I'm not here to bash christianity or to insult individual Christians, but I do have one question that will help me out with the first edition of my upcoming short story compilations: How much of the Bible is Mythological?
The main reason I ask is that I don't want to be rewriting the Bible for an absurdly long short story and I don't quite fully know if Judeo-christian scripture is a mythology. This edition of the series will be titled "Onstad Mythologies: of Biblical proportions" and the first story in that compilation centers around the origins of God and the Kingdom of Heaven.
I plan to use real world understanding of science as well as my own spin on the scripture to make That very story that will serve to build up the world that I plan on using for other editions (I'm also planning for a Greek edition, an Islamic edition, a Hindu edition etc.) and the different pantheons that mortals have worshipped corresponds to multiversial nation-states that different factions of gods rule.
The stories themselves will be fantasy, but broaght into today's modern society (e.g. Angels of death who wield machine guns, elvenfolk who run credit card Ponzi schemes). Now, I am on the first story that builds up the character of God (and his five alter egoes) at the point where the events of Genisis are about to happen whitch brings me back to this question: How much of the Bible counts as Mythology?
I wish you the best on your writing, and that you find a supportive publisher. I write mostly Feminist Science Fiction that focuses on good Aliens and good Arabs. I publish on a limited basis on line.
My own background is largely Christian, and I have studied the Bible just lots. I think the Bible is largely true, but do realize that most of the old stories were told by very primitive and mostly men. Much of the Bible is sexist, but that does not impact on the credibility of the work. Most Biblical scholars I have met have a very narrow view of ancient history.
I'm fascinated with the "Priest of Salem" and wish we had gotten more of the story about who he is/was. What would I have done if two strangers had walked up to me that would later destroy Sodom and Gomorrah with fire? What would I think if one of my friends was Moses, and he later went on to stop the water in the Red Sea? This same Moses, according to the writing would later meet God as a burning bush and much later meet and talk to God. I'm not saying anything that is not IN the Bible. Another big question for me is what did Ezekiel see? I am very open to the idea that he saw some sort of aircraft.
There have disappointingly always been those people around that say the Bible is largely a fable, but I am not one of them. Perhaps most other religious works have an element of truth in them. And what of that huge, fascinating art that depicts Ahura Mazda in Zoroastrianism?
Have fun with your writing.
