Topic 1 Bible, Authority and Interpretation

Question 1

What is the bible?

Answer 1

• holy book for Christians

- contents = scripture (sacred writings)

Question 2

Describe the two sections that the bible is split into?

Answer 2

• Old Testament (prepares world fro Jesus)

- New Testament (stories about life of Jesus, and after his life as well)

Question 3

Explain why the bible has COMPLETE AUTHORITY in terms of belief and practice for fundamentalists?

Answer 3

• Bible = direct word of God
• God = infallible so is his word
• > everything in bible is correct, relevant + cannot be rejected (God is omniscient + eternal)

Question 4

Explain why the bible isn’t as authoritative for conservatives?

Answer 4

• assume that bible is literally true (unless in extreme circumstances ie contradictions)
• central truths (Jesus’ resurrection) should never be challenged
• look to tradition (authority of church) to see how to interpret bible

DOESN’T HAVE COMPLETE AUTHORITY

Question 5

Explain why the bible really doesn’t have much authority for liberals?

Answer 5

• bible useful to guide beliefs + religious practice
• god gave reason + intellect so read the bible symbolically -> take greater meaning from parts which may seem dated due to historical context
• experience of church and conscience hold greater authority

Question 6

What are the views of the RCC on the authority of the bible?

Answer 6

1. Authoritative when it comes to morality -> stands in line with ✨ natural law ✨(5 precepts = 1.🚫☠️ 2.🤰3.🧑‍⚖️ 4. 📖 5. ⛪️)
   - > eg bible includes 10 commandments (ordered society)
2. Bible authoritative in terms of faith -> not by itself
   - > look to oral tradition, early church fathers + tradition to form views

Question 7

What does the CofE think of the bible’s authority?

Answer 7

1. Evangelical anglicans -> Bible= word of god -> has authority over their lives (eg homosexuality is wrong)
2. Other anglicans believe:
   - > use bible alongside reason
   - > interpret passages in light of modern situations

-> has authority but must be interpreted wisely

Question 8

What do the quakers 🥣 think?

Answer 8

1. Don’t really look to bible when making decisions about belief etc.
2. ✨ conscience ✨ guides them as they believe this is voice of HS from within
3. Bible doesn’t have authority

Question 9

What are 3 reasons why the bible should not be seen as authoritative?

Answer 9

1. Written by humans/collation of different books -> mistakes could have been made as we are fallible + meaning lost in translation
2. Psalm 137: 8-9 smash your babies against the rocks -> some dubious morals evident in bible, so can’t be authoritative (HOWEVER YOU CAN”T JUST TAKE THINGS OUT OF CONTEXT!)
3. Creation story -> some parts of bible don’t match science and intended to not be taken literally-> thus we should doubt whether the bible is authoritative

Question 10

What story can you find in Matthew 15?

Answer 10

The feeding of the 5000!

Question 11

What is the feeding of the 5000 about?

Answer 11

1. Crowd of people follow Jesus
2. It gets late, they are hungry
3. Jesus blesses 5 loaves + 2 fish
4. Shares them with the 5000 crowd
5. Everyone gets something to eat and there are many leftovers

Question 12

What is the fundamentalist view on the 🐟 🍞 story?

Answer 12

1. Miracle
2. Sign -> Jesus = messiah - he multiplied food + satisfied everyone’s needs
3. Spiritual meaning- if we come to Jesus with what little we have can increase our faith + joy beyond all expectations

Question 13

What is the conservative view on the 🐟 🍞 story?

Answer 13

1. Miracle. All 4 gospels recorded it so very likely to have happened
2. God may have suspended laws of 🍃 or used some undiscovered force which scientists are yet to find eg mind over matter
3. Sign that Jesus = messiah -> helped ppl believe in him
4. Spiritual meaning - Jesus increases our faith if we come to him (Jesus sustains people spiritually)

Question 14

What is the liberal view on the 🐟 🍞 story?

Answer 14

1. Might not have involved a ✨ miracle ✨ in that sense
2. None of gospels claim that Jesus miraculously multiplied food (this is inferred)
3. Instead Jesus set a good example by sharing the 🍞 and 🐟 so there was enough for everyone
4. The real miracle is that Jesus stopped people being selfish and made them share

Question 15

How would liberals and fundamentalists interpret gen 19? 🧔‍♂️ 👨

Answer 15

• story of Sodom + Gomorrah
• fundamentalists -> god against homosexuality
• liberals -> condemnation against homosexual gang rape