I like Michael's comments on basic human fear and how this perhaps underlying, unspoken affect finds expression in protest action and can be exploited by those who sense its presence and want publicity. Just think in the last few months about the protests in and about Arizona-treatment of not just immigrants, the ground zero building placement issue, burning the Koran, let alone the earlier and continuing tea party phenomenon. In California we have had repeated protests about police brutality (no protests re public fights and knife carrying) and the appalling City of Bell financial happenings.
Why didn't we have protests re the proposal of war in Iraq and/or Afghanistan (that certainly blew the federal financial budget or) protests re the quiet marketing of financial packages of sub-prime mortgages i.e., Goldman Sachs? Were these just at quiet times in our history and people experienced no fear of change or sense of financial threat? So, why protests: so much, this year? Don't mean to make complexities simplistic or maybe I do... Joann Jelly -----Original Message----- From: Michael Smith [mailto:tipsl...@gmail.com] Sent: Monday, September 13, 2010 9:57 AM To: Teaching in the Psychological Sciences (TIPS) Subject: Re: [tips] They Too Died That Day JC. Your question assumes that the default position has been to read the bible literally. However, the 'dogmatic literalist' view is a distortion of modern times. So, the short answer to your question 'when did people seriously consider the bible from a non-literalist view' is: Always. From the beginning, theologians did not take the bible "literally" or simplistically, but have always thought deeply about it's message. Indeed, from the 2nd to 6th centuries (the time of the church fathers), the 'default position' of biblical interpretation was primarily allegorical. The 1600's (although not exclusivley) saw the addition of historical criticism. It's only in modern times (last 50 years?), that the bible has been taken in a simplistic, slogan-like way by both fundamentalist Christians and fundamentalist Atheists. The form of your question also assumes that the entire bible must either be understood literally or not. However, biblical interpretation has always been an issue of which parts warrant literal interpretation, which allegorical, and which metaphorical. I can sympathize with Claudia's situation; violence and aggression are frightening and unwelcome (to say nothing of the noise!). I'm not sure that religion is to blame or really has that much to do with it though . Real religion always encourages a deep and thoughtful self-questioning with regard to one's outlook and motives while always maintaining a deep concern and respect for others and their worldview. Fundamentalism as it has come to be known, is not, I think, a religious issue as much as it is an issue of basic human fear: the fear of change. When things are changing, when the world doesn't suit us, when we no longer see our personal values reflected in our environment, we become frightened and the usual response is to lash out and try to force the world back into our view of how it should be. To accomplish this people may use religion ("fundamentalism"), or politics (tea party?), or education (ivory towers), or any number of other ways. So I don't really think it is a religious issue as much as just a human one. But I think real religion actually helps us here with the thoughtful re-assessment of our prejudice. For the truly religious, the world, the people in it, and it's constant change are opportunities for growth and care of our fellows. Force and violence are not something which can ever be condoned. It's only when religion is hijacked by basic human fears that "religion" condones violence and oppression. --Mike --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: jje...@barstow.edu. To unsubscribe click here: http://fsulist.frostburg.edu/u?id=13010.76185584223b2f7b9f3a91a2f9913135 &n=T&l=tips&o=4778 or send a blank email to leave-4778-13010.76185584223b2f7b9f3a91a2f9913...@fsulist.frostburg.edu --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: arch...@jab.org. To unsubscribe click here: http://fsulist.frostburg.edu/u?id=13090.68da6e6e5325aa33287ff385b70df5d5&n=T&l=tips&o=4780 or send a blank email to leave-4780-13090.68da6e6e5325aa33287ff385b70df...@fsulist.frostburg.edu
