Many a rational mind dismiss much, most, or all holy scripture out of contempt for unlikely disclosures such as the 6 day creation, a talking serpent, or a pregnant virgin.
Fine.
But it is a cliché error to throw the baby out with the bathwater. We can simultaneously ignore mythopoeic absurdity, and still benefit from ageless wisdom. KJV is a great big book. Not all of it is true. Not all of it is false.
In context of recent record stock market $highs in our consumerist culture Tim6 might seem like capitalist sacrilege.
https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/1-Timothy-6-10/
Laymen have misquoted: ... money is the root of all evil. 'tisn't
Mark Twain offered a personalized if satirical update: "The lack of money is the root of all evil."
I can't entirely dismiss Tim6, or variants. But it's not the most powerful scriptural message. Perhaps the following is closer to that.
Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
"The Golden Rule", inspired by Mathew 7:12
This is an important lessons equally appropriate in kindergarten, and grad school.
While it is a concise lesson in behavioral philosophy, it can be further condensed to a single word: "karma".
KJV offers a similar message in agricultural metaphor:
For whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. Galatians 6:7 (you reap what you sow)
Perhaps militant atheism is fueled by contempt for those that try to manipulate others with exploitive or oppressive agenda, falsely premised on holy scripture.
"Religion is regarded by the common people as true, by the wise as false, and by rulers as useful." sometimes attributed to Seneca the Younger * (c.3 BCE - CE 65)
Be vigilant. Proceed with caution, but proceed. For a closed mind is an empty mind.
"I'm closed minded because I'm right." N. Thomas
* I know this quote is commonly attributed to Seneca, but it is mistakenly attributed to him. How do I know this? In Volume 1 of "The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire", written by Edward Gibbon, he writes, "“The various modes of worship which prevailed in the Roman world were all considered by the people as equally true; by the philosopher as equally false; and by the magistrate as equally useful. And thus toleration produced not only mutual indulgence, but even religious concord." makingsense Administrator Rob W. Case https://makingsense.proboards.com/thread/720/young-boys-search-god
Alright.
Now it's your turn. What's the best holy scripture has to offer? And the worst? Is there a lesson fundamental to human culture that holy scripture lacks? Like what?
Fine.
But it is a cliché error to throw the baby out with the bathwater. We can simultaneously ignore mythopoeic absurdity, and still benefit from ageless wisdom. KJV is a great big book. Not all of it is true. Not all of it is false.
In context of recent record stock market $highs in our consumerist culture Tim6 might seem like capitalist sacrilege.
1 Timothy 6:10
“For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” King James Version (KJV)https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/1-Timothy-6-10/
Laymen have misquoted: ... money is the root of all evil. 'tisn't
Mark Twain offered a personalized if satirical update: "The lack of money is the root of all evil."
I can't entirely dismiss Tim6, or variants. But it's not the most powerful scriptural message. Perhaps the following is closer to that.
Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
"The Golden Rule", inspired by Mathew 7:12
This is an important lessons equally appropriate in kindergarten, and grad school.
While it is a concise lesson in behavioral philosophy, it can be further condensed to a single word: "karma".
KJV offers a similar message in agricultural metaphor:
For whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. Galatians 6:7 (you reap what you sow)
Perhaps militant atheism is fueled by contempt for those that try to manipulate others with exploitive or oppressive agenda, falsely premised on holy scripture.
"Religion is regarded by the common people as true, by the wise as false, and by rulers as useful." sometimes attributed to Seneca the Younger * (c.3 BCE - CE 65)
Be vigilant. Proceed with caution, but proceed. For a closed mind is an empty mind.
"I'm closed minded because I'm right." N. Thomas
* I know this quote is commonly attributed to Seneca, but it is mistakenly attributed to him. How do I know this? In Volume 1 of "The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire", written by Edward Gibbon, he writes, "“The various modes of worship which prevailed in the Roman world were all considered by the people as equally true; by the philosopher as equally false; and by the magistrate as equally useful. And thus toleration produced not only mutual indulgence, but even religious concord." makingsense Administrator Rob W. Case https://makingsense.proboards.com/thread/720/young-boys-search-god
Alright.
Now it's your turn. What's the best holy scripture has to offer? And the worst? Is there a lesson fundamental to human culture that holy scripture lacks? Like what?
