I saw a show on the Discovery channel in which several scholars were interpreting a certain passage from the bible (I forget which one) and saying that the story was all metaphor of what was happening at that time in society (concerning politics and economics). They made some very clear points which seem incredibly plausible, almost impossible to dismiss.
How much of the bible was written to represent, in biblical terms, what was going on in society at the time it was written?
Please, just factual answers. Don't preach.
2007-01-23 10:33:21 · 5 answers · asked by Teaim 6 in Politics & Government ➔ Other - Politics & Government
Religion, especially Catholicism has been used to oppress people for well over a thousand years. Many things in the bible were written to keep people in "moral line", the line chosen by the church. Popes in years past were married, were adulterers, yet they set the law for everyone else, see Inquisition. Galileo was forced by the church to denounce his writings that the earth revolved around the sun, or else he would have been killed, he was then placed under house arrest by the church for the rest of his life. The bible has been used in many negative ways to enforce the male leadership of the church, it's still going on today.
2007-01-23 11:48:46 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most of the Books of the Bible were penned by their human and Divine authors for the benefit of their contemporaries.
Having said that, this does not mean those texts have no bearing on today's events. The human race, whether we are talking about 10,000 years ago or tomorrow, still deals with the same frailties it inhereted from the fall of mankind initiated by Adam and Eve.
That's one of the many things that makes the Sacred Scriptures so amazing; the ideaa that they were originally penned for the author's contemporaries - but they are still as true and useful today as they were when they were written!
Consider also, that the Bible incorporates every literary device known to man. We have historical fiction, theological essays, poems, proverbs, fiction, and even content that can only be descrived as "the stuff of legend".
No matter what genre a given Bible Book might be, it is still Divinely Inspired - and thus - teaches God's Truth.
2007-01-24 11:35:08 · answer #2 · answered by Daver 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, what is politics? It is the action of controlling a government or group of people.
Is that what profits do? Of course. That is the reason for all teachers. To influence their students.
Add churches that are big and small and growing and shrinking.
Each would have the political bent of its profits. Plus the political bent of controlling its congregation.
Then think of the Catholic Church as a world power. It has obviously acted politically.
Add to this the fact that the Bible was an oral tradition that was written down in Hebrew, translated to Greek, then Latin, then the vernaculars of the societies in which it is worshiped.
Lots of politics. Lots and lots.
How about Bush in America. During his campaign for the Presidency he said the most important influence in his life is Jesus Christ. Then, 9/11 occurs. What would Bush's favorite teacher say? Turn the other cheek? Forgive? Nope, Jesus told him to attack a country in retaliation. But it is a country that was not involved in the 9/11 attack. How about that.
More politics in how the religion is used.
2007-01-23 19:55:51 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Bible was a collection of writings from many people. It's not surprising that it didn't voice the political, social, and economic views back then. The Bible was built up from a long span of time I'm still not sure of. It used to mention the correctness of the stoning of your disobedient son, then when time went on and social progress moved with it, it was removed from the Bible.
The Bible used to say loads of things, things that are still in practice in the Middle East today actually. Stonings, double standards of males and females, and etc. Heck, the ten commandments used to say you can't steal your neighbor's sheep (or was it goat). Time goes on and the Bible moves with it.
2007-01-23 18:44:32 · answer #4 · answered by Eh? 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
God will strike down upon thee who questions His word! Just kidding...I don't really have an answer to your question, but wanted to comment that "the word of God" was indeed written by a bunch of men to suit their purposes and worldview.
2007-01-23 18:44:32 · answer #5 · answered by the_Czech 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