After reading some of Ken Ham’s work for class and then reading more of his work for the book review assignment, I am just baffled by the fact that some people take the Bible literally. Language is a very powerful thing, especially when in the hands of humans. Between language barriers, translations, and word of mouth (only to name a few challenges) I just don’t understand how anyone could read the Bible in a completely literal way, especially after Professor McGrath lead the discussion in our class about the first couple of chapters of Genesis. In the hour and forty minutes Professor McGrath talked to us, all we did was discuss different interpretations of the first chapters of Genesis.
What I found really interesting was the use of words and the meaning behind some words. For example, Adam is the Hebrew word for mankind. If the authors of the Bible would have used the word “mankind” in place of “Adam” the entire story of Adam and Eve could be interpreted differently. Instead of just having two people, it could have been interpreted that God created all of mankind in that one day which would totally dismiss the fact that Adam is the one ancestor to all of humans. Also, the verse that deals with the creation of humans quotes God as saying, “Let us make humankind”. Why would God use the word “us” instead of “I”? I like the connection Professor McGrath made to an evolutionary twist when regarding this line. He talked about how the “us” could have been God along with the animals he had previously created. Even though the Israelites didn’t have a clue about evolution when they wrote the Bible, this verse can be taken in terms of evolutionary beliefs today. These are only some examples of how the first chapters of Genesis alone can be theorized and interpreted in many different ways.
I think that deep down some literalists, Ken Ham especially, use their literal belief in the Bible as a defense mechanism. They have grown up believing that everything in the Bible is true and now they are afraid to recognize anything that refutes what the literal Word of God says. They believe that God actually created the world in six days and the reason they believe this is because the Bible says so and there is no changing their minds. In order to use the Bible as their evidence (which is the only evidence they have) they must believe every word it says. I think some literalists just don’t want to mess with having to explain themselves if they admit to being unsure about parts of the Bible, so instead they insist that the Bible is absolutely true in order to avoid confrontation and to continue preaching what they believe.
Ken Ham refuses to consider anything anyone unlike himself has to say about his religious beliefs and lives his life off of the literal word of the Bible. In doing so, he comes off as ignorant and narrow-minded. I think in order to grow as a person and to keep up with the fast paced and changing world we live in, it is essential to keep an open mind about everything.
-Camryn
Camryn, I completely agree with what you said about Ken Ham, “I think that deep down some literalists, Ken Ham especially, use their literal belief in the Bible as a defense mechanism. They have grown up believing that everything in the Bible is true and now they are afraid to recognize anything that refutes what the literal Word of God says.” But the other incredible thing is how many people he can convince of his beliefs, because I’m not sure that all fundamentalist Christians are actually like that. Maybe they might claim to be because they have been so influenced by people like Ken Ham, but it is probably out of ignorance. Most people simply don’t know anything about evolution or about how science and Christianity can be compatible because they don’t know about any other options, and because doubt and questioning are not widely accepted in the church. The things Dr. McGrath taught us are things that are usually not taught in church, and I really think that a lot of people who attend fundamentalist churches are just not familiar with other ways of interpreting the Bible, so they are easily convinced by the more vocal people who do use their literal belief in the Bible as a defense mechanism.
ReplyDelete