The Bible: A Religious Text, Not a Science Manual
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Chapter 1: Understanding the Bible's Purpose
The Bible serves many functions, but categorizing it as a science textbook is not one of them. Its primary aim is spiritual and moral guidance, not scientific inquiry.
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Section 1.1: The Misconception of the Bible as Science
Recently, I stumbled upon an organization that claims to enhance the public’s understanding of the Bible. For the sake of discretion, I will refer to them as the Institute. Initially, I was intrigued, as I hold the Bible in high esteem and support educational efforts related to it. However, upon reading their mission statement, I was taken aback:
“Our mission is to educate the general public about the value and importance of reading the Bible and using it as the primary textbook for knowledge and study. Its purpose is to broaden the perspective of the Bible from what is commonly thought of as a textbook used in Sunday school to a scientific text on all subject matter.”
Claiming the Bible to be a comprehensive scientific text is a considerable stretch, and it highlights a trend of attempting to redefine the Bible's true nature.
Section 1.2: The Bible as a Historical and Religious Document
The Bible is fundamentally a historical and religious account of God's interactions with humanity during specific times. Its teachings remain relevant today, but it was never designed to function as a scientific manual. The 2000 Baptist Faith and Message articulates this succinctly:
“The Holy Bible was written by men divinely inspired and is God’s revelation of Himself to man. It is a perfect treasure of divine instruction…”
Similarly, the Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church asserts:
“God himself is the author of Sacred Scripture. For this reason, it is said to be inspired and to teach without error those truths which are necessary for our salvation.”
Despite their differences, both Baptists and Catholics agree that the Bible is meant to offer divine instruction rather than scientific knowledge.
Chapter 2: The Nature of Scientific Literature
The first video titled "3 Evolutionists vs 1 Creationist" explores the ongoing debates surrounding evolution and creationism. It highlights the perspectives of both sides and encourages viewers to consider the broader implications of these discussions beyond mere scientific arguments.
In the second video, "The Bible Was Never Intended to Be a Science Book," the speaker delves into the reasons why the Bible should not be viewed through a scientific lens, emphasizing its spiritual significance and historical context.
The Bible provides narratives about creation and humanity’s journey, but it is not meant to be used as scientific literature. Just as Alexandre Dumas’ "The Three Musketeers" cannot serve as a history of France, the Bible should not be held to the standards of scientific evaluation. Scientific literature is defined by experimentation and empirical evidence—criteria that do not apply to religious texts.
While it may be beneficial that the Bible does not fall under the category of scientific literature, science has had its share of inaccuracies throughout history. For instance, many scientific beliefs once considered facts—such as the geocentric model of the solar system or the miasma theory of disease—have been disproved over time.
Section 2.1: The Core Message of the Bible
In my view, the ongoing debate about the Bible’s scientific validity often distracts from its true purpose. Instead of engaging in discussions about the literal interpretation of Genesis, we should focus on the fundamental teachings of compassion and care for the marginalized that Jesus emphasized.
Rather than arguing whether the Bible can be a science textbook, we should question why its moral teachings seem to be overlooked. Such debates can obscure the Bible's critical messages, and unfortunately, it shares a similarity with a college Organic Chemistry textbook: many of us rarely engage with it.