Credentials!
We live in the land of biblical idiots.
So declares this headline in the Los Angeles Times. The writer observes, "Because they lack biblical literacy, Americans are easily swayed by demagogues on the left or the right who claim — often incorrectly — that the Bible says this about war or that about homosexuality."
[Oh! and, for that link, yet another hat-tip to Ann . . . who certainly is racking-up the blogosphere indulgences these days!]
I thought of that article today when I read one of the "commenters" over at ViagraCentral, who declared that "homosexuality was rampant" in New Testament times. Yeah, right! ("I'll have some of what he's smokin', please.") I wonder what biblical scholar taught him that! No, he surely picked up that bit of "truth" from one of the demagogues currently making the rounds.
Well . . . not me. I was taught the Bible from the cradle -- by women who had charge of my life at school during the week, then at church on Sundays. Hours and hours, year after year of Bible verse memorization, "sword drills," Vacation Bible school, and real Bible study. These old maids -- and they all were respectfully termed "old maids" back then -- took the Bible absolutely seriously and had no doubt of the authority of Scripture. Nor do I. However, even back then (in the '60s), they allowed for interpretation and reason. Even as a child, I remember these godly women saying we really cannot know what were the six "days" in which God created the earth. They saw no conflict between evolution and the Genesis account of creation. They believed that the "high view" of Scripture required us to engage our full selves in its study and reflection.
And I suppose all that teaching "took." Here's the proof -- based upon a tool for rigorous theological assessment:
So declares this headline in the Los Angeles Times. The writer observes, "Because they lack biblical literacy, Americans are easily swayed by demagogues on the left or the right who claim — often incorrectly — that the Bible says this about war or that about homosexuality."
[Oh! and, for that link, yet another hat-tip to Ann . . . who certainly is racking-up the blogosphere indulgences these days!]
I thought of that article today when I read one of the "commenters" over at ViagraCentral, who declared that "homosexuality was rampant" in New Testament times. Yeah, right! ("I'll have some of what he's smokin', please.") I wonder what biblical scholar taught him that! No, he surely picked up that bit of "truth" from one of the demagogues currently making the rounds.
Well . . . not me. I was taught the Bible from the cradle -- by women who had charge of my life at school during the week, then at church on Sundays. Hours and hours, year after year of Bible verse memorization, "sword drills," Vacation Bible school, and real Bible study. These old maids -- and they all were respectfully termed "old maids" back then -- took the Bible absolutely seriously and had no doubt of the authority of Scripture. Nor do I. However, even back then (in the '60s), they allowed for interpretation and reason. Even as a child, I remember these godly women saying we really cannot know what were the six "days" in which God created the earth. They saw no conflict between evolution and the Genesis account of creation. They believed that the "high view" of Scripture required us to engage our full selves in its study and reflection.
And I suppose all that teaching "took." Here's the proof -- based upon a tool for rigorous theological assessment:
You know the Bible 100%!
Wow! You are awesome! You are a true Biblical scholar, not just a hearer but a personal reader! The books, the characters, the events, the verses - you know it all! You are fantastic!
Ultimate Bible Quiz
Create MySpace Quizzes
Yes, I'm kidding about this being a "rigorous tool." But it is an interesting quiz.
And I am dead serious about the fact that I know the Bible and take it very, very seriously.
posted by Lisa Fox at 3/14/2007 06:12:00 PM
3 Comments:
Real Nice Blog, I love it, You have my appreciation for doing such a nice job.
Just 93% ... some of the books of the Bible sequencing aren't in my knowledge ... I just thumb through it till I find the one I want ..
KLM
Heh-heh-heh! Good to hear from ya, KLM. You just didn't have enough "sword drills" as a child. :-)
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