Mysteries of Judaism V: More than 150 Mistaken Notions about God and the Bible

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CONTRARY TO WHAT MOST RELIGIOUS PEOPLE THINK, the Bible does not offer its readers clear answers to any of the problems that humans face. Virtually the entire Bible is either obscure or ambiguous, as very good literature often is. This enhances the writing. It challenges readers to interpret the material and bring their own understandings to it.As a result, the reader gets more out of the writing than the writer placed on the page. In addition, regarding biblical law, it gives religious leaders an opportunity to reinterpret the obscurity to apply to modern times. An example of the many obscure narratives is the first nine verses in Genesis 11. We can view the tale of the building of a tower as a parable. People gather excitedly in the land of Shinar, determined to build a tower of bricks and mortar. Its “top shall be in heaven. Let us make a name for ourselves so that we will not be scattered over the earth” (Genesis 11:4).What do they want to accomplish? Do they really believe there is a heaven above them? What do they think is in it? Are they so foolish as to think that they can reach it? How will their reaching heaven stop them from being scattered? How do they make a name for themselves? Why is there a need to do so? This is all profoundly obscure, but God’s reaction is even more so. God is displeased. Why? Is this foolishness any worse than murder and robbery? God causes the builders to speak different languages and disperses them throughout the earth. We do not even know if this was a punishment or an act that helped humanity.This is but one example of the many biblical tales that are mysterious, leaving readers the opportunity to read into the tale what they want to see – or better yet, what they should see. The Bible can and indeed should be interpreted. We should not dismiss its parables as “nice stories.” This book encourages us all to ask the question: What is the Bible telling us? Read more