I recently read, Jesus Interrupted: The Hidden Contradictions in the Bible (and Why We Don’t Know About Them) by Bart Ehrman. It’s not something I would have read a couple of years ago while I was still within the constricting embrace of fundamental evangelicalism. Since becoming what I call a recovering evangelical I’ve broaden my scope of acceptable reading. Perhaps to some it’s strange to think of a book as either being acceptable or unacceptable reading, but within the Christian circles I used to run in, it’s not. The title of the book would be enough to persuade many fundamental evangelicals to shun it, unless they were reading it to discredit it. If you don’t believe me, just ask an evangelical.
I found the book to be a good and accessible read. Many of the Biblical contractions and difficulties Ehrman sights are things I’ve run across in my own studies, so although not a lot of new information for me, I believe he does a good job of culling the plethora of available problematic texts and providing a great introduction to the subject. I know many will disagree with me saying there are a plethora of available problematic texts, but for now let’s agree to disagree and perhaps we can have a separate discussion on that point later.
His parenthetical sub-title is pretty provocative; why don’t more people know about this stuff? My guess is because many Christians aren’t interested in knowing more than they have to about their faith. This is my own position, not something put forth by Ehrman in this book. I find that most active, church–on-Sunday-morning Christians are pretty darn Bible illiterate, and are happy that way. They seem to know just enough to say the right things at the right times and how and when to perform the right rituals. When it comes to understanding the origin of the Bible or the historical framework and underpinnings of the Christian faith well, “ignorance is bliss”. It’s a shame that the evangelical community allows it’s adherence to believe that a “magical prayer” is all one really needs to understand in order to reap the benefits of heaven. “Just forget about all that Bible stuff, we’ll tell you what you need to know.”
In the last chapter, Ehrman asks an intriguing question; is faith possible? Although he’s an agnostic, his answer is yes and uses this chapter to promote the idea of liberal Christianity. I know many will see this as a direct attack on conservative Christianity and assume this to be Ehrman’s soul motivation for writing the book, going so far as to even offer an alternative. I don’t think so, but even if it was his desire to persuade people to leave conservative Christianity, do you think it could work? I don’t know.
I think an even better question is; should books like this one be shunned by conservative and fundamental Christians? Should the person of faith be afraid to challenge their faith? I would contend that considering positions that challenge one’s beliefs would; 1) give you a better understanding of what you believe, and 2) help you develop a deeper faith. It stands to reason that if you believe the Bible to be the inerrant word of God and you put your faith in it’s testimony about Jesus dying for your salvation, then knowledge of it’s origin and veracity would be important to your faith. Armed with that knowledge one would then be able to defend her faith in the face of a challenge, leading to a deeper faith experience.
The crux of the problem is books of this nature can lead people to a different understanding of their faith, something different than what is spoon-fed to them from the pulpit of their church. As Ehrman explains in his book orthodoxy was something fought over long and hard by the early church, and to differ from orthodoxy is heresy. To the average church goer this is tantamount to damnation in the eternal pit of fire. One does not choose to go to hell easily. It’s much easier to toe the line of orthodoxy. As I stated earlier, many just don’t care to know more than they have to about Christianity, but for those who do care, fear is a powerful motivator. The idea of losing one’s salvation because they might see things a bit differently from their pastor can act as a deterrent from books like Jesus Interrupted. And that’s a shame.
OK, enough about Jesus Interrupted. I did find it to be a provocative and good read. As I continue to try to understand Christianity I will continue to read books like it. I aint scared. Inevitably I’ll have a better understanding of Christian faith. And that’s where I want to be.
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