Genesis, the first book of the Bible inspired Judaism, Christianity and Islam, three of the world's most enduring religions in Western civilization. Since all three religions trace their origins to Abraham the Old Testament could be a common ground for discussion.
For centuries the Catholic Church maintained a hold over the interpretations of doctrines by saying that "the truth" must be given by a priest and that it was handed to him via a lineage dating back to the Apostles. Although the Christian denominations have many interpretations most people believe we all have something to offer. And the interpretation is vital, as the Bible does not have a single point of view—it is full of inconsistency, conflict and contradictions.
The New Testament contradicts the Old Testament about revenge and forgiveness. Jesus said, “Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, pray for those that persecute you and forgive your debts so God can forgive you.” (Matthew 5:44, 11:25) The Old Testament calls for a “breach for breach, eye for eye and tooth for tooth.” (Leviticus 19:20). Jesus said he without sin cast the first stone (John 8:7), treat others as you would like to be treated, judge not for what measure you use it will be used against you (Matthew 7:6-7) and blessed are the peacemakers for they will be called the children of God (Matthew 5:9).
The Old Testament stories are ordinary, everyday and familiar. They are filled with sorrow and joy, complexity and ambiguity. Cain's murder, Noah's drunkenness, Lot and Abraham's incest, Jacob's deceit, Joseph's vanity and Judas's betrayal show how the human instrument of God's chosen are flawed, fragile and imperfect. The stories indicate dysfunctional families are not new and ring true about human nature.
Lot had sex with his two daughters. The Bible says Lot’s daughters gave him wine, had sex with him and bore his children to "preserve his seed." (Genesis 19:30-36) Today we know substance abusers and child molesters often blame their victims. Did Lot blame his daughters?
Rachel’s slave bore a child with her husband Jacob because Rachel could not become pregnant. Jacob also had children with Lea, his first wife, and her slave. (Genesis 30: 1-25) Abraham married his father's daughter yet remained God's favorite. (Genesis 20:11-12)
An old man gave his visitor's concubine to some men from his city. The men wanted to rape the visitor but acquiesced and raped and killed the man’s mistress. The visitor took her body home, cut her into twelve pieces and sent them to Israel. (Judges 19:17-29)
Did the descendants of Adam and Eve commit incest when they first populated the earth?
Was incest, slavery and polygamy considered normal?
Was human and animal sacrifice common? God ordered Moses to give two turtles or two young pigeons to a priest for sin and burnt offerings (Numbers 6:10-11), and asked Abraham to sacrifice his son, Isaac, to test his faith. (Genesis 22:1-13)
The Old Testament advocates the death penalty by stoning, hanging and burning. If a man marries a woman and finds out she is not a virgin she should be stoned to death. (Deuteronomy 22:20-21) Those who commit adultery, disobey or curse parents, work on Sunday, practice homosexuality or bestiality or consult with spirits should be stoned, hanged or burned to death. (Leviticus 20:9-27)
Those who commit incest or have sex when a woman is menstruating should be isolated. (Leviticus 20:17-18) A man who has sex with a virgin must marry her and give her father 50 shekels of silver. (Dueteronomy 22:28-29)
Does God advocate war and revenge? God asked Moses to avenge the children of Israel against the Medianites. He was told to kill all the males and non-virgins but keep the virgins, cattle, flocks and goods. (Numbers 31:1-18) God said that the people will have seven times more plagues, and wild animals will kill their children and cattle if they disobey. (Leviticus 26:21-22)
God said the creation was good but destroyed people and innocent animals in Noah's flood? Noah became an alcoholic after the flood. “Then Noah drank the wine and was drunk, and became uncovered in his tent. (Genesis 9:21-24) Did Noah have "survivor syndrome?" Was it difficult for Noah to ignore the bloated bodies of people and animals? After the flood God promised never to destroy humankind again and sent a rainbow to represent his covenant.
Is there sex addiction? King Solomon had seven hundred wives and three hundred mistresses. The Bible does say God was angry with King Solomon because he had turned away from God. (I Kings 11-1-3)
King Solomon expressed his sensual appreciation of the female body, “Your breasts are like two young roes that are twins, the joints of your thighs are like jewels, your eyes fishpools, your navel a round goblet and the smell of your nose like apples. ”
Except for the teachings of Jesus women are considered property in the Bible. Peter said wives should be subject to their husbands and the husband is the head of the wife. (I Peter 3:I and Ephesians 5:23) In the New Testament Paul said, “A wife does not have authority over her own body, but her husband does.” (Corinthians 1:7-4) Some churches continue to advise physically abused women to “pray more, submit and be a better wife.”
Today murder, rape, incest, slavery, polygamy, adult and child abuse, animal and human sacrifice and death by stoning, hanging and burning are illegal in most countries.
God's instructed Moses to not mate different kinds of animals, plant different kinds of seed, wear clothes made out of different yarn, to not cut the hair or beard and not have body tattoos. (Leviticus 19:19-28) Today most countries ignore these mandates. Jesus invalidated the Old Testament’s rules on food (Mark: 6-7) and the Sabbath (Matthew 12:12).
The Bible’s treatment of the earth is unclear. The Bible says we should not love the world or the things that are in the world. (John 2:15) But the Bible also says woe to those that join house to house, that lay field to field, till there be no place on the earth. The houses will become desolate and without inhabitants.” (Isaiah 5:8-9)
The Bible says, “Ask the animals and they will teach you; and ask the birds and they will tell you. (Job 12:7)
Science does not invalidate the Bible. Science answers the how and the Bible the answers the who. Science is factual like prose. The Bible is metaphorical like poetry. Both are true .
A literal interpretation of the Bible does contradict science. The Bible says the earth is flat, it was created in seven days, is 6,000 years old and the sun goes around the earth. Fossil records and contemporary molecular biology show that the earth is around 4,550 billion years old and that life has been around 3.8 billion years. Of the billions of species that have existed before humankind 99.9% are extinct. The average species lasted four million years.
Why are dinosaurs not mentioned in the Bible and if they were around how did they fit in Noah’s ark? Fossil records show dinosaurs roamed the earth 230 million years ago. Humankind evolved around two million years ago.
There is much to ponder in the Bible. Can God predict the outcome of His own creation? Why does God give us freedom of choice knowing that we will sin? Is God evolving?
The Bible was written by different people over 3,500 years. We should not assume that one version of the story is wrong while another is right, nor should we assume that both are false. Each story contains some truth and represents a different oral tradition. Some accounts were written decades after the original event.
The discrepancies, inaccuracies and conflicting moral guidelines within the Bible and between the copies of various manuscripts does not invalidate its historic and spiritual truth. There are overarching themes and meanings behind the words.
However, the discrepancies do indicate that it would be unwise to accept each word of the Bible as absolute truth. Joseph Campbell said, “Every religion is true as a metaphor of the human and cosmic mystery. We have a problem when we get stuck in the metaphor.”
A Hindu text says, “Different religions are different languages through which God speaks to the human heart.”
Serious interpretation of the Bible takes effort and study. Although our history, country, culture, experience and values colors interpretations there is still mystery and power in the Bible. The truth is found neither in the text nor the reader but in the relationship between the two. There are as many methods of interpretation as there are interpreters.
When we listen respectfully to others and speak without proselytizing we get new insight. The give-and-take in challenging the scriptures expands out ability to hear and understand the Bible’s stories and truths.
If we take the Bible seriously but not literally it can be a source for moral standards, clarify our faith and beliefs and continue to help humankind make sense of the world.
The Bible will assume a fuller life when we talk about it. The narrative is not finished until the conversation ends.
Sincerely,
Regino