BrianJarrett.com

So today begins “The Bible Study Project”, a project I’ve been planning for some time but just now finally got around to.  Lately I’ve spent a lot of time reading both atheist and Christian books and articles.  Each of these make interesting points while quoting verses from the Bible.  I’m openly skeptical of the Bible, the message it sends, the actual morality it teaches, its followers’ actual piety, and of Christianity’s audacious claims of divinity.  I’m a science-minded individual, preferring proof to faith, and the Bible, quite frankly, just doesn’t provide me with adequate proof to support the incredible and miraculous claims it makes.  At least not what I’ve read so far which is limited.

David Mills says that one of the contributing reasons people believe science and religion can harmoniously coincide with each other is because neither side really understands the other.  Religious people generally don’t know a lot about science and scientists often don’t know much about religion.  There’s a hopeful ideology that the two can find a common ground that really doesn’t exist, at least in David’s opinion.

I think he’s right but I want to find out for myself.  I don’t believe I can accurately and effectively continue to criticize the Bible, Christianity, or religion in general if I don’t have a thorough understanding of it.  Since I live in the United States and the United States is predominantly Christian then Christianity, I believe, is the first place I should start.  Since the Christian Bible is allegedly the irrefutable word of God then the Bible is the book I should read to be “saved”.  I don’t see any other method more effective and direct than reading the Bible to accomplish this goal.  I shouldn’t need a preacher, priest, witness, wino, clergyman, or anyone else to interpret this for me.  I figure I already have enough arbitrary interpretation in the translation process.

Now I would assume that if this is all true and this is the word of God then I should read some stuff that’s going to knock my socks off.  I should really be impressed, to the point of wholesale acceptance and conversion.  As I said, I am admittedly a skeptic, so God’s got His work cut out for Him in my case.  However, since He allegedly created the universe, our solar system, our planet, and human beings (a.k.a me), it shouldn’t be too difficult a task.  I fully expect that if all of it is true then I should leave the book at the last page a changed man, following Jesus and shouting “Amen!” and whatnot.

I can’t claim to be as open-minded as some and I refuse to allow the scientific method to be compromised during this project.  If science conflicts with scripture then I will, unabashedly, side with science.  Anything else would be untrue to my character, my reputation, and my values.  I cannot compromise those things during this project.  I should think that the irrefutable word of God shouldn’t cause me to do that; it should coincide harmoniously with science if it is to be taken seriously at all.  I have heavy skepticism at this point but I’ll try to approach it as openly as I possibly can.

That said I’m starting with my Bible, the Christian Holy Bible, NIV edition.  This is the New International Version Bible, translated by members of the International Bible Society.  I considered the King James but it doesn’t seem as complete and the language is a bit archaic.  I think the NIV edition will be more understandable and is used by more people (at least according to the IBC).  Either way the word of God should compel me in the end, regardless of what version I choose.  I do find it odd that there are multiple translations and some editions can claim a more “accurate” interpretation of the Creator’s words.  I also find it ironic that the text is copyrighted.  I would have thought God Himself held that copyright.

It’s funny; I went on a little trek of sorts to get my hands on this thing.  I set out around 9:00 on a Sunday night to pick up a copy but both Borders and Barnes and Noble were already closed.  Target was closed too.  I then found myself at the 24 hour Kirkwood Wal-mart of all places, with the usual band of rejects trolling the parking lot and $.25 pop machines.  I found the book and magazine section and very easily found the Bibles, both King James and the NIV.  I quickly selected my Bible, then picked up a small notebook in the office section, then paid for my purchase.  As I was checking out the woman working the register asked where I found the Bible.  I told her and she thanked me, saying she was going to have to pick one of those up.  I told her “no problem”; I wasn’t sure what else to say.  It wouldn’t matter anyway.

I’m anxious to get started because this will either fundamentally change the way I think about everything or it will cement my already hardening convictions.  Either way it’ll be the start of an exciting new chapter in my intellectual development.

Right now I’m going to group all these posts under the Bible Study Project category, so if you happen to be following along just select it from the “Post Categories” drop down box in the sidebar.  That will display archived posts in that category in descending (newest to oldest) order.  Current posts in this category will appear along with other posts on the main page, as they’re published.

Let’s go!