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The Bible: The most unread cherished book in the world.

If one really studies the Bible, one won’t find much, if anything, about homosexuality. One will find plenty of verses telling women to shut up, telling people not to engage in public displays of prayer and telling people to not criticize their politicians. In this lengthy Newsweek article, “The Bible: So Misunderstood, it’s a Sin,” [1] Kurt Eichenwald expands on many of the observations of Bart Ehrman, imploring believers to actually read the book they proclaim to be the most important book ever written. They will be shocked at what is actually written in this book that they purportedly cherish.

Eichenwald presents several major bible stories that are demonstrably not authentic–they were added by scribes hundreds of 4947868946_2d58f6d7ae_z [2]years after the earliest manuscripts (e.g., the “Let he who without sin” passage regarding the stoning of a prostitute). He also exposes the story of the alleged trinity, concocted hundreds of years after original writings and actually contradicted by the original writings. Critical passages regarding the consecration are also not authentic. Huge translation issues permeate the bible, including the translators’ unwarranted decision to inject the word “worship” throughout the translations.

Many of Eichenwald’s criticisms of Christian modern articles of faith are based on the actual language of the original manuscripts. If only it were really read by those who thump their bibles. In a nod to the Christmas season, Eichenwald points out that words found in the actual Gospels show that Jesus was born in a house, not a manger, and there there was no visit from three wise men bearing gifts. No brilliant star. But this is not the version one hears from the pulpit, even though Seminarians all have the background, if not the incentive to study the book they preach about. Ehrman has focused laser-like on this point in his writings. There is absolutely no doubt that most Christian preachers are engaged in the theological version of malpractice. Philosopher Daniel Dennett has put it more simply, accusing modern preachers of all stripes of engaging in “tennis without a net.”

Eichenwald urges believers to actually read the book, something he argues that no one actually does, certainly not the politicians who bandy about the book for their own manipulative and divisive purposes.

See these related posts regarding the work of Bart Ehrman:

 

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