Here's some music to read by or wait until the end, the link is there as well. In my quest to understand the movement toward a Christian Nationalist Government, I have arrived at a quandary. Those who would have us follow this path insist that th…
Here's some music to read by or wait until the end, the link is there as well.
In my quest to understand the movement toward a Christian Nationalist Government, I have arrived at a quandary. Those who would have us follow this path insist that the Bible is the inerrant word of God and, as such, the template for a perfect and moral society.
The implication is that without religion, guided by the wisdom of the Bible, we cannot possibly have a moral code.
To paraphrase many others who've contemplated this, when you try to argue from a position of moral superiority that religion is a necessity for morality, you frighten those of us who are atheists. The fear comes from your admission that the only thing keeping you from a killing and raping rampage is a text of questionable origin from pre-literate people who believed epilepsy was demonic possession and that burning a male bull without any blemishes is a "pleasing aroma to the LORD. ... sweet savor unto the LORD."
But what version of the Bible? This begs the question, how many versions of the Bible are there?
Well, I'm going to tell you.
Fifty-six (English) versions are commonly used today, and more than four hundred fifty versions have been found in research. The Bible has also been translated from and into more than 7000 languages, of which twenty-three are spoken today by more than 50% of the population.
Setting aside the issue of translation confusion—we'll get back to that later—what English version (this is America, after all) should we rely on, and how can we be sure it is right?
We have two choices. We can compare passages from each of them and see if there are differences, or we can ignore the issue because it goes against that inerrant part.
However, there is another option available: the GBA version of the Bible, which stands for God Bless America. This version has been endorsed by DJT and Lee Greenwood, two well-known theologians.
I wanted to use quotes from this version, but I couldn't convince myself to spend the $59.99. The website says none of the money goes to the Presidential Campaign but… (Pssst, the "licensing fee" through CIC VENTURES LLC goes right into his pocket, bless his heart.)
We now have at least fifty-seven versions to choose from.
I decided to pick one of my favorite Bible quotes to compare the different versions. I am willing to bet those of you who have been to church ain't never heard good 'ole Reverand Bob or Father John read this from the pulpit.
Ezeikel 23:19-21 Line 20 is the good part.
Here's the Authorized King James (AKJV) version
19 Yet she multiplied her whoredoms, in calling to remembrance the days of her youth, wherein she had played the harlot in the land of Egypt. 20 For she doted upon their paramours, whose flesh is as the flesh of asses, and whose issue is like the issue of horses. 21 Thus thou calledst to remembrance the lewdness of thy youth, in bruising thy teats by the Egyptians for the paps of thy youth.
I must say this: If the priest had read this passage when I went to church, every other adolescent boy in that church and I might have paid more attention (and wondered how to get to Egypt.)
But I digress.
I'll pick a few of the alternate versions to illustrate my point.
Here's Ezeikel 23:20 in other translations in common use.
Complete Jewish Bible (CJB)
Yes, she lusted after their male prostitutes, whose members are like those of donkeys and who ejaculate like stallions.
Easy to Read Version (ERV)
She remembered the lovers who excited her there, who were like animals in their sexual desires and abilities.
God's Word Translation (GWT)
She lusted after her lovers, whose genitals were like those of donkeys and whose semen was like that of horses.
Common English Bible (CEB)
20 She lusted after their male consorts, whose sexual organs were like those of donkeys, and whose ejaculation was like that of horses. 21 She relived the wicked days of her youth, when the Egyptians touched and fondled her young and nubile breasts. *
(*I included line 21 from the CEB since it reads like a soft porn romance novel.)
I think I've made my point. Relying on a series of quasi-historical works originally written in Ancient Greek and translated into Latin, French, Spanish, German, and English as a source of moral and secular guidance for the country and the world is foolishness.
The violence, slavery, genocide, templates for disciplining your wives, stoning guidelines, and rapine condoned in the Bible lends itself to nothing other than an interesting semi-historical read. You are on a dangerous path if that is the template for government or morality.
Psalms 144:1
Bless the Lord, my rock, who taught my hands how to fight, who taught my fingers how to do battle!
It hardly sounds like a peaceful tradition.
Within the text, there is some of the most beautiful writing ever accomplished by humans.
Ecclesiastes
there is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: 2 a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, 3 a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, 4 a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, 5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, 6 a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, 7 a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, 8 a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.
But one cannot pick and choose what suits you and ignore what contradicts.
There is one document we can rely on and have for almost the entire time of our existence: the Constitution. There is only one version, and it works.
Morality, empathy for our fellow humans, and adherence to acceptable conduct are the outcomes of evolution and natural selection. What helps a species survive flourishes; what threatens a species is selected out.
Putting our "faith" in a book with myriad versions and subject to many interpretations is a dangerous path. Religion is best kept private, not offered as a blueprint for secular government.
And lest I be accused of focusing on the Old Testament and ignoring the New Testament, no worries. That's part two.
Author's Note: A fond bon voyage to Daniel Dennett, writer, philosopher, and promoter of rationality in the face of religion who passed away recently. His writings and debates have been enormously influential throughout the world. He will be sorely missed.
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