. After several comments more concerned with the literal details of the Noah story, than anything spiritual that could be taken from it I decided to interject. I said that I preferred to look at most biblical stories as parables and try to see how they could help my life, rather than worry about how the details of Noah getting a lion and a zebra to spend time together without one eating the other. I had no effect though, and we went right back to wondering how big the Ark was.

If I ever get a chance to teach a lesson about Noah, I'm going to start the lesson with a bunch of statistics and nice table about biodiversity on the earth, etc. Then we're going to discuss the logistics of fitting everything on the boat. But I'm going to teach it as if I really believe they crammed everything on board.

[falafel]

we went right back to wondering how big the Ark was.

What a waste of time. We know exactly how big the ark was! 300 cubits long, 50 cubits wide. Next question.

[HuskyFreeNorthwest]

What a waste of time. We know exactly how big the ark was! 300 cubits long, 50 cubits wide. Next question.

Sorry, I don't want to drag down the Santa Clara 6th ward, you are right there was no wondering how large it was. Rather there was much discussion of how large the Ark was in comparison to other more familiar buildings, our ward building, Autzen Stadium, some random building on Idaho State University campus that claims to be the exact size and replica of the Ark.

[TripletDaddy]

I have attended two OT SS classes this year and have been pleasantly surprised both times. We didn't delve into mumbo jumbo (I think this is a function of the individual ward membership....which cable channel uses the slogan "Characters Wanted?"...that reminds me of the LDS Church....characters definitely wanted)

The lessons themselves were not amazingly insightful, but you could tell that the teacher had prepared a lesson, as opposed to simply reading the manual. As a result.....engaging discussion, entertaining lesson, definitely worth the time.

This might wind up returning me to full SS fellowship.

PS on the contrary, EQ yesterday was another ad hoc exercise in quote reading. At one point, we were asked to raise our hands if we earned the Genealogy merit badge in scouts. Also, we spent a few minutes discussing some farming game on facebook (no relation to the lesson, of course).

[Indy Coug]

This class might end up being the cause of me leaving the church. We are only a month in, and I am going nuts. I never realized how literal everyone takes the bible.

Perhaps my strict following of CUF has changed me, but I have a hard time thinking we are to take the stories of the Old Testament as literal. Rather that we are to use them as parables that can inspire and strengthen us.

Last week in the lesson about Cain and Abel, one of my fellow ward members started talking about how Cain's sacrifice was fruits that are now hard to come by and we shouldn't eat them because God did not find them fit for human consumption since Cain defiled them. Then launched into a lengthy discussion about how Cain and Satan held a meeting in which Satan agreed to follow Cain for all eternity, it was stated that this meeting probably took place in Ohio area (I was tempted to ask if it was near Dayton, but I refrained).

Yesterday someone commented that since it was Fast Sunday we were not to do anything that was enjoyable to the body, including having sexual relations with your spouse (I was tempted to ask if that meant we should also not poop or pee since often times that is enjoyable to the body, but again I did not).

The lesson was about Noah. After several comments more concerned with the literal details of the Noah story, than anything spiritual that could be taken from it I decided to interject. I said that I preferred to look at most biblical stories as parables and try to see how they could help my life, rather than worry about how the details of Noah getting a lion and a zebra to spend time together without one eating the other. I had no effect though, and we went right back to wondering how big the Ark was.

Start attending Gospel Essentials.

[TripletDaddy]

If I ever get a chance to teach a lesson about Noah, I'm going to start the lesson with a bunch of statistics and nice table about biodiversity on the earth, etc. Then we're going to discuss the logistics of fitting everything on the boat. But I'm going to teach it as if I really believe they crammed everything on board.

The elephants, sharks and whales go in the BACK of the boat, people! We are WAY behind schedule here! And how many times have I told you, T Rex is NOT allowed on the Lido Deck during departure!

[SoonerCoug]

The elephants, sharks and whales go in the BACK of the boat, people! We are WAY behind schedule here! And how many times have I told you, T Rex is NOT allowed on the Lido Deck during departure!

-Gary Larson's The Far Side

[HuskyFreeNorthwest]

Start attending Gospel Essentials.

I was a WML for 3 years, then went to Gospel Essentails for the next 3 years of the WML that followed. Sometime last spring right around when the guy that followed me got released I couldn't bring myself to go anymore.

