That is not a trait limited to “Bible Purists”. For example, 99% of the people who read this comic will not go and read what the Book of Obadiah actually says before laughing at this cartoon.
All those statues of Moses with horns due to an incorrectly translated word always amused me. Saw an original when I visited Italy back in the 70’s. Bought a little version which reminds most days.
Curiously, most of the biblical literalists I’ve run into are atheists. They’ll say, “The Bible says X,” then I’ll say, “That isn’t actually what it says,” or “That isn’t what the phrase means.” Then they’ll accuse me of trying to change the text. But I’m actually using the same approach to the Bible as to any other text, taking the original language and culture into account, along with the context. In fact, it’s only here on GoComics that I disobey this rule, intentionally misreading texts for the sake of a joke.
Even the Christian literalists I’ve encountered strike me as atheists in training. That’s what happened with Bart Ehrman, for example: he was an extreme biblical literalist with an infantile view of inspiration and inerrancy, and when that let him down, instead of owning up, he basically said, “I can’t be wrong! It must be the Bible that’s wrong!”
Just treat the Bible the same way you would any other text—no more or less scrutiny or skepticism. You’ll find it does quite well.
Darsan54 Premium Member over 3 years ago
GiantShetlandPony over 3 years ago
LOL
Ida No over 3 years ago
“And in the book of Numbers, did God not divide by zero, and say it was good?”
johngregor Premium Member over 3 years ago
That is not a trait limited to “Bible Purists”. For example, 99% of the people who read this comic will not go and read what the Book of Obadiah actually says before laughing at this cartoon.
LOLBeth over 3 years ago
The Book of Kings is actually a collection of chess moves and poker strategies.
ChristineMurphy over 3 years ago
All those statues of Moses with horns due to an incorrectly translated word always amused me. Saw an original when I visited Italy back in the 70’s. Bought a little version which reminds most days.
bxclent Premium Member over 3 years ago
i can’t get past the fact that they are reading the king james version shouldn’t you be reading gods version? just askin
StephenRice over 3 years ago
Curiously, most of the biblical literalists I’ve run into are atheists. They’ll say, “The Bible says X,” then I’ll say, “That isn’t actually what it says,” or “That isn’t what the phrase means.” Then they’ll accuse me of trying to change the text. But I’m actually using the same approach to the Bible as to any other text, taking the original language and culture into account, along with the context. In fact, it’s only here on GoComics that I disobey this rule, intentionally misreading texts for the sake of a joke.
Even the Christian literalists I’ve encountered strike me as atheists in training. That’s what happened with Bart Ehrman, for example: he was an extreme biblical literalist with an infantile view of inspiration and inerrancy, and when that let him down, instead of owning up, he basically said, “I can’t be wrong! It must be the Bible that’s wrong!”
Just treat the Bible the same way you would any other text—no more or less scrutiny or skepticism. You’ll find it does quite well.