This experience has even challenged me to view the Bible in a way that at times has felt perverse: historically and at times even in a secular manner. Many would suggest that you simply can't derive anything from the Bible this way. There have even been some to suggest to me that it is "wrong", "sinful", or "blasphemous" to study the Bible in a context other than in worship and praise. These are the same people that told me it was a hell-worthy trespass to learn about other religions, to read the Qu'ran, to go to a synagogue, to visit a Hindu temple, to share a religious conversation with a person of another faith.
WRONG. ANSWER.
It challenges, it allows for deep introspection, careful scrutiny. You begin to ask the tough questions that you have been taught to think are wrong to even consider. You think that God gave you that inquisitive mind, that matter in your skull for looks? Believe me, if you attempt to process the information in the Bible, from all angles, through all lenses, this will not deconstruct your faith, but rather reinforce it.
I learned about the debate of where the Gospel of Mark is supposed to end (my money's on 16:8 for those keeping score), that Matthew "borrowed" a bit from Mark's Gospel, that most New Testament books may be inappropriately attributed to certain authors. With the roll that I'm on, I'm really looking forward to looking into Revelation. I've learned that it took a lot of committees and a lot of tough calls to decide on the 27 books of the New Testament. I've learned that there's a LOT more books out there to be read in the Apocrypha and other added texts.
There are gospels of Thomas and Judas that are thought-provoking even if it provokes thoughts in my Christian brain like "what the hell?" "what were they drinking?" and "did anyone ever actually believe that?" Acts as a book plays out and reads like a radical movement that you could have charged to show on Pay-Per-View.
And if you hated history class in school, let me tell you this. Digging into the history of biblical times can actually be kind of fun. I find it fun to learn about the times of the New Testament because I am passionate about the subject matter. Give a class like this a shot. You'll find learning more about your faith can be intoxicating. And if you do decide to give it a shot, please let me know. I've done a lot of shopping on iTunesU and would be glad to help. Furthermore if anyone wants to go through a class like this with someone I would love to share in that with you.
So on this journey, I have gone. I am looking at Matthew and Mark with different eyes now, and I now have new perspective. And I have so many more New Testament books to delve into, dissect, analyze, and ultimately scrutinize. And in each I will have more faith, more understanding, and more wisdom than before. God tells us to seek wisdom out; I'm just following orders.
I questioned if I would learn anything, to which the Spirit responded to me that he'd bet my tithe on it (fear not, church, God won the bet :-) I don't get everything that I hear in this class. Hell, I don't even believe everything I hear, but it is making me think. And though some would say you are to be a mindless drone in your faith, I'm pretty sure God gave me this brain so that I would use it.
Class dismissed
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