Comments on: 3 things to stop doing with the Bible

By: Ian

Ian — Fri, 12 Aug 2022 06:29:55 +0000

Really interesting discussion

By: otim

otim — Mon, 11 Jul 2022 09:49:08 +0000

In reply to ElsieJoy. it is true, and i like the concept and it content in all. we need to be very careful with our reading but in all being lead by the holy spirit is so key.

By: Chris Goswami

Chris Goswami — Tue, 28 Jun 2022 20:01:04 +0000

In reply to Simon.

Your point on original languages versus modern translations is fascinating and cuts both ways. I think it’s interesting to note, don’t you think, that Christianity is the ONLY mono-theistic faith that does not require its adherents to read texts in the original language (as opposed to Judaism / Hebrew and Islam / Arabic).
That means we Christians lose on “original sense” but – as you say – we may gain on contemporary application.
On your very last point — no we definitely don’t have all the answers (to anything!) — but not having them is what makes this fun dont you think!
Thanks Simon

By: Chris Goswami

Chris Goswami — Tue, 28 Jun 2022 19:56:18 +0000

In reply to Vid. Thanks David, I think Christians can be afraid of facing up to other interpretations and also to modern-day scholarship. That's because for many Christians their identity (and that of their family) is deeply anchored to their fundamental beliefs which they probably absorbed at an early age. But, if we are to love God with all our minds, then that means putting this absorbed identity to one side for a moment, hard as that may be, allowing the honest questions, considering new responses and in the process discovering a more honest, and think enduring, faith

By: Chris Goswami

Chris Goswami — Tue, 28 Jun 2022 19:46:10 +0000

In reply to Neil. .... are you suggesting the Harry Potter stories are NOT TRUE! Slightly more seriously Neil, I would say, if you are not going to read Harry Potter instead of the Bible, that's fine but then you probably shouldn't critique the Bible

By: Mart

Mart — Sun, 26 Jun 2022 17:24:59 +0000

Brilliant again Chris
Thanks v much
Martin

By: Neil

Neil — Sun, 26 Jun 2022 10:08:41 +0000

Or better still don’t read the bible! If you want magical fiction, read Harry Potter the stories are far better!

By: Mike H

Mike H — Fri, 24 Jun 2022 07:49:28 +0000

Thanks Chris , interesting read The guy at university would not have had a Holy Spirt guided theologian to guide his thinking perhaps ? .The main application of scripture for us is that it is " God breathed " it is our food We should reflect , discern and ask the holy Spirit to reaffirm what God is saying to us from the passage .Incorrect interpretation and as you say in one example " Judging others " can lead to division . Within the Church it can be damaging . Outside the Church context as we " share scrpture to witness " It can turn others way from God . " So i applaude your article Chris.

By: Vid

Vid — Thu, 23 Jun 2022 16:46:30 +0000

Thanks for this article. I was brought up in a strict fundamentalist family and found that coming to terms with these and other issues caused me some cognitive dissonance .… as well as putting me in direct conflcit with external family members too!

By: Simon

Simon — Thu, 23 Jun 2022 16:40:56 +0000

An interesting read. It makes me want to read the next section, " 3 things to start doing with the Bible"...... I guess you're limited in length, but there are a few other things to stop doing too. eg Don't apply 21st-century western morals to a 1st-century (or earlier) middle eastern culture. I know you have written about examples where it's easy to make this mistake, and in so doing miss the radically positive change that the Hebrew or Christian rules represented at that time. It's also instructive to compare the different ways that Christians and Muslims approach the Word of God. For a Muslim, the Koran is the actual verbatim words of God. So, for example, for them an English translation is not considered to be the word of God. Their original uses a form of Arabic that nobody uses these days (except for recitation). So understanding and interpretation are really difficult because it locks the text into the 7th Century. They get into a similar problem to that related in your first "Don't". By contrast, we rejoice in multiple translations and take them all as adding to our understanding of what the text is about. We have to admit though that it's still hard to understand some things. A critique like this can make it sound like we have a smart answer to every objection - but although I agree with what you've said in your article, I don't think we have all the answers either.