A contemplative look at the Bible with Richard Rohr
from The Bible for Normal People
Episode 2
Recommendation: Skip the first 3 minutes of background information and chat.
When we read the bible in the light of Jesus, God becomes less violent, less punitive, less tribal and more inclusive. Richard Rohr.
oOo
In fairness to Richard Rohr, having just listened carefully to the whole post, I think he is saying the Bible needs to be interpreted not only in the light of Jesus and the Cosmic Christ, but using Paul and tradition as well. The post is worth the 1-hour listen, perhaps at the risk of hearing some things that may make us uncomfortable as ‘progressives’.
Thanks. Love, joy, peace
John Court
Sydney
I have not been able to access or listen to Richar Rohr but his comment, ‘ When we read the bible in the light of Jesus, God becomes less violent, less punitive, less tribal and more inclusive. ‘ is excellent. The importance of the Exodus story, as a foundational story in the Old Testament, and Jesus’ non-use of it in his teachings and ministry, are evidences that the Old Testament is mostly a liability, regarding its 2-3000 year old image of an ultra-violent, tribal, super-human being it calls God. I totaly reject the story of the Exodus. It is unhelpful in my journey with Jesus. It should never be in liturgies used in church services today. It should never be used as an exeample of how ‘God’ honors ‘his’ promises. I believe it is a disgraceful story, regarding its actions of ‘God’. Our ‘sacred’ book would be better without that story. The book of Joshua, continuing with a similar image, should be deleted from the ‘sacred’ book! This image of God makes Putin look rather tame.
George Stuart Authot of ‘Starting all over again? Yes or No?’