********************************************************************* My thoughts on the literal interpretation of the
Bible 3/26/05
Many accusers shout "But the bible is contradictive
, it is myth , It is filled with ridiculous stories
, sin and horrible acts etc;" How can I believe
in a religion so defunct of scientific reality. How
can I believe in a faith that its adherents declare
its questionable tenets so righteously ?
Fundamentalists , many times as is their nature ,
decree an absolute innerancy of the bible as divinely
inspired scripture AND tie that to absolute literal
interpretation.
One does not need to combine both beliefs. You can
have one and/or the other. You can also have none
of the above. You can have some of the above.
These are the options we are playing with " the
bible is absolute literal truth or The bible is divinely
inspired and therefore the Word of God or Every word
is Gods Literal Word for us to act on , or ....
The bible is divinely inspired and as a Whole can
provide us with a stepping stone to live a Godly life
and to have Faith in God.
Many of the accusers are of modernity , like you and
I. New technology and newer interactive forms of government
have popularized Secularism , scientific rationalism
and empiricism. These are relatively new philosophies.
We now believe , more than ever before , that we must
scientifically rationalize all aspects of God`s history
, God`s Words , and God`s Creations. This is a need
of the 21st century man. This belief actually brings
about fundamentalism.
One must understand where fundamentalism comes from.
It is the fear of itselfs annihilation. It is the
fear of tradition being run ramshod by a progressive
culture. It is the fear of change. All fear creates
violent whiplashes. The whiplash of religion is to
become more severe , monopolistic , exclusive , and
fundamental.
Conservative religious adherers of the past did not
batter eachother with the impossibilities of the bible
, but had Faith , that if they too followed Jesus`
teachings , and if they too , thru the complete Bible
find the wisdom and beauty of God , they can suffer
this mortal plain in anticipation of a beautiful hereafter
of which only God Knows the details. Remember Faith
is not a noun to be found but a verb to be acted.
Our current Fundamentalists among Jews , Muslims and
Christians alike , have been borne of fear of our
modernity. Islamic fundamentalists desperately fear
the secular , individualism of the west. Ultra-orthodox
Jews are still in mortal memory of the holacaust and
modern persecutions. Christian fundamentalists are
in constant defense against modern sciences constant
questioning of its tenets. Their response is to be
rigid , ultra-authoritarian , strict , and demand
exacting, literal, unarguable , interpretation of
scripture. Many make the mistake of breaking God`s
own first commandment by worshiping the Bible , ascribing
to it the glory due God; Worshiping the text , providing
it with superiority over the spirit; and worshipping
the culture ; forcing the bible to conform to its
current state.
In the absence of a visible God , fundamentalists
can be found to use the words of the Bible as the
literal will of God. Unfortunately , as accusers will
argue , the bible can be interpreted in many different
ways.The bibles` passages were not meant to be randomly
picked and quoted like a fortune cookie , for its
bit of wisdom or law . The bible is meant to be read
as a whole.Active interpretation, whether from the
Roman catholic mechanisms of Canon , or the liberal
protestant preacher , or simply individually is dangerous.
Because the opinion of the reader is now , not just
an opinion but the absolute will of God. For mere
men to wield that power is an invitation to disaster
as history will attest. My reasons for describing
this background was not as a polemic of fundamentalists
; but as an agreement with the accusers , that there
are times the bible does not conform to science and
also that fundamentalists do not make good apologists.
Most people don`t realize scientists are not always
atheist. Its true that science has historically battled
with religion, but I disagree that God is nullified
by science.
My immediate argument is that God can be found rationally
, but never could be found empirically (derived from
experiment and observation rather than theory). Most
scientists believe that one can only know if one can
observe. Attempting to find a God( that chooses to
remain hidden) through observation and experiment
is a ridiculous aspiration.
There are many rationalist scientists (Einstein and
other theoretical scientists) that do believe knowledge
can be found through reason. Yes , I would agree ,
many stories of the bible , if put through the mill
of reason would churn out mush; But God can certainly
be found through reason. It is more reasonable to
believe in an almighty creator , an omnipotent intelligent
designer , a good God , than to believe in a godless,
brief life of meaninglessness.
Science is not the only way to find truth. Art and
music`s truth cannot be found through science, nor
can science answer questions of ultimate meaning.
It is absurd for science to attempt to. At death ,
all science and all philosophy retires beaten, only
the gospel can answer the ultimate truths.
This brings us back to faith. It is much easier to
dismiss the bible , and therefore the responsibility
of religion , than to embrace God , and his words
, and abandon all that you know is against his will.
Faith may provide hope , but it will definitely require
a change in your life. Many accusers , should look
to themselves to find the real reason behind their
disbelief or doubt. I do not intend to sound righteous
, as I am as guilty of the above as you may be.
I am not knowledgeable enough to defend or attack
the old testament,the hebrews bible. I am more than
willing to defend the new testament and its reliability.
I , through reason , have come to believe in the reliability
of the new testament. I could put forth a reasonable
argument that Jesus Christ was the Son of God. If
you also believe this , then the doubt you may have
of the old testament or even certain passages of the
new testament , have been answered.
Jesus studied , preached , and believed the old testament
was his Fathers word. He quoted as such and He preached
as such. The old covenant gave way to the new , but
He did not disparage the teachings of the old testament.
Jesus was comfortable with the bible , so should you
be.
