Reader grapples with Bible's parables
Nathan Gunkelman
Issue date: 11/19/09 Section: Opinion
Two weeks ago, the Chimes had several issues I would like to address. First, I would like to dedicate this article to my mother. Now, Mr. Mullen, I thank you for your kind guide through Biblical interpretation; however, I still don't think I quite have it down.
When you read the story I cited in my previous letter you seem to read a story of sacrifice and devotion to god in the face of evil. That interpretation is poetic, emotional, and inspiring. But when I read it I read a story about a man who is willing to give up his daughters to be raped in order to save two men he just met.
Call me uninspired but I just don't see what you see. You go on to try and teach me the difference between the literal and parable parts of the bible. Again I guess I'm a bad student because I can't seem to tell the difference, maybe the thing that allows you to interpret the above story so positively also gives you some knowledge as to which parts of the bible are literal and which are parable.
Do you literally believe that a man lived in the stomach of a giant fish for three days, or is that a parable? Do you literally believe that the entirety of the earth was flooded killing everyone save for one family, or is that a parable? Do you literally believe that man was created from dirt and women from a rib, or is that a parable? Do you literally believe a man walked on water, healed the blind with spit, and came back from the dead, or is that just a parable?
My point is that the bible has spent millennia going through the minds of many people, and every one of those people can come up with a new interpretation. I believe you when you say you are not some right wing conservative. I even believe you have no problem talking about sex.
The point is that you were offended. You were offended by the sex articles, and you are offended by my views. That is a good thing. You are doing what every college freshmen should be doing; getting offended. Your views of the world were challenged, and you were forced to defend them or let them fall.
This goes to all those offended by the articles: learn from the experience, and even seek to have more experiences like that.
If you are a Christian, be willing to have a conversation with that atheist who quotes from all the wrong places in the bible. If you are a crazy left winger, then go get coffee with a crazy right winger. Exposure to the opposite side allows middle ground to be found. So Mr. Mullen, are we able to find middle ground? There are, however, certain situations on either side of any spectrum where middle ground cannot be found.
I found one such situation with Mr. Lorson's article. The ELCA is moving in a direction that recognizes people as equals, and treats them accordingly. This doesn't sit right with you for some reason. You would treat a group of people unequally out of a belief that they are not as worthy as others. There is a word for that: bigot. But wait, you quoted the bible in your article, which makes you automatically correct. You seem to be very concerned about your fellow Christians not following the bible correctly, but are you sure that you are?
Tell me, along with not allowing homosexuals to have the same rights as everyone else do you also advocate stoning them to death (Leviticus 20:13)? Do you intend to stone your children to death if they disobey you (Leviticus 20:9)? Do you advocate women to be isolated for seven days when they are on their period (Leviticus 15:19)? I could go on and on with these types of laws that are in the bible, thus decreed by god, that you do not follow.
However, I agree with you that the ELCA is moving away from what the bible says. I am different from you in that I believe that is a good thing. You may not believe this, but morality does not come from the bible, it comes from our own minds.
Contrary to what the bible says on the matter, the ELCA is treating people equally. They are doing what is right, and not what is commanded. I had the privilege to accompany Capital's Pride organization to the Equality March in Washington D.C. as a supporter. There I saw a man on the side lines, megaphone in hand, preaching at the thousands of people passing by him to repent from their sins. Standing in front of him was a man, who silently held up a sign that I think is pertinent here. It read: F**k your god if he's a bigot like you.
The ELCA chooses to forget the parts of the bible that make god that bigot, instead choosing to believe that he is what they want him to be, all loving. So if you find it hard to believe in that all loving god, then you should break away and run into a place where everyone thinks as you do.
By Nathan Gunkelman
Sophomore
ngunkelm@capital.edu
When you read the story I cited in my previous letter you seem to read a story of sacrifice and devotion to god in the face of evil. That interpretation is poetic, emotional, and inspiring. But when I read it I read a story about a man who is willing to give up his daughters to be raped in order to save two men he just met.
Call me uninspired but I just don't see what you see. You go on to try and teach me the difference between the literal and parable parts of the bible. Again I guess I'm a bad student because I can't seem to tell the difference, maybe the thing that allows you to interpret the above story so positively also gives you some knowledge as to which parts of the bible are literal and which are parable.
Do you literally believe that a man lived in the stomach of a giant fish for three days, or is that a parable? Do you literally believe that the entirety of the earth was flooded killing everyone save for one family, or is that a parable? Do you literally believe that man was created from dirt and women from a rib, or is that a parable? Do you literally believe a man walked on water, healed the blind with spit, and came back from the dead, or is that just a parable?
My point is that the bible has spent millennia going through the minds of many people, and every one of those people can come up with a new interpretation. I believe you when you say you are not some right wing conservative. I even believe you have no problem talking about sex.
The point is that you were offended. You were offended by the sex articles, and you are offended by my views. That is a good thing. You are doing what every college freshmen should be doing; getting offended. Your views of the world were challenged, and you were forced to defend them or let them fall.
This goes to all those offended by the articles: learn from the experience, and even seek to have more experiences like that.
If you are a Christian, be willing to have a conversation with that atheist who quotes from all the wrong places in the bible. If you are a crazy left winger, then go get coffee with a crazy right winger. Exposure to the opposite side allows middle ground to be found. So Mr. Mullen, are we able to find middle ground? There are, however, certain situations on either side of any spectrum where middle ground cannot be found.
I found one such situation with Mr. Lorson's article. The ELCA is moving in a direction that recognizes people as equals, and treats them accordingly. This doesn't sit right with you for some reason. You would treat a group of people unequally out of a belief that they are not as worthy as others. There is a word for that: bigot. But wait, you quoted the bible in your article, which makes you automatically correct. You seem to be very concerned about your fellow Christians not following the bible correctly, but are you sure that you are?
Tell me, along with not allowing homosexuals to have the same rights as everyone else do you also advocate stoning them to death (Leviticus 20:13)? Do you intend to stone your children to death if they disobey you (Leviticus 20:9)? Do you advocate women to be isolated for seven days when they are on their period (Leviticus 15:19)? I could go on and on with these types of laws that are in the bible, thus decreed by god, that you do not follow.
However, I agree with you that the ELCA is moving away from what the bible says. I am different from you in that I believe that is a good thing. You may not believe this, but morality does not come from the bible, it comes from our own minds.
Contrary to what the bible says on the matter, the ELCA is treating people equally. They are doing what is right, and not what is commanded. I had the privilege to accompany Capital's Pride organization to the Equality March in Washington D.C. as a supporter. There I saw a man on the side lines, megaphone in hand, preaching at the thousands of people passing by him to repent from their sins. Standing in front of him was a man, who silently held up a sign that I think is pertinent here. It read: F**k your god if he's a bigot like you.
The ELCA chooses to forget the parts of the bible that make god that bigot, instead choosing to believe that he is what they want him to be, all loving. So if you find it hard to believe in that all loving god, then you should break away and run into a place where everyone thinks as you do.
By Nathan Gunkelman
Sophomore
ngunkelm@capital.edu
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