AJ Jacobs: My year of living biblically

The speaker shares his experiences of living a year following all biblical rules, exploring the challenges and insights gained. He discusses previous experiments, such as outsourcing his life and practicing radical honesty. Key lessons include the importance of gratitude, the impact of behavior on thoughts, and the need to pick and choose meaningful rituals. The talk concludes with reflections on the journey and the value of engaging with religious texts critically.

What was the outcome of the speaker's experiment with radical honesty?

• It was a positive experience.

• It was the best month of his life.

• It had no significant impact.

• It was the worst month of his life.

What was one of the main reasons the speaker decided to live according to the Bible for a year?

• To write a new book.

• To convert to Christianity.

• To explore the rise of religious fundamentalism.

• To prove the Bible is outdated.

How did the speaker handle the biblical rule about not shaving the corners of his beard?

• He shaved his beard completely.

• He let his beard grow fully.

• He trimmed it regularly.

• He ignored it.

What lesson did the speaker learn about behavior and thoughts?

• Thoughts are more important than behavior.

• Behavior and thoughts are unrelated.

• Behavior can change thoughts.

• Thoughts always change behavior.

What was the speaker's experience with stoning an adulterer?

• He was arrested for it.

• He used pebbles and was retaliated against.

• He used large stones.

• He refused to participate.

What is one of the key lessons the speaker learned from his biblical experiment?

• All rituals are harmful.

• The Bible should be taken literally.

• Sacredness is irrelevant.

• Gratitude is a key to happiness.

How did the speaker's view on sacredness change by the end of his experiment?

• He converted to a new religion.

• He became a reverent agnostic.

• He dismissed the idea of sacredness.

• He became an atheist.

What did the speaker learn about religious communities in America?

• They are diverse and varied.

• They are mostly intolerant.

• They are declining in number.

• They are all the same.

What is the speaker's view on rituals?

• They are always harmful.

• They should be completely dismissed.

• They are only for religious people.

• They can provide meaning if not harmful.

What does the speaker suggest about following the Bible?

• Follow it literally.

• Pick and choose the right parts.

• Ignore it completely.

• Follow only the New Testament.