h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

"The Bible is the most influential work of fiction of all time."

Discuss.

I'm not sure. I'd think that the Hindu religious texts have reached and influenced more people throughout the history of the world, becasue they're older.

The NT is only 2000 years old and the OT was limited to a very small population until 2000 years ago.

Well, if that is how the person you are quoting feels, what is wrong with it? That opinion is no more right or wrong than any other religiously (or atheistically) based opinion. However, some of the historical references in the Bible did (for all we know) happen (ie a man named Jesus existed and was executed, ...). To say the Bible is all fiction is probably wrong, but parts of certainly could be. I personally feel that the Bible is no more fictional than any other religious text; I tend to believe that all religions are but seperate ways to one end.

There are parts of the OT that are considered to have historical merit. As for the NT, it is not proven that a man named Jesus lived and was executed. Though I'm sure there was, because Jesus was a common name, and the Romans executed a lot of Jews. But there is no historical corroboration for a man similar to the Jesus of the Gospels. Most historians accept that it *probably* happened, based on the principle that most legends have *some* basis in reality.

Back on subject... the author of that quote clearly had a strong Western bias. The Bible has less influence today than, say, the Koran. Historically, its window of opportunity ran from 4th century AD to the 1850s.

"The Bible is the most influential work of fiction of all time."

First: Influential works (fiction and non-fiction)

I'd argue anything that forms the basis not only of a religion, but of a society is influence at its greatest. So, the most influential texts in my mind would be:

The Bible
The Talmud
The Quran
The Bhagavad Gita
Buddhist Texts
Atheist/Agnostic Tests; The Communist Manifesto

Among these, I'd rank the Bible at #1, the Quran at #2, the Communist Manifesto (among others) at #3. So I think thwe Bible is the most influential work of all time, yes.

Second: Fiction

IF the Bible is not historically accurate, then it would be a work comprised of historical fiction, philosophy, theology, and law. To dismiss it as a work of fiction is far too concise and dismissive for any purposes other than to ignore it as a fantasy. The Bible has power even as a secularized text, giving insight into the people who lived at that time and a basis for Western civilization.

I think the Bible is more than that, but there's no need to get uinto it here.