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TV RELIGION ... RECIPE FOR NAUSEA
Last night I watched part of a TV program that was supposed to be a learned explanation on the Book of Revelation. As I watched, a number of so-called; Biblical authorities expressed their views on the Bible and what it said.
Their comments all but ruined my evening meal.
Excuse me if I seem to be short on grace and patience, but I become more than a little upset when I see people who are said to be Bible scholars, professors of Theology, certified Teachers who instruct in our seminaries and other religious institutions … and yet they themselves do not believe the Bible is a God inspired and trustworthy book.
If I believed that all chiropractors were performing an illegitimate medical service, I certainly would not endeavor to study for several years to become an instructor at a school for training chiropractors?
If I was a conscientious objector, I most assuredly would not endeavor to someday become an instructor at Westpoint?
If people do not believe the Bible, then why not have the common decency to take up some profession other than that of attempting to become recognized as an authority and teacher of the Bible?
As I watched the program and listened to one after another presenting the idea that the Bible, and the Book of Revelation in particular, was simply a book written by men who were attempting to brew a mixture of human philosophy, with ideas calculated to combat certain political problems, and “hypothetical” visions, which may or may not have been inspired by God. The longer I watched the more I became nauseated with the whole thing.
I shut it off without watching the entire fiasco. They were playing pseudo-intellectual pin-ball and attempting to pass it off as chess.
It’s not just what was said that bothered me, it’s what was left unsaid. Powerful opposing evidence and viewpoints were not fairly presented, and in my opinion the program was clearly slanted to lend credence only toward the negative views of those who questioned the Bible’s trustworthiness. Their opinions were made to appear to be academically profound, and therefore their conclusions unassailable.
I came away from the program with the impression that the so-called experts were a good deal like Dr. Watson in the following story:
Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson went on a camping trip. After a good meal they lay down for the night and went to sleep. Some hours later, Holmes awoke and nudged his faithful friend. "Watson, look up at the sky and tell me what you see."
Watson replied, "I see millions and millions of stars."
Holmes asked, "What does that tell you?"
Watson pondered for a minute. "Astronomically, it tells me that there are millions of galaxies and potentially billions of planets. Astrologically, I observe that Saturn is in Leo. Horologically, I deduce that the time is approximately a quarter past three. Theologically, I can see that God is omnipotent and that we are small and insignificant. Meteorologically, I suspect that we will have a beautiful day tomorrow. … And what does it tell you, Holmes?"
Holmes was silent for a minute, and then spoke----"Someone has stolen our tent."
In our search for truth, we need to be careful that we do not become so engrossed in focusing on pseudo-intellectual profundities that we overlook the obvious truth that is right under our nose. The thinking of such TV “experts” is easy to diagnose: Someone has stolen their tent.
Posted by cdrnorth at October 10, 2005 2:34 PM