Would a better knowledge of history help people put religion in perspective?

Question

I find many of the questions and answers on here relfect an alarming lack of historical perspective. For instance, people asking how can christians can "support" the fire and brimstone passages of the old testament. As if it were written last week by PR agency!
I see the religions of the iron age (christianity, judaism, Islam albeit a late-comer!)) as being phenomena of their times, and useful to mankind until recently (maybe the first world war was the cut-off point?) . But their usefulness has passed and we need to find different answers to help us deal with the challenges of the future.

PS. I am an atheist, but I know my history.

But daisy indigo - the bible is not the word of god.

Same wavelength, Fluffy! thanks!

Some of you understand my question, some not. That's life!

Prince Henry - you are just proving my point - that religion has had its day. What I am saying is that in the past, religion was socially useful. There is no need for a blanked, knee-jerk reaction to religion, indicating a lack of historical and cultural knowledge on your own part.

Yank, I agree - dumbing down makes the world a more dangerous place - the inmates will be running the asylum!

Answer 1

NO..........

Answer 2

I believe so, although not in the way you are thinking. By knowing the history, culture, society of the time, one is able to understand what is taking place and why things were done in a certain way. There are many things in the bible that make no sense in today's context, but do if you look at the world when it was written.

Exactly the same when people try to pull bible verses out of context.... you need to know who wrote it, why, when, what was the situation at the time.

Once you know the history, then it all begins to make sense. That's why our pastor teaches the history of the time as we study a book of the bible.

Education is power!

Answer 3

Indigo Daisy is right. The Bible is THE Divinely inspired Word of God. Historical context is important to understanding Scripture. The history of the Church is also relevant to the Church today. We can see how they delt with some of the same challenges that the Church faces today. We can also avoid some of the mistakes of the past.

However since you are an atheist, and deny the divinity of Scripture, you can study all the history you want and it's going to do you about as much good as drinking out of an empty bottle.

Mark

Answer 4

You know history but do you know people. All people of all times have basic needs. We are not that much different from Iron Age man. There is more communication but that doesn't change basic needs. If there were no need for religion, there would be no religion. In the future, there may be a coming together of religion but there will always be religion.

Answer 5

EnglishBob, Faith does not come from a history book, the Bible is not just another "book club". If you do not have a personal relationship with God, then all the books, and history will not get you there. The answers you are looking for go beyond your comprehension, because there are no answers for religion. It is faith, and you carry it in your heart. You are a warrior for God. Could you go to the cross, be nailed on it, suffer and die for your cause? God is beyond your comprehension, because everything has to be proven, but you will never prove how the universe, and mankind, came about. I am talking about darkness, emptiness, nothing, and then there was something. Can you make something from nothing? If you can explain all things that do not have an answer, but exists, then I will think all your books might have helped you, but you will never find the right books. Dark matter, it exists, but no answer, Black holes, exist, but don't know much about them and their energy. String theory, 12 dimensions, not they are saying, dimensions are unlimited. You have to think beyond this world, and realize that there are things that will never be answered. If you can accept that God made you from nothing, and the universe, and everything connected with us and the time, limitless sky, limitless dimensions,then you are on the right tract. But if you are looking for the books we have now, forget it. Because when you have figured out one thing, then another will pop up with no explanation. Forget all the histroy, and just know that you can put God in your heart, with nothing more than faith.

Answer 6

Oh, yes, true, every word. I have stood back in wonderment that so many R&S folk either are, or pretend to be, unknowing about their native country's place in the world, and the world itself. So many questions are the sort my son would ask when he was four or five. It seems that, to young people it isn't 'cool' to be intelligent, that it is somehow better to be ignorant of even the basics than to be seen as a 'geek,' etc. That may work at age 15 but, when one reaches 25 and the real world, it's a disaster. It comes down to, 'Do you want fries (or chips) with that?'

Answer 7

It couldn't hurt, but "knowledge of history" is an appeal to reason, and religion is not - so a mature adult can learn the facts and still adhere to a contradictory view. Religion is learned before we achieve reason, as Prince Henry notes, and it's perpetuated that way - the guilt and fear instilled in a small child can not be easily overcome by argument alone. That's why the Soviets outlawed the teaching of religion - they allowed their citizens to believe whatever they wanted, but not to impose their beliefs on innocents. Here we have the opposite - religious people trying to stop the spread of humanistic ideals by attacks on the educational system. Old habits die hard, and we're witnessing the death gasp of an old bad habit...

Answer 8

I agree, a knowledge of history helps put religion, conflicts in religions, and a lot of modern socio-political problems in to context. This doesn't mean that the religion is necessarily is bad, but the literal interpretation fits more with the time it was written than being appropriate for today. There needs to be a modern interpretation of the text by religious scholars of this time, not the time of the author.

Answer 9

I too am an atheist and have a BA in History. I found the history of religion absolutely fascinating. I still think religion has a place in society but it needs to drastically change form. I don't know how that's achieved.

Answer 10

I agree. What I found most alarming was how many people read or saw Da Vinci code and took it as fact. Now this including people of fairly iintelligent backgrounds. I never understood how this fictional book//movie could have such an impact. It really got to me the other day when I was watching a reality Tv show on Tattoos and the girl had to pick up some statues of Jesus and Mary. Her comment was when picking up Mary was "Gotta get your lover". I was amazed, I automatically felt it she must of saw Da vinci code and that Mary mother of God was Mary M.

Answer 11

We can't forget who was in charge for about 1,300 years. Most of the 'history' that we are taught... particularly about the origins and the rise of Christianity... is actually pseudo-history, written by... guess who?... the Christians. It is only recently that serious historical scholars (i.e., NOT theologians) have begun to uncover the ACTUAL history of this dangerous and bloodthirsty cult.

Also... it has been my observation that most athiests know MUCH more about the bible and the history of christianity... and history in general... than do most Christians... INCLUDING clergy. In most cases, that explains WHY they are atheists.

KNOWLEDGE and REASON are the enemies of Christianity. Why? Because knowledge equip one with the tools necessary to see through the bullshit, and unmask religion for what it truly is... a criminal fraud.
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