Bible should be seen as piece of literature

First, I have a complaint over the wording just after Buck quotes Isaiah. Isaiah can be forgiven for its misogyny. Many religious documents are misogynistic by our modern standards. In Isaiah's time, the only women of value were married women and they weren't as important as cattle.

In Buck's rewording of Isaiah, a man of our modern culture failed to look past the literature and reworded the quote in a way that gives agency only to women who are married. With the words, "the rape of men's wives," the importance of women is based only in their marital status and the tragedy lies only in the rapes of women who are married to men.

In our modern age, thousands of women are raped, unmarried and married alike, and often, "the rape of men's wives" occurs by husbands themselves, an even greater tragedy than Isaiah foretells.

Buck's next argument is one of the Pharaoh. He does not take into account that the Bible is an ethnocentric document of a theocratic society. Although the Bible states that God hardened the heart of Pharaoh, more likely Pharaoh was a good businessman.

Pharaoh wanted his cheap labor to build his buildings and temples. But the Hebrews would not write, "Pharaoh was a good economist; therefore, he did not let the Hebrews go." To the Hebrews, every action for or against them happened as a matter of God's will.

Third, the dinosaur argument comes out of nowhere. Why would dinosaurs even be in the Bible? Humans never existed with dinosaurs, and the first dinosaur bones weren't excavated until the 19th century. After all, the Bible was written by people about their experiences. How could people who had no knowledge of dinosaurs write about them? I think that a better argument for Buck would have been one of reading the Bible as what it is: a work of literature, consistent with its time and the needs of its audience.

With the Bible and many other religious documents from various faith traditions, some of the truth is in there, but we need to look at the world around us and seek the truth with our hearts and, more importantly, our minds.

Jennifer Parker
senior-English

God a just, powerful being with the truth

God is perfect. He is a God of mercy and justice. These two principles go hand in hand. God is merciful because He is forgiving and He loves us very much. John 3:16 says, "For God so loved the world, that he sent his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

These are not just words, they are a reality. We can all have everlasting life by following the example of Jesus Christ as set forth in the Scriptures.

God and justice are also synonymous. For He has given us commandments we are to follow. They are guidelines that when followed bring great happiness and joy. It is true that sometimes the righteous suffer, and some are even killed. But they have not suffered in vain. Suffering builds faith. It gives us a chance to rely on the Lord and draw closer to Him. And those who die in righteousness die knowing that they will see their Redeemer again.

The wicked have their free agency, and thus they do commit horrible crimes against the innocent. But there will be justice for them. In Job 4:8-9 it says, "Even as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same. By the blast of God they perish, and by the breath of his nostrils are they consumed."

I am a Christian, a disciple of Christ, and also a young adult as are many of you. I spent many years questioning religion and seeking the TRUTH. But it was not until I sincerely asked God for guidance in my life that I found the TRUTH I was seeking.

One must study the Scriptures and ask if these things are true; and if one asks with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, He will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.

I have found much happiness and joy in my life by heeding this council. I have gained focus and insight into God's Eternal Plan for us, which I never knew before. I challenge everyone to seek God out. Find time to pray and I promise you that you will receive an answer.

Nicholas A. LaBuda
sophomore-administration of justice

Bible passages taken out of context

He concludes that "The Bible portrays (God) as a frequently horrifying being who doesn't know how to contain and teach his creations . . ."

The problem is that Buck is choosing what he wants to see, rather than looking at the whole picture. Yes, there are instances when God unleashes fury upon those who disobey and challenge Him. But take a look on how long it takes God to respond in such a way. God, throughout the Bible, gives His subjects MANY opportunities to repent and turn back to Him, without retribution or scolding.

Concerning the Pharaoh of Egypt, we are told that God "hardened (Pharaoh's) heart" (Exodus 9:12). But somehow Buck neglected to mention that this occurred only AFTER Pharaoh had hardened his OWN heart. In fact, it is only after Pharaoh retracted a promise to let the Israelites go that God intervened. Pharaoh was not about to let all those slaves go free, so God stepped in to help His people.

Buck then goes on to ask about the dinosaurs, and why there is no mention of them in the Bible. I would refer to the Book of Job. In two chapters, there are descriptions of two mighty beasts, the Behemoth and the Leviathan. Can you think of any animal that eats plants, has a tail as big as a tree and whose bones are like bars of brass? Sounds to me like the description of a very large, plant-eating sauropods (a brachiosaurus, maybe?).

It is advisable to take a good look at the WHOLE of Scripture and not just pick and choose what you want to see. The God of the Bible IS a just, loving and compassionate God. After all, He gave His life for us, that we may come to know Him.

Marcus Ross
president, Nittany Lions for Christ and the Origins Club