Is it possible for the Bible to become an Idol?
My friend and fellow blogger Polycarp featured the following letter on his blog, and I wondered if anyone had any thoughts on this subject.
Bible Becomes Idol
Recently, I received several letters scolding me because I refuse to take the Bible literally, obeying all of its supposed proscriptions. It is a sad commentary on those who, in taking the Bible literally, reveal that they have made the Bible an idol to be worshipped and obeyed. It goes all the way back to the 1500s when Martin Luther helped to initiate the Protestant Reformation. When Protestants no longer had to obey an “infallible” pope, many turned to their Bibles and made them an infallible substitute.
Fundamentalists who attempt to claim infallibility for their Bibles miss something so elemental, the basic reasoning in our 21st century world for their irrational claims. For there are many divergent gods within the pages of the Bible.
There is the god who ordered the massacre of a neighboring tribe, “every man, woman and child.” There was the god who ordered the death by stoning for gays and, at the same time, the stoning to death for children who are disobedient to their parents. Also, there is the god who ordered that adultery should be punishable by death.
Then there is the clash between the admonition to “be fruitful and multiply,” while the apostle Paul gave the opposite advice to remain single. Add to this the violence ordered by God against the Egyptians, with the words of Jesus saying “Love your enemies.” Whose God in the Bible do you then take seriously?
The scientific revolution of our time shows that biblical literalism is a form of mental delusion. The fundamentalist positions in the Scriptures of Judaism, Islam and Christianity are all a part of a tragic misinterpretation that is creating so much hate, estrangement and human conflict all over our world.
THE REV. ROBERT E. WILLOUGHBY
Lakeland
Tags: Christian Life
March 26th, 2010 at 3:36 pm
Bibliolatry – that’s the word.
March 26th, 2010 at 3:52 pm
Three hearty cheers for Rev Robert Willoughby! I hope some of those who identify themselves as “Bible-believing Christians” (as opposed to what?) will take his sound advice on board.
As he rightly says: “biblical literalism is a form of mental delusion. The fundamentalist positions in the Scriptures of Judaism, Islam and Christianity are all a part of a tragic misinterpretation that is creating so much hate, estrangement and human conflict all over our world.”
A lighter touch on the same grim topic was Dr. Robin Guthrie’s highly amusing post of March 22nd, 2010 at 7:57 pm on “Gay couple Michael Black and John Morganwere turned away from Swiss B&B house by the owner Susanne Wilkinson who said it was “against her convictions” for two men to share a bed.”
Dr Guthrie wrote:
“Dear Mike, 7:40PM
I can only assume from you post regarding your belief the you wish to educate people regarding God’s Law. From you post I have learned a great deal and I will try to share that knowledge with as many people as I can.
When someone tries to defend the homosexual lifestyle, for example, I simply remind them that Leviticus 18:22 clearly states it to be an abomination.
End of debate.
I do need some advice from you however regarding some of the specific laws and how to follow them.
My important Biblically-based questions
are listed below.
I would guess given your forthright post that you have studied the bible extensively in order to come by those beliefs and thus enjoy considerable expertise in such matters, so I am confident you can help.
1. Leviticus 25:44 states that I may possess slaves, both male and female, provided they are purchased from neighbouring nations.
A friend of mine claims that this applies to the Irish, but not English people.
Can you clarify? Why can’t I own some Englishmen?
2. I would like to sell my daughter into slavery, as sanctioned in Exodus 21:7.
In this day and age, what do you think would be a fair price?
3. I know that I am allowed no contact with a woman while she is in her period of menstrual uncleanliness – Lev.15: 19-24.
The problem is how do I tell? I have tried asking, but most women take offense.
4. When I burn a bull on the altar as a sacrifice, I know it creates a pleasing odour for the Lord – Lev.1:9.
The problem is: my neighbours
They claim the odour is not pleasing to them.
Should they be smitten?
5. I have a neighbour who insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus 35:2 clearly states he should be put to death.
Am I morally obligated to kill him myself, or should I ask the police to do it?
6. A friend of mine feels that even though eating shellfish is an
abomination – Lev.. 11:10, it is a lesser abomination than
homosexuality.
I don’t agree. Can you settle this?
Are there ‘degrees’ of abomination?
7. Lev.21:20 states that I may not approach the altar of God if I have a defect in my sight.
I have to admit that I wear reading glasses.
Does my vision have to be 20/20, or is there some wiggle-room here?
8. Most of my male friends get their hair trimmed, including the hair around their temples, even though this is expressly forbidden by Lev.19:27.
How should they be put to death?
9. I know from Lev. 11:6-8 that touching the skin of a dead pig makes me unclean.
May I still play football if I wear gloves?
10. My uncle has a farm. He violates Lev.19:19 by planting two different crops in the same field, as does his wife by wearing garments made of two different kinds of thread (cotton/polyester blend).
He also tends to curse and blaspheme a lot.
Is it really necessary that I go to all the trouble of getting the whole town together to stone them? Lev.24:10-16.
Couldn’t we just burn them to death at a private family affair, like we do with people who sleep with their in-laws? (Lev. 20:14)
Thank you for reminding me that God’s word is eternal and unchanging.”
I hope neither Dr Guthrie or the webmaster don’t mind me re-posting it. It’s superb.
