What are you reading?

Postby **Tet-chan** » Wed Dec 03, 2003 5:36 am

The recycled citizen

Postby **Bobtheduck** » Fri Dec 12, 2003 7:25 pm

djnoz wrote:I'm really not sure about Bible codes. About a year ago some of us at school got into these things because we were bored, and we managed to find all kinda of unrelated nonsense in the code. I'd say approach with caution

Using anything to predict the future like that is wrong... I believe that's called "interpreting omens" and it is clearly spoken out against in the Bible... Most of the people I know that believe in it say that they don't do that to "read the future" but more to find things that have allready happened... It's just a little way to boost their faith, I suppose... Anyhow, even if it's real, using it to predict the future is wrong...

Postby **Danyasaur** » Fri Dec 12, 2003 7:42 pm

.Hack// Legend of the Twilight *I've read it about 7 times now ^_^*

Postby **Technomancer** » Fri Dec 12, 2003 7:43 pm

You can run the exact same algorithms on any text and come up with words that may or may not have some topical significance. Moreover, if you search the bible you can also find "codes" that are definately not consistent with the actual text. It's simple probablility and the human desire to find patterns, nothing more.

Postby **Bobtheduck** » Fri Dec 12, 2003 8:11 pm

Technomancer wrote: It's simple probablility and the human desire to find patterns, nothing more.

That's how I feel about a LOT of current scientific research... People are more likely to find things that "prove" what they allready believe, and much less likely to look for opposing data... I believe that while there is much more complexity to the issue, it has something to do with the "Bandwagon" and the "Bandwagon of Jumping off the Bandwagon" I have seen a pattern of.

Oh, to be on topic, the book I'm reading now? Fellowship of the Ring. I want to read the whole series and also re-read the "Chronicles of Narnia" while I'm on vacation, and I'll have plenty of time to do that on the plane/at the airport.

Postby **Locke** » Fri Dec 12, 2003 10:38 pm

The Davinci Code. ^^;;;;;;;;;;;;;;

Postby **kaze** » Fri Dec 12, 2003 10:45 pm

Abarat ^^

Postby **Bobtheduck** » Fri Dec 12, 2003 11:47 pm

What's the DaVinci code about? Isn't that the book that says Jesus was married to Mary Magdeline?

Postby **Technomancer** » Sat Dec 13, 2003 4:48 am

Bobtheduck wrote:That's how I feel about a LOT of current scientific research... People are more likely to find things that "prove" what they allready believe, and much less likely to look for opposing data... I believe that while there is much more complexity to the issue, it has something to do with the "Bandwagon" and the "Bandwagon of Jumping off the Bandwagon" I have seen a pattern of.

I'd have to disagree with that, since this isn't how science operates. It's falsification that counts. This means that one needs to seek tests that, depending on the outcome, could prove the theory wrong.

Anyways, I haven't read the DaVinci code, but it's premise of Jesus having a child by Mary Magdelene isn't all that new. As far as I know the story was originally spread by the Merovingian kings, who claimed descent through this bloodline. I am not aware of any earlier versions of the story. Incidentally, the story was also the focus of the computer game "Gabriel Knight III"

I'm also reading "The Masks of God: Occidental Mythology" by Joseph Campbell.

Postby **Technomancer** » Sat Jan 10, 2004 9:21 am

I just finished "The Life of Pi"- I highly recommend it. It is hard to describe, suffice it to say it chronicles the story of Pi Patel, who becomes trapped on a lifeboat with a Bengal tiger. It's a great story, and far deeper than its premise, with its exploration of themes of religion and isolation.

Right now I'm starting Donald Grave's "Field of Glory" which is a history of the events leading up to Battles of Chateauguay and Chrysler's Farm in 1813.

Postby **cbwing0** » Sat Jan 10, 2004 10:22 am

I just started: "The Unfit: The History of a Bad Idea." It is about the concept of eugenics as it has been expressed at various times throughout human history. It should be an interesting read.

Postby **Locke** » Sat Jan 10, 2004 10:26 am

Lies your Teacher Told You : Everything your American History Textbook Got Wrong

^^

Postby **Kisa** » Sat Jan 10, 2004 10:52 am

Finishing "Tales form Watership Cown". Love the rabbits and their society and stuff. ^_^

Postby **Kokhiri Sojourn** » Sat Jan 10, 2004 12:52 pm

I'm part of the way through "A Confederacy of Dunces," by John Kennedy Toole, and starting next week I'm going to be reading ten books, half by John Steinbeck, half by Flannery O'Connor for a Topics class at college (I'm an English major). Let me tell you... anime is not the only thing in this world that is expensive...

Postby **kirakira** » Sat Jan 10, 2004 2:38 pm

OH, I'm in the middle of several books right now. ^^ I'm almost done with All the Weyrs of Pern by Anne McCaffery. I've just started re-reading the Silmarillion (Tolkien) and the Lay of the Children of Hurin (Tolkien too^^). Um...I'm also in the middle of Firebird by Kathy Tyers.

Postby **Kisa** » Sun Jan 11, 2004 12:39 pm

BelldandyMewMew wrote:Finishing "Tales form Watership Cown". Love the rabbits and their society and stuff. ^_^

Ooops! Watership Down. (spelt it wrong . . .) 0_o

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