You really need to be dead from the neck up not to find the Bible an
endlessly fascinating book. OR you would need to be deadened
to the intrinsic fascination of the book by a perceived need to
memorize doctrines as prerequisite for reading the Bible. Indeed,
as an hypothesis, what most people actually mean when they say
that they understand the Bible is that they have committed some
denomination's doctrines about the Bible to memory and, therefore,
there is no need to study the Bible in depth at all because there
cannot possibly be anything new to learn about it.
What a ridiculous outlook to have.
What most believers miss, however, is that the Bible is an historical book,
or collection of documents. Sorry for the inconvenience, but if you are
going to read any historical document --anything at all, from Plato's
Republic
to the Declaration of Independence-- you need to know the history that
produced that document. Reading something written in the 300s BC or in 1776
as if those words mean exactly the same thing now as they did in ancient
Greece
or 18th century America, would be fallacious. Some things do carry over
even from one millennium to another, but other things do not, and
to fail to understand this basic truth is to guarantee misunderstanding--
or worse, to open yourself up to false understanding for the
simple reason that lacking knowledge to correct misinterpretations
you lack the means to challenge those faulty interpretations.
In any case, there is an enormous amount that could be done in teaching the
Bible
in the schools. But there is very little --or next-to-nothing-- if the
way the
Bible is taught assumes that there is nothing new to learn and that
history doesn't matter in trying to understand what it actually says.
The Bible is foundational to western and American culture. Not to know the
Bible
is not to know one's own heritage. Alas, any doctrinal interpretation
will necessarily misconstrue the purpose of teaching the Bible in the
schools.
A new look at teaching the Bible is essential.
Billy
-------------------------------------------
Friday, Sep 06, 2013
America's Bible Hypocrisy: Study Shows Disconnect Between Beliefs and
Behavior
*
American Bible Society, http://www.americanbible.org/state-bible
The American Bible Society's annual "State of the Bible" study shows most
Americans believe society needs the Bible, but few are finding time to read
it.
By _Tyler O'Neil_ (http://www.christianpost.com/author/tyler-oneil/)
September 6, 2013|12:51 pm
A majority of people in the United States believe the Bible contains the
best advice for a meaningful life, but they also don't want to take it, and
are too busy to read the scriptures.
According to the _American Bible Society's "State of the Bible 2013"
study_
(http://www.americanbible.org/uploads/content/State%20of%20the%20Bible%20Report%202013.pdf)
, 66 percent of Americans agreed that "the Bible contains
everything a person needs to know to live a meaningful life," while 58
percent say they don't want wisdom and advice from the Bible, and 57 percent
say they read it fewer than five times per year.
"There is a difference between believing something is beneficial and
opening up your heart, mind and life to let that beneficial thing in," Geof
Morin, chief communications officer for the American Bible Society (ABS),
wrote
in a Thursday statement to The Christian Post. He explained that some
people "view reading the Bible as taking your medicine," rather than a
life-changing encounter with God.
But it isn't just a lack of motivation, Morin argued. Sixty-one percent of
adults wish they read the Bible more. "It seems that many Americans are
letting other priorities get in the way of them opening the pages of the
Bible." His organization is trying to fix that.
_According to its website_ (http://www.americanbible.org/about/what-we-do)
, the ABS aims to "bring God's Word to cultural channels where the Bible
lacks a strong voice and extend new reach within today's leading churches,
inviting millions to reconsider and renew their engagement with God's Word."
Along with sending Bibles overseas and using scripture to bring relief,
this goal of transforming culture forms the organization's mission statement.
"We are constantly innovating how we deliver God's Word to give people
anytime, anywhere access in a way that fits their busy schedules," Morin said.
He mentioned digital access to the Bible – on smartphone, Kindle and iPad –
which has hit a new high. _Forty-one percent of Americans use the
internet to read the Bible_
(http://www.foxnews.com/tech/2013/09/04/online-bible-reading-hits-new-high-american-bible-society-says/)
.
Morin also mentioned ABS' Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter accounts, which
the organization uses to keep scripture relevant for the next generation.
The ABS is also gearing up its work because Americans are more polarized
about scripture. The study found that about one-fifth (21 percent) of the
population believe the Bible is the Word of God and read it at least four
times per week; while an increasing number (10 percent in 2011, 17 percent
this
year), believe the Bible is "just another book of teachings written by
men" and rarely or never read it. The middle ground – those who say the Bible
has some truth but rarely read it, is shrinking (26 percent in 2012, 23
percent this year).
In an age where homosexual marriage and abortion have become key political
issues, only 17 percent of self-identifying Christian adults say they would
"be interested in receiving input and wisdom from the Bible on romance and
sexuality."
The study did bring some encouraging news as well, however. More than half
of Americans (56 percent) believe the Bible has too little influence in
U.S. society today, the ABS spokesman noted. Only 13 percent said it had "too
much influence."
He continued, "What perhaps many Americans fail to recognize is that the
easiest way for the Bible to influence society is for individuals to take it
off their shelves, read it and let its words and wisdom influence their own
choices and decisions."
"If more individuals were reading the Bible on a consistent basis and using
it as a roadmap for their lives, I think the world would look quite a bit
brighter," the spokesman said.
Source URL :
http://www.christianpost.com/news/americas-bible-hypocrisy-study-shows-disconnect-between-beliefs-and-behavior-103935/
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