Second hand culture

[HVC]

Which is funny, because as protestants they get to interpret the bible rather than the catechism informing belief. not that American Catholics seem like good Catholics anyway. Probably too much Protestant contagion 

That's the thing about evangelical Christians though - you don't get to "interpret" the Bible - it's the literal word of God.  It means what it says.

Which is what makes Minsky's point all the more poignant.

And why it's funny they don't read it

But yes, interpret was the wrong word. They have the option to read the bible and see the "literal truth"*. As opposed to a more catholic view.


*except where one part of the bible conflicts with another, then they can choose which one they like more

[Sheilbh]

That's the thing about evangelical Christians though - you don't get to "interpret" the Bible - it's the literal word of God.  It means what it says.

Which is what makes Minsky's point all the more poignant.

And possibly makes Biblical allusions poorer/explains why explicitly "Christian" culture tends to be so bad in the US

[crazy canuck]

Which is funny, because as protestants they get to interpret the bible rather than the catechism informing belief. not that American Catholics seem like good Catholics anyway. Probably too much Protestant contagion 

That's the thing about evangelical Christians though - you don't get to "interpret" the Bible - it's the literal word of God.  It means what it says.

Which is what makes Minsky's point all the more poignant.

It's unfortunate that so many believe things that are not literally in the Bible - like the whole concept of hell and the devil.  Something developed by Catholic theologians who definitely were interpreting the Bible to try to make sense of it.

And let's not even get started on all the nonsense about the end of days.

[crazy canuck]

That's the thing about evangelical Christians though - you don't get to "interpret" the Bible - it's the literal word of God.  It means what it says.

Which is what makes Minsky's point all the more poignant.

And possibly makes Biblical allusions poorer/explains why explicitly "Christian" culture tends to be so bad in the US

Its the opposite I think and particularly with Evangelicals.  They have created their own references that have little to nothing with what is actually literally written in the Bible. 

[grumbler]

That's the thing about evangelical Christians though - you don't get to "interpret" the Bible - it's the literal word of God.  It means what it says.

That's way over-generalized.  Not all evangelicals believe that the Bible is literally true.  Maybe not even a majority.

[PDH]

I overheard a family member say recently "The only way to interpret the Bible is through reading the Bible" which makes wonderful circle of logic that lets one reinforce any notion one wishes.

[Valmy]

"The only way to interpret the Bible is through reading the Bible"

Which translation though? And aren't there thousands of variations in the original text?