Hal Flemings
It is not uncommon to hear on radio or television programs disparaging remarks about the Bible. It appears the educated person today is expected to dismiss Bible history as questionable, consider the miracles mentioned in the Bible as either symbolic or overstatements of fact, regard comments about an Adam and Eve as scientifically inaccurate and consider the whole enterprise as a working and reworking of a collective document across time. The former reverence appended to this document which claims to be a written communication expressing the thoughts of the Creator of the cosmos, has been severely diminished in these post-modern times. This book, Examining Criticisms of the Bible, appeals to the reader to reevaluate the relevance of the Bible and to reconsider the evidences that relate to its historical, moral and scientific representations.
The only child of my mother who, with her mother, raised me in a working class community on the west side of Detroit, Michigan. I lived in a structured environment in which daily tasks had to be completed on time and in good order. My mother was an avid reader of books, both fiction and non-fiction. Her appreciation for education and her kindness toward others found their way into my life and affected its direction. In high school, I decided that I wanted to be a general surgeon and, failing that, I would be a Physics teacher at some university. To that end, in high school and later at university, I took courses in biology, physics, physiology, anatomy and the like. Even so, an early marriage reformulated my university goals and I subsequently chose Education, first teaching English in the public school system and later Hebrew at the college level.
My life’s journey also was influenced by my interest in the interplay between science and religion. As a result, my studies have included books on Physics, Astronomy, Archaeology, Biochemistry, World Religion and the Bible. It is now my pleasure to write articles and books on these subjects.
Swiss linguist and scholar, Max Woernhard, observed while lecturing to his students: “There is a dwindling knowledge of Europe’s cultural roots—especially Classical Antiquity and the Bible. Few take the Bible seriously and the Bible does not enjoy the readership and reverence it once had.” But this not only is true of Europe. Critics of the Bible around the globe speak and write in confident tones about the well known “problems” with Bible history, internal harmony, archaeology, morality etc. Less educated or less informed advocates of the Biblical material are often roasted alive by more prepared antagonists. Advocates for the divine inspiration of the Bible often are cast as narrow-minded, bigoted, lacking in critical thinking and a dying breed. This depiction of the actors in this historical play is frequently featured in the media and one can hold but pity for the inarticulate Bible proponent. The more literate, informed protagonist for the Bible is rarely employed. As a con-sequence, the results are predictable.
The plight of many proclaimed Judeo-Christian religious folk is dramatically brought into focus when a tragedy occurs involving the loss of human life and the public is told this is God’s will, that the Bible says this. In some instances, racists are heard pontificating that their negative views about Jews and Blacks are Bible based. The public reaction to this nonsense is understandable. The Bible mes-sage is seen as narrow-minded, racist, tribal, primitive and unenlightened. Unfortunately, few people on either side are suf-ficiently acquainted with the Bible and much reputed to be in the Bible is not. Indeed, many views reputed to be in the Bible find their source in personally held views, cultural norms and general ignorance. The Bible has few effective spokespersons since it has few adequately familiar with its contents. It is found in libraries, carried to churches and synagogues but rarely studied. Many can quote text but do not have knowledge of the context.
