The Bible...
...is not trustworthy. I find it strange that a lot of Christians practically base their all of their beliefs on a book made up of stories thousands of years old, and that were passed down by word of mouth only for hundreds of years. Just think about how much the story would get distorted with each telling! Poetic licence being so popular and all. Some people take the bible so literally, it literally makes me sick. Not only would the bible have been distored over the millenia, but a lot of the ideals in the bible are thousands of years old! It makes me so angry when people say being gay is wrong because is says so in the bible. A lot of things in the bible are wrong and outdated, and I believe this is one of them! For example; in Leviticus 1:19 it says that burning bulls on the altar creates a pleasing scent for the Lord. Leviticus 19:27 also forbids getting the hair around your temples cut. It goes on to say it is good to own slaves, that eating shellfish is an abomination and enen that you can't plant two different crops in the same field! Keep in mind that Leviticus is where you will find the bible saying that homosexuality is a sin.
While these things may have been acceptable, oh, maybe two thousand years ago, they most certainly are not today, and I would like to meet the people that think they are. If these things have changed, why can't things like homosexuality change? For once, Canada is leading the way in something with our recent legalization of gay and lesbian marriages.
I believe that a lack of youth in religion can be attributed to the fact that the church is (a lot of the time) unwilling to change, too in love with tradition. A lot of people I know feel this way, and I think the church could benefit with some fresh ideas.
Better Rushan? ;)
I found a quote that goes well with this post:
Truth, in matters of religion, is simply the opinion that has survived.
Oscar Wilde (1854 - 1900)
While these things may have been acceptable, oh, maybe two thousand years ago, they most certainly are not today, and I would like to meet the people that think they are. If these things have changed, why can't things like homosexuality change? For once, Canada is leading the way in something with our recent legalization of gay and lesbian marriages.
I believe that a lack of youth in religion can be attributed to the fact that the church is (a lot of the time) unwilling to change, too in love with tradition. A lot of people I know feel this way, and I think the church could benefit with some fresh ideas.
Better Rushan? ;)
I found a quote that goes well with this post:
Truth, in matters of religion, is simply the opinion that has survived.
Oscar Wilde (1854 - 1900)
This is more like the kind of thing I know you do well and I look forward to reading more!!!!! :D
Like you, I have difficulty with taking the Bible literally (as well as with people who take the Bible literally) because I understand the Bible as people of a certain time and place in history trying to share the story of their experience of and encounters with God using the limited symbolism of language. That is part of the reason that we are left with so many different images and understandings of God within scripture.
If you and I were to sit down and write down our own experiences of God (whatever we define God to be)I can guarantee that although they might be similar in some areas, they would also have some significant differences because our encounters with God are shaped by our culture, our experiences, our relationships and everything else that forms our context.
That is also why I am not sure it is fair to say that a lot of things in the bible are wrong and outdated - if we read them as a people (individuals and communities) sharing their experiences of God then they can't be wrong. They were true for those people at that time in that context.
Having said that, I do believe that there are things that we can learn from reading scripture contextually - trying to put ourselves in the place of those who shared the stories and trying to relate what we experience there with our lives today.
When we read the Bible we need to make sure that we read through the lenses of reason, experience and tradition - otherwise we will end up with a bastardized understanding of how God works in our world.
I cover some of this stuff in my post on my blog that talks about what I believe.
Also, good on Canada for the legalization of gay and lesbian marriages.
Posted by
Rushan |
July 20, 2005 5:23 PM
PS. I also forgot to say that I believe the Bible is inspired by God (or by people's experience of God) and not dictated by God. Anyone who walks around saying the Bible is the WORD OF GOD and is completely without error probably needs their head examined! (OK I know that sounds a little insensitive, however I do have some difficulty with people like that!)
Posted by
Rushan |
July 20, 2005 5:39 PM
I had this same arguement with my mom. I see the "inspired by God" bit, but I still have such a big problem with those who take it as the "WORD OF GOD" that the idea of the Bible tends to drive me up the wall.
Posted by
Reese |
July 21, 2005 2:28 PM
I'm not even going to start. To me this is too 'delicate' of a subject for my writing style. I think I'd have half the Christian world after me... :/
Posted by
Charlie |
July 21, 2005 3:53 PM
But good post Will! :D See how fun it is to rant? ;) (maybe you'll be able to keep up my rant corner in the Colonel Gray newspaper next year)
Posted by
Charlie |
July 21, 2005 3:54 PM
Good quote!
Also, forgot to say in one of my earlier comments, that it is great to see you writing with some passion!!!!
Posted by
Rushan |
July 23, 2005 7:02 PM