[Parrot Head]

If I ever get a chance to teach a lesson about Noah, I'm going to start the lesson with a bunch of statistics and nice table about biodiversity on the earth, etc. Then we're going to discuss the logistics of fitting everything on the boat. But I'm going to teach it as if I really believe they crammed everything on board.

I've got to teach this to the 12/13 year olds next week -- anything good I can throw out there?

[YOhio]

This class might end up being the cause of me leaving the church. We are only a month in, and I am going nuts. I never realized how literal everyone takes the bible.

Perhaps my strict following of CUF has changed me, but I have a hard time thinking we are to take the stories of the Old Testament as literal. Rather that we are to use them as parables that can inspire and strengthen us.

Last week in the lesson about Cain and Abel, one of my fellow ward members started talking about how Cain's sacrifice was fruits that are now hard to come by and we shouldn't eat them because God did not find them fit for human consumption since Cain defiled them. Then launched into a lengthy discussion about how Cain and Satan held a meeting in which Satan agreed to follow Cain for all eternity, it was stated that this meeting probably took place in Ohio area (I was tempted to ask if it was near Dayton, but I refrained).

Yesterday someone commented that since it was Fast Sunday we were not to do anything that was enjoyable to the body, including having sexual relations with your spouse (I was tempted to ask if that meant we should also not poop or pee since often times that is enjoyable to the body, but again I did not).

The lesson was about Noah. After several comments more concerned with the literal details of the Noah story, than anything spiritual that could be taken from it I decided to interject. I said that I preferred to look at most biblical stories as parables and try to see how they could help my life, rather than worry about how the details of Noah getting a lion and a zebra to spend time together without one eating the other. I had no effect though, and we went right back to wondering how big the Ark was.

Oh, look who is so much smarter than his fellow ward members. It must be tough going to church with such simpletons.

[SuperGabers]

This class might end up being the cause of me leaving the church. We are only a month in, and I am going nuts. I never realized how literal everyone takes the bible.

Perhaps my strict following of CUF has changed me, but I have a hard time thinking we are to take the stories of the Old Testament as literal. Rather that we are to use them as parables that can inspire and strengthen us.

Last week in the lesson about Cain and Abel, one of my fellow ward members started talking about how Cain's sacrifice was fruits that are now hard to come by and we shouldn't eat them because God did not find them fit for human consumption since Cain defiled them. Then launched into a lengthy discussion about how Cain and Satan held a meeting in which Satan agreed to follow Cain for all eternity, it was stated that this meeting probably took place in Ohio area (I was tempted to ask if it was near Dayton, but I refrained).

Yesterday someone commented that since it was Fast Sunday we were not to do anything that was enjoyable to the body, including having sexual relations with your spouse (I was tempted to ask if that meant we should also not poop or pee since often times that is enjoyable to the body, but again I did not).

The lesson was about Noah. After several comments more concerned with the literal details of the Noah story, than anything spiritual that could be taken from it I decided to interject. I said that I preferred to look at most biblical stories as parables and try to see how they could help my life, rather than worry about how the details of Noah getting a lion and a zebra to spend time together without one eating the other. I had no effect though, and we went right back to wondering how big the Ark was.

HFN, we could have fun with your weekly thread updates on stupid things said in GospDoc. From now on, take an extra special note of dumb things said and return and report. Hell... We could even mail rewards to your ward members: Weekly CUF Nominee for Dumbest Thing Said in Gosp Doc.

[UtahDan]

I think this is interesting. I would be curious to know why it is in our culture that it is so much easier to say these sorts of crazy things than it is to suggest that they could be allegorical. I think it is the unintended consequence of "it's all true or none of it is true." I think that leads a lot of people to totally reject any nuance when it comes to the gospel.

[SoonerCoug]

I think this is interesting. I would be curious to know why it is in our culture that it is so much easier to say these sorts of crazy things than it is to suggest that they could be allegorical. I think it is the unintended consequence of "it's all true or none of it is true." I think that leads a lot of people to totally reject any nuance when it comes to the gospel.

I completely agree.

The other problem with the "all true or none true" attitude is that it runs contrary to any sort of critical thinking. When an entire society rejects doubt, criticism, and questions, then everyone loses. This is the great tragedy of Mormonism (and other religions also). It doesn't have to be this way.

[Fiyero]

I hated Sunday's lesson. The instructor kept saying things like "Missouri is flat, so it didn't take much for God to flood it, and I believe Noah thought the whole world was flooded because everything he knew- which was a relatively small area- was flooded, but not the whole world."