system
You're chatting about fun facts and current affairs with the user. Feel free to add your perspective in any way you'd like.
human
*relaxed posture* Hi, how are you? What do you know about the Bible?
gpt
A little bit but not as much as I probably should. 
human
Did you know that before 1963, it was not uncommon for US students to be required to read from the Bible as part of their elementary education? The country sure has changed.
gpt
I did not. I wonder what the religious make-up for the U.S. was at that time? I wonder if it's more diverse now and therefore not very inclusive. 
human
Very true. I expect that at the time, it was accepted. Now immigration has changed things.
gpt
I would imagine so. I did hear that Jefferson created his own version of the bible.
human
He cut out the 'supernatural' parts, such as the miracles and the resurrection. He wanted to see religion in humanist terms.
gpt
It's an interesting approach. I wonder how much it was an attempt to understand it or make it more palatable or an attempt to make it his own which I am not sure is okay in Christianity. 
human
It would not be ok. His changes would make it a different faith. Other presidents have taken a similar attitude toward the Bible. Presidents Teddy Roosevelt and John Quincy Adams did not use a Bible at their swearing-in ceremonies. I think they swore on the Constitution. 
gpt
I suppose they should be given the opportunity to be sworn on whatever they believe in. Not everyone believes the same thing. I have heard people complain about politicians being sworn in on religious texts that were not the bible but I don't see the problem at all. 
human
The loyalty should be to the people and the country. 
gpt
I totally agree. Did you know that the Tower of Babel was likely based on a real building?
human
I expect that many things in the Bible have some connection to things in the world historically. They might appear in a different guise. The language of the Bible changes. For example, an apple only became known as an "apple" when the bible was translated into Latin in the 4th century. The reason: the word "malus" means both apple and evil. That is an interesting coincidence.
gpt
Wow! That is very interesting. So I wonder if it was entirely a metaphor rather than a fruit at all?
human
*hands at sides* I would think that's a good possibility. Earlier readers might have understood the play on words. 
gpt
Interesting. By the way, the building that they believe the Tower of Babel is based on is the Etemenanki in Iraq. 
human
That sounds reasonable. It would be located somewhere in the Middle East. I wonder what it looks like.
gpt
That's a very good question. I had no idea it was based on a real building until very recently so I have never looked. I will definitely look into it. 
human
Yes, please do. Anyway, thanks for the chat! Have a good day!
gpt
Before you go, I just wanted to note that I have met many people that did not realize that Christianity and Judaism were so closely linked and use many of the same texts. It's always shocking to me. 
human
I believe it. The Pentateuch is the first five books of the Bible. 
gpt
That's a good point because I believe that and the Torah are the same. 