Bible as a Philosphy

 

I had a professor in religious studies that had a position on the Abrahamic tomes.   He stated that the Hebrew, Christian, and Islamic religious texts should be treated as a philosophical and moral guide and not taken so literally as has been the case for the last few decades.

This flew in the face of the stated objectives of the seminary.   But he was an excellent professor to teach the introduction to the Bible.  He broke down the books and organization better than I had ever had it before.  He and I shared one thing in common, besides age, the hating of labeling a person's belief.  He said at the very start everyone is either Christian or some other belief.  There is no liberal or conservative or moderate and there never should be when it comes to your belief. 

The start of the conversation that led to his statement on the Bible started with a simple question, which Bible is best for studying.   Of course, anyone that has spent time in religious studies knows there is no one single answer.  

It was during cover the difference in each version and the need for anyone that wishes to be a theologian and/or a scholar of Christian you will need at least three to four versions of the Bible.  This is when he went all open thoughts on us.    He pointed out that the 15 to 35 age bracket in American is moving away from all mainstream organized religions.  They have taken offense at parents pushing their religions and beliefs on the kids.  This had the effect of causing a movement to a-religious or atheists. 

What effect did this have?  Well based on him, he should have the effect of finding a way to bring the younger adults back to Churches.   Instead,  the Churches have dug in and most have become more conservative.   He felt we need to approach the Bible in a more modern method.   That we need to start instructing the Bible as a Philosophy and Moral Guide to life.  That is what it is and was meant to be.   Christians have moved away from that and have tried to make it into something it is not.  

Needless to say, this caused a lot of intense discussions that lasted throughout the length of the class.

I have thought about it allot the four years since the class.  The more I have seen our country fall into divisiveness, the more the Churches and religion have become divided.   The more I think the professor may have a point.  The hate and vitriol coming from pulpits as homilies and sermons are not what Christianity was meant to be and we all know that.   So maybe it is time we take time to re-read the scriptures and treat them as a life philosophy and moral guide.

Just a thought.