Natural Selection and Diving Inspired Words of the Bible

I appreciate the idea that the Bible is made up of stories that were handed down from generation to generation and recorded and edited and rerecorded. It sounds a bit similar to the way the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous was written. The first 100 sober alcoholics discussing, cussing, editing, writing and rewriting the “instruction manual “for how to work the 12 steps. Bill Wilson, co-founder of AA ,  wanted his way on most subject matter and in fact he was an excellent writer, however, the “ group consciousness “ would not allow it , and they ( the first 100) prevailed in writing the book .

Of course, the books in the Bible evolved over a much greater time frame, and the process was different, but I must believe, for my own sanity, that the books were divinely inspired. Redaction is the term I believe for how the Bible evolved, which is simply a fancy word for edit. With the discovery of the Nag Hammadi codices, we have discovered that there were other authors, such as Thomas, whose books were not included in the Bible. Some say that this discovery smacks of control and political influence, by the priests and Roman hierarchy and maybe it does. But it seems to me that God’s message seeps its way into our minds and hearts through a process that is not directly related to the actual words. This process can be called Metaphysical, Allegorical, or Metaphorical. The point is that there is Energy in the words of the Bible. That energy is as real and “Living” today as it was 2,000 years ago.( I might suggest saying a brief prayer before reading the Bible, asking for God’s direction and His/ Her understanding of Spiritual truth.)

There are Big Book " thumpers" and Bible "thumpers", and these folks want to teach by the letter of the law. Perhaps this consciousness will always be around, because it serves them well, however, in Unity we discover another WAY to understand the Books in the Bible, and that is as it “speaks” to us in our individual spiritual journey. I am certainly not saying that we should have a “free for all” in our interpretations of the Word, but that we should be open and discerning as we look to the Bible and try to find a message   that is relevant and helpful for us today.

 My father would often fall asleep while reading his copy of the King James, and I would carefully remove it from his lap, so he wouldn't wake up. When I took that Bible in my hands I had a funny, special feeling, as I carefully put it on his dresser so he wouldn't lose his place. I don’t read the King James, but I am glad he did. He found answers, comfort and love in that book, and a sense of being a Christian, part of a larger movement for good. I feel the same excitement he may have felt as I scroll through my New International Version. The “Living Word” , breathed into by decades of Holy men and women, searching for Truth and Meaning to their lives.