Settling for Biblical Illiteracy?

By Michael Griego on September 8, 2023 • ( 0 )

When it comes to Biblical knowledge, is it reasonable today to expect some level of general basic literacy? Even among the well-educated? ◊

I was watching a popular television series recently where the main character, a medical director of a large and thriving metropolitan hospital, was asked by a Jewish rabbi patient if he knew the story of Abraham. The doctor said no, he had never heard the story.

I winced a bit at this answer.

Are we so secularized as a society that we can allow otherwise intelligent, albeit fictional, characters to be completely ignorant of key characters in Biblical history? It might have been more believable if the doctor had simply said that he vaguely recalls hearing the story of Abraham long ago and then indulges the rabbi to refresh his memory.

It got worse as I heard the rabbi tell the Old Testament story to the doctor. His explanation of Abraham and the potential sacrifice of his son Isaac was reduced to a morality tale of one getting rewarded for taking big risks.

Hmmm.

While all things worked out well, somewhat, for the characters by the end of the television episode, it leaves one to question the state of Judeo-Christian knowledge, certainly the understanding of sacred Biblical texts.

But then, what should one expect?

The Goal: Basic Biblical Literacy
Unfortunately, today it may be too much to expect a majority of educated people to be well-schooled in Biblical history or even conversational about major Biblical characters and dates. Interested to note, that while this number is dropping, 54% of Americans say the Bible contains everything a person needs to live a meaningful life.¹

Yet many struggle with basic biblical facts, familiar even to atheists in days gone by. For example, the Barna Research Group reported in recent years that only 60% of American adults can name even five of the 10 Commandments; 12% believe Joan of Arc was Noah’s wife; and 50% believe Sodom and Gomorrah were married.

It should be like expecting basic knowledge in American and European history. Like knowing the American Civil War was fought between the North and the South. And not South America. And knowing the correct century of that tragic American war, if not exact years (1861-1865), should not be too much to ask. Even generally knowing the years of World War I (1914-1919) and World War II (1939-1945).

Or knowing the basic history of art and literature. Like who, when and where were the artworks created like the Statue of David (Michelangelo, 1504, Italy), the painting of Mona Lisa (da Vinci, Italy, 1506)? Or when and where did Plato live (Greece, died 347 B.C.), or Chaucer (England, 1343-1400), or Shakespeare (England, 1564-1616)?

When it comes to Biblical knowledge today, it should be reasonable to expect some level of general exposure and basic literacy. Like we used to get when many children occasionally went to Sunday School or through catechism training.

No, we don’t need seminary scholars, but we should have a society that has basic Biblical literacy.

But Why Study If You Don’t Believe?
Good question. A better question, perhaps harsh, is Why Settle for a Life of Biblical Ignorance? If one chooses to reject Christian faith for whatever reason, at least do so only after a serious personal research project of all things Jesus.

Yes, Jesus. Not religion. Jesus alone. Why? Because all things of spiritual, Biblical and human relevance rise and fall with Jesus, the Christ (no, that wasn’t His last name). And it’s actually tied to Abraham, whose story the TV rabbi only partially told in his answer to the ignorant TV doctor.

Early in the Old Testament, Abraham was deemed right with God due to his mere belief in God and His promises (see Genesis 15:5-6). This was 25 years before the birth of his son, Isaac. After the Isaac near-sacrifice incident, God reiterated his original promise (see Genesis 12:1-3) that Abraham’s multiplied descendants, the Hebrew/Jewish nation, would be the promised line of people through which the entire world, all the nations, would be blessed as saved from God’s punishment. (Genesis 22:18). And the saving vehicle laid out in the New Testament was the death of the perfect “lamb of God” sacrifice, the Messiah, God’s Son, Jesus.

Jesus came for all mankind – Jews and all Gentiles. The promise to Abraham, written early in the Book of Genesis as part of the Old Testament, was fulfilled by Jesus for all the world, as written in the New Testament.

It’s actually a fascinating and important read.

Now if one is an educated person in real life, why wouldn’t this ancient story, which is carefully documented in numerous substantiated texts and studied and cherished for centuries by scribes, historians, scholars, and believers worldwide, lead that one to real fascination and intrigue to personally pursue its validity and truth?

To move through our existence blithely ignoring this quest and issue seems like a focus on the wrong things and an illogical big miss in life.

How much do you really know about the Bible and all things Jesus?
_________________________
“I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” – Genesis 12:2-3

¹The State of the Bible – 5 Key Findings, by Barna Research, Ventura, CA, May 19, 2021, https://www.barna.com/research/sotb-2021/