Mr. Thomas-

In a recent editorial, you say “the press”, as well as books and movies, is increasingly pushing anti-biblical points of view. You point to stories on theories of how Jesus might have walked on water, and to new fossils found by archeologists that supposedly put to rest creationist beliefs. And then there’s the Da Vinci Code movie, and the so-called “Gospel of Judas” - both of which, according to you, are soon to add to the growing anti-biblical hegemonization of our culture with their wild, fantastic versions of Christian storylines.

Well, you’re exactly right.

But I don’t think it should surprise you, because in a way your editorial does the very same thing…because Christian storylines are just that…storylines. Wouldn’t you agree that it’s fair to say the Bible is a combination of metaphors AND historical documentation? Very few Christians defend the creation story as literal anymore. Oh, God didn’t actually make the world in 7 days, that’s just a metaphor for what really happened…is what the common interpretation among “modern” Christians has evolved into.

And that’s the catch. Not even Christians can agree on where to draw the line between the facts and the metaphors contained in the Bible. Some Christians do still defend the creation story as literal. This variation of perspective can be found between all kinds of Christians on all sorts of stories found throughout the Bible.

And because of this, it is clear that anyone who claims to know beyond a shadow of a doubt precisely where to draw the line between metaphor and history in the Bible is simply adding another man-made version to the already long list of interpretations that have been applied to this great historical document…this fantastic work of art.

The examples you cite as anti-biblical are simply more people trying to cash in on western culture’s history and faith. But they’re not the only ones cashing in. There are plenty of “good Christians” doing precisely the same…yourself included.

Thanks!
Tim Ford

http://openletterstopundits.blogspot.com