I happen to agree with Thomas Jefferson’s assertion that “the Bible is the cornerstone of liberty…students’ perusal of the sacred volume will make us better citizens, better fathers, and better husbands,” but I doubt I’ve taken the same logic to arrive at that conclusion… or maybe even mean the same thing by it. (Oh, and one obvious caveat: I can’t quite follow the gender-exclusive assumption, being a girl and all. But anyhoo.) Among other things, the Bible’s multi-valence, its variety of perspectives and voices, literary styles and ethical ideas demands earnest wrestling, respectful listening, a willingness to learn and to adapt one’s opinions in the face of compelling evidence, and it can strengthen one’s sense of purpose, too. These are crucial to securing and maintaining liberty as a democratic society. And they make us capable of being for those we love in ways that help them become healthy, whole, productive, and maybe even happy. To come at the matter from the other side: simply reading the Bible narrowly and selectively, with no inquiry, conversation, or debate, and uncritically applying that single interpretation to one’s life (and everyone else’s, too) can make impotent or sociopathic “citizens” and even make us damaging to those we love. I’d like to think that the more one engages the text, learning about it while reading what’s in it, the less possible it is to use the Bible in such destructive ways. Just a thought.