March 26th, 2010 at 4:46 pm
Interesting to read about potential causes for the obsession with literal Biblical interpretation. Is that a widely held view? I ask purely out of academic interest.
March 26th, 2010 at 4:53 pm
“The scientific revolution of our time shows that biblical literalism is a form of mental delusion. The fundamentalist positions in the Scriptures of … Christianity are all a part of a tragic misinterpretation that is creating so much hate, estrangement and human conflict all over our world.”
I hadn’t noticed Christians creating hate, estrangement and human conflict all over the world. Must be my sheltered life. Mostly they’re under attack by those who try to deny them the basic human right of freedom of religion.
But I suppose this is just an appeal for Christians to conform to whatever the establishment demands. How tedious.
March 26th, 2010 at 6:31 pm
Jim says “Interesting to read about potential causes for the obsession with literal Biblical interpretation. Is that a widely held view? I ask purely out of academic interest.”
Literal or fundamentalist interpretations of the Bible are deplored in the mainstream C of E. There is, as in most religions, a fundamentalist wing though happily I don’t come across them in RL much. I have to say when you do meet ‘em in the flesh they’re very heavy going indeed. Though not, to be fair, anything to compare to the Taleban, One must keep a sense of proportion…
On the web you get a very skewed view of Christianity with extremists pouring out vile rubbish they wouldn’t dare repeat in public.
Most Christians in the UK are relaxed about gays, the ordination of women and family planning and don’t rely on Leviticus as a moral guide. Birth rates show that Catholics totally ignore the Pope’s teachings on contraception. The fundamentalists may resent all this liberalism but there’s not a lot they can do about it. Hence the vitriol.
March 26th, 2010 at 6:42 pm
Agreed Sophie, but that wasn’t what I intended to ask.
I don’t think I expressed myself very clearly. Having an off day!
What I intended to ask was whether it was a common belief within Christian circles that: (to quote the Polycarp article): “When Protestants no longer had to obey an “infallible” pope, many turned to their Bibles and made them an infallible substitute.”
I think it’san interesting insight.
March 26th, 2010 at 7:12 pm
Oh, I see. Sorry, I think it was my mistake.
Here are some links you might like:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biblical_literalism
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luther_Bible
The second one better answers your question, I suspect.
March 26th, 2010 at 9:26 pm
Thank you Sophie Really interesting. I found the second article particularly enlightening. Much appreciated!
March 27th, 2010 at 7:33 pm
Oddly enough, though, when I see people taking Willoughby’s approach to the Bible, they wind up with an ‘agreeable’ god who agrees remarkably well with them. Thus ‘I’ become the new idol.
Idolatry, eh? It’s a tough one to get rid of!
March 27th, 2010 at 8:50 pm
I’m puzzled by your post above John.
To me an idol is an external entity with which an individual partly or wholly supplants God.
Isn’t Willoughby worshipping exactly the same God?
Surely he believes instead that the humans who wrote and compiled the Bible, whilst inspired by God, were as fallible as the rest of us. Thus they have sometimes misrepresented God’s message, by allowed their own views and secular prejudices to intervene?
Thus we have to read between the lines to discover and to undertstand God’s true message, whilst not hanging on every word as the literal truth. I realise this view may be regarded as unorthodox, but doesn’t it more accurately reflect Willoughby’s position, (and that of many others who profess to be Christians)?
Forgive me if this is an old chestnut which has been asked many times. I have not studied theology and this deeper questioning is all rather new to me.
March 27th, 2010 at 9:04 pm
Roger,
You said:
“…I hadn’t noticed Christians creating hate, estrangement and human conflict all over the world. Must be my sheltered life. Mostly they’re under attack by those who try to deny them the basic human right of freedom of religion…”
I don’t think that’s what Willoughby is saying. What he is actually saying is that over-literal interpretation by fundamentalists of all the major religions has caused these unwelcome outcomes. There are ample examples of this kind of entrenched, uncompromising stance, be it in the many inter-faith inspired conflicts in the Middle East, or Islamist terrorism against the West, amongst many other examples.
And yes, as described by previous posts on this blog, there are Christians being persecuted as a result of this in a number of countries. However, I honestly don’t think that Willoughby is singling out Christians to criticise. Far from it.
March 29th, 2010 at 9:46 pm
John Richardson (the Ugley Vicar) Says: “Oddly enough, though, when I see people taking Willoughby’s approach to the Bible, they wind up with an ‘agreeable’ god who agrees remarkably well with them. Thus ‘I’ become the new idol.”
To what do you object in Robvert Willoughby’s approach? He raises points that seem self-evident to me – that the Bible contradicts itself, and that therefore literalism is a basic mistake.
Thing is, I’m a middle-aged English Christian and I never come across Biblical literalism in RL before about 2004. Since then I see it more and more; mostly on the web, though a little bit in RL. I was brought up to understand the Bible was not intended to be taken literally: that it was far more complex than that. It’s not as if I’ve always lived in the same county or always mixed with the same people. Looking at the Ekklesia site, my understanding appears to belong to a long and honourable tradition.
But this literalism – which I find ugly and primitive – seems to be gaining ground, and it worries me. Its attitudes seem designed to turn people away from Christianity. Can anyone tell me where it stems from?
Idolatry, eh? It’s a tough one to get rid of!