Bibliolatry

contributed by Rev David Eck

Here's a new word for you: Bibliolatry [bib-lee'-all-a-tree]. Try to say that three times fast in a row! According to the dictionary, bibliolatry is "an excessive adherence to the literal interpretation of the Bible." It is a synthesis of the words "Bible" and "idolatry" which pretty much gives you a sense of what the word is about.

Bibliolatry is Bible worship where the Word is held in higher regard than the "Word made Flesh." It's mantra is "God said it. I believe it. That settles it." This is an over simplistic and dangerous statement since all of those who chant it don't follow everything that is in the Bible word for word.

I have yet to meet a true Biblical literalist. If I did I would run for me life, not only because they would advocate the death penalty for me since I'm homosexual, but if they followed God's word literally it would also mean they were in favor of slavery, polygamy, stoning adulterers and a host of other Biblical laws too numerous to mention that no one in their right mind would follow today.

If we're going to get anywhere in the Church of Jesus Christ we need to move beyond our infantile obsession with literalism. Let's face it, Jesus did not speak Elizabethan English. He spoke Aramaic. His words were then translated into Greek by the gospel writers and then copied over many centuries until, finally, they made their way into English. During this time scores of manuscripts were produced that contain a number of contradictions and inconsistencies. Some of these contradictions are minor. Others are major variants.

If we remain stuck clinging to the literal Word, we will exhaust ourselves trying to reconcile these inconsistencies. If, instead, we view the Bible as a sign post that points beyond itself to the Living Christ, then we free ourselves from following the letter of the law and can focus on its spirit. Granted literalism is appealing because it's simple. However, faith is never simple. It is complicated, challenging and life-altering. I would not have it, or my Bible, any other way.