Talk:The stories of Christianity

See Christian Mythology/Talk for some earlier talk on this subject.

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on a question of method here, why did you use the see also link above as opposed to a simple redirect, or

a cut and paste of the text ?

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Because some people might want to talk about Christian Mythology per se and the old article on that subject, while others might want to talk about the story of David and Goliath, for example, not under the heading of "Christian Mythology." --LMS

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Even on the (I believe true) story of David and Goliath, I expect there are mythical (untrue) elements. I admit I have to struggle to recall many of these. For example, that David used a slingshot (a wooden forked weapon, typically with an elastic band) and that he tricked Goliath into a ravine so he wouldn't be able to fight back.

I'm not denying that. In fact, I personally believe very many of these stories, particularly the ones with supernatural elements, are completely false and mythological. I just don't want Wikipedia to say officially (as it were) that they're mythological (unless everybody is agreed they're mythological)! --LMS

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I don't think the apocryphal stories should be singled out as being mythical. If we use the definition that I think is prevailing on the Christian Mythology page, calling the stories mythical is not supposed to be saying anything about their historicity one way or the other. It merely means they are making a moral or theological point. With that definition, all or nearly all the stories on this page would be considered mythical. And no, I have no problem with that provided that's really the working definition.

For hagiographies, just point to List of saints and go to invididual saints from there. That's where their stories ought to be, I think. --Wesley

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Yes, maybe those stories shouldn't be singled out as being mythical, you're right.

Re the saints, sounds good. Or maybe a page called lives of the saints would be good to have, that could discuss the lives of the saints in general, and that genre of literature. --LMS

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Why use the word 'mythical' if you want to say they are making a 'moral' or 'theological' point?

Why not just use the word 'moral' ? (or 'theological' ?) -- BenBaker

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So let me see if I understand your point here, Larry. Because the word "myth" might be offensive to some who interpret it to imply falsehood, we shouldn't use that word for stories many currently-living people believe true, even if they are the same kinds of stories told for the same purpose, or even the very same story? So, then, the story about God instructing a worthy man to build a big boat, after which he sent a flood to wipe out everyone but the man he chose to save, that story is a Sumerian myth, and a Babylonian myth, but a Christian story. Hmm...

--LDC (With tongue only slightly in cheek)

Golly, you picked an embarrassing way of putting it--but yes. Exactly. --LMS