Holy Babble
Today is Friday, 1 October 2010.
As noted yesterday, “Christian” Biblical literalists claim, and claim to believe, that the Bible was dictated directly by deity, and is therefore literally and infallibly true in every component, and is therefore absolutely and completely binding in its entirety on them and all humanity.
Yet, I’ve never encountered, in person or in media, a “Christian” Biblical literalist who was anything but an absolute hypocrite in this regard.
For each one, there are large chunks of the Bible, particularly in the Old Testament, which are, in the term of the late, lamented Nixonite Ron Zeigler, “inoperative”. For example: “And the swine, because it parts the hoof and is cloven-footed but does not chew the cud, is unclean to you”. Leviticus 11.7 (RSV) And yet it has been my experience that bacon cheeseburgers are consumed among “Christian” Biblical literalists at more-or-less the same rate as among those who don’t hold the same view of the Bible.
The literalists argue that this and similar passages are no longer binding, in the time after the birth of Jesus. And yet, they can point to no Biblical passage stating this, and must fall back on, to paraphrase the language of footnotes, “Private communication from the Author”.
There is a popular term of derision, used by “Christian” Biblical literalists for “Christians” who don’t share that view: “cafeteria Christians”, those who pick and choose what they like from Scripture, as if from a buffet. Ironically, they describe themselves to a “T”.
As noted yesterday, “Christian” Biblical literalists claim, and claim to believe, that the Bible was dictated directly by deity, and is therefore literally and infallibly true in every component, and is therefore absolutely and completely binding in its entirety on them and all humanity.
Yet, I’ve never encountered, in person or in media, a “Christian” Biblical literalist who was anything but an absolute hypocrite in this regard.
For each one, there are large chunks of the Bible, particularly in the Old Testament, which are, in the term of the late, lamented Nixonite Ron Zeigler, “inoperative”. For example: “And the swine, because it parts the hoof and is cloven-footed but does not chew the cud, is unclean to you”. Leviticus 11.7 (RSV) And yet it has been my experience that bacon cheeseburgers are consumed among “Christian” Biblical literalists at more-or-less the same rate as among those who don’t hold the same view of the Bible.
The literalists argue that this and similar passages are no longer binding, in the time after the birth of Jesus. And yet, they can point to no Biblical passage stating this, and must fall back on, to paraphrase the language of footnotes, “Private communication from the Author”.
There is a popular term of derision, used by “Christian” Biblical literalists for “Christians” who don’t share that view: “cafeteria Christians”, those who pick and choose what they like from Scripture, as if from a buffet. Ironically, they describe themselves to a “T”.
posted by HH at 1:17 PM
3 Comments:
HH,
You can find a better example than this from the OT that wasn't repudiated in some fashion in the later canon.
Some of the reported words of JC himself are so dishonored in the breach by those "kiver to kiver Baptists" (and sundry other literalists) that forays into the OT are almost trivial.
Here are a couple to prime the pump.
"Judge not, that ye be not judged..."
"Let him who is without blemish cast the first stone."
"And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love."
Is the private communication from the author that you are referencing Peter's vision of the feast of unclean animals?
Hearsay through the Gospel of Mark follows (or stenographic reportage if you prefer)...
"And when he had called all the people unto him, he said unto them, Hearken unto me every one of you, and understand: There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man. If any man have ears to hear, let him hear. And when he was entered into the house from the people, his disciples asked him concerning the parable. And he saith unto them, Are ye so without understanding also? Do ye not perceive, that whatsoever thing from without entereth into the man, it cannot defile him; Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, purging all meats? And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: All these evil things come from within, and defile the man." "Mark 7:14-23
I'm constantly amazed by the erudition of commenters on my columns. Thanks to each and all!
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