A More Accurate Bible

The book "Misquoting Jesus: The Story Behind Who Changed the Bible and Why" takes a close academic look at the Bible by going back to the original writings, which were written in the ancient Aramaic language. By doing this, the author, Bart Ehrman, discovers an astounding amount of errors, flaws and discrepancies in the Greek and English translations that we have been reading, studying and practicing for centuries.

He then goes on to explain the many reasons why there are so many mistakes, but his book was written primarily to explain these "why's", and it's by no means a new translation of the entire Bible. Far from it.

Fortunately for us there was a man named George Lamsa.

But before we get to Lamsa's work, we should understand that the many books included in the Bible weren't written until several decades, or even a century or two after the fact, often by anonymous random people who never even witnessed the teachings firsthand. Thus, the recorded accuracy of what was originally taught is highly questionable, but despite this it's obvious that the Bible still has some very important teachings in it.

So, despite the many flaws and errors that are contained in the Bible, we still want to read it to improve our lives.

While it's pretty much impossible to know what the exact words and teachings of Jesus and the various Saints were, we have to work with what we have, and what we have is the "original" texts written in Aramaic.

Unbeknownst to most people, there was a man named George M. Lamsa that translated the entire Aramaic Bible directly into the English language! Naturally, it's far more accurate than the versions that have been translated into Greek, and then later into English, by people who sometimes had hidden intentions and agendas.

If you enjoyed the immensely popular "Misquoting Jesus", "The Holy Bible: From the Ancient Eastern Text" is a perfect compliment to it. You could say that Ehrman gave us step one by explaining that our Bible does indeed have flaws, and Lamsa gave us step two by giving us a proper translation, except Lamsa's Bible has been available since 1985 while Ehrman's book is only 2 years old.

Dante is Daunting

I say, reading Dante is a bit daunting,
though no longer in native tongue,
the great Comedy remains haunting.

Many weeks will be spent reading,
entranced in the beauty and grace,
it urges one's soul to sing.

Though just beginning, I already sense
that words are just words,
and of value is the primal essence.

The message is timeless and true,
turning from vice, and toward virtue,
transcending inner hell are the few.

Clinging to beliefs and desires,
ruled by the mind and rarely the heart,
chasing illusions till the body expires.

Experiencing within, feelings of all sorts:
Of inferno, purgatorio or paradiso,
whatever it be, the mind distorts.

"Leave the mind behind" say the wise,
and with this I must agree.
Stay true to the heart and thou shall rise.

The heart thinks too, but not with words,
it just knows, innately, intuitively and always.
Adopting love and peace has many rewards.

When pushing on and reaching towards
a heart of perfect wisdom,
just know that your heart is the Lord's.

For years now I have been led,
and thanks to the graceful Lord in my heart
there are few illusions left to shed.

I know Dante's message before it's all read,
far from my first spiritual book,
I've almost lost my head.

Christianity, Hinduism, Taoism, Zen:
There remains little I haven't read.
Love & truth are universal, Amen.

Inspired by

The Divine Comedy, Translated by John Ciardi