Or
Reductio ad Biblium
So... funny story.
While debating comparative political viewpoints with a reasonable conservative gentleman the other day (see my first diary), I had a bit of a breakthrough. Or rather, I was finally driven to carry through on an Idea (yes, with a capital i) that I have had many times before. We were discussing Canadian politics and the upcoming election. He offered his reasons for his political affiliation and of course one of them was religious values.
This is a bugaboo of mine. Some quick background: I was raised Anglican (Episcopalean for those south of the border) and I studied Theology and Philosophy in University. I spent a good many years on my own studying comparative religion and looking for answers. I educated myself right out of my already shaky faith and right into rational atheism (where I waver between simple agnosticism, atheism and anti-theism depending on such things as my stress level, how much news I've read recently, the phase of the moon and so on). I still have a good, solid basis in Christian theology, biblical exegesis, elementary logic and all those other subjects that make one good at winning arguments and not a whole lot else.
One of my ongoing problems with Christianity is the Bible. The Old Testament seems utterly unnecessary to the message Jesus wished to spread and even the New Testament is filled with entire books that (to my mind) serve more to distract from the core message than to reinforce it. I have long believed it was in dire need of a serious rewrite. Not revision and editing but an attempt (like Jefferson's) to rewrite it with an eye to making it more relevant to modern life.
So, while conversing with this reasonable conservative (seriously, I want to have him bronzed... anyone know a good guy for Carbonite?) I set out to summarize the message, and in fact the entirety of the New Testament. To condense it down as far as possible without losing what I felt was most important. I managed to get it down to just fifty-four words. Because I am, at heart, English (by way of Canada) and because I still, in spite of my lack of faith, cannot but find poetry in the King James Version (and in Archbishop Cranmer's little red book), I did hang on to the flowery language.
I.. uh... I think I may have gotten it. I think I may have Solved For Bible. At least, I believe I found a new perspective on a book in dire need of updating. I will be interested to hear your thoughts.
In the Beginning was the Word, and the Word was With God, and the Word was God.
The Word is Love, and will Ever Be.
Speak with the Word in your Thoughts. Act with the Word in your Heart.
And God will not Forget nor Fail you.
Now and Always, Love repaying Love.
Amen.