My Personal Creed

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My Personal Creed as a Bible Deconstructionist

I am a Bible deconstructionist. This means that I critically examine the Bible in order to understand its historical and cultural context, as well as its implications for our lives today. As regards my faith, you can say that I am a ‘resistant believer’.  Does this mean I don’t believe in the Bible or that my faith is weak? No, it does not. Let me unpack it for you.

I do not believe that the entire Bible is a literal and accurate account of history or science. The first example of this is the claim by new earth creationists that the earth is only 6000 years old. The Bible also states that the earth was created in 6 days, but scientific evidence suggests that the Earth is billions of years old. Dinosaur remains (bones) is an example of this and the dating of rocks has proven the earth has been in existence for over 4 billion years.

Evidence the Earth is over 4 Billion Years Old

The most compelling evidence comes from radiometric dating. Radiometric dating is a technique that uses the known decay rates of radioactive isotopes to determine the age of rocks and minerals.

Some of the oldest rocks on Earth have been dated to over 4 billion years old using radiometric dating. This suggests that the Earth must be at least 4 billion years old in order for these rocks to have formed.

Given the overwhelming evidence for an older earth it is also conceivable that organisims evolved over time. This is supported by the study of fossil records. Paleontology is the study of fossils. The fossil records show that life on Earth has evolved over time, from simple single-celled organisms to complex multicellular organisms.

This is where I have my very first problem with the church and everything it stands for. The church makes its claim on Biblical authority. In short this means they claim that the entire Bible is true and therefore the creation story and the story of Adam and Eve is true. As a result of this in order for you to qualify as a Christian you must agree that the Bible is true. This is known as circular reasoning.

Let’s examine day 3 of creation according to the Bible:

The Bible says that God created grass on the third day of creation, along with other plants and trees. Genesis 1:11-12 says:

“Then God said, “Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after its kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth.” And it was so. The earth brought forth grass, the herb yielding seed according to its kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed is in itself, according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.”

I don’t believe that God magically created grass and the plants. I believe that God created the universe and the laws of nature, but that evolution is the process by which life on Earth developed, including grass. Grass grows through a process called photosynthesis. Photosynthesis is the process by which plants use sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide to produce oxygen and sugar (glucose). The sugar is then used by the plant for growth and energy. No plant or grass grows in one day. This is biologically impossible.

People who believe that the Bible is a literal account of creation are young earth creationists. They stake their claim on the fact that because God is a supernatural being He has the ability to create things instantly. And because God is supernatural this means the creation story is true. This is another example of circular reasoning. 

A Hypothetical Argument

Lets pretend for a moment that the earth goes through another ice age. Only two humans manage to survive. They are only 3 years old so cannot speak, read or write. They grow up and as the earth repairs itself for example as it did after the dinosaur age they find an old Superman comic.  They see his strength and ability to fly through the air as ‘God like’ and determine that he lives in the heavens.

As they were growing up they found old cars and broken buildings and they determined that this God made all of these things. They also see a picture in the comic of a primitive tribe worshipping Superman. They therefore logically conclude they must worship him. Rules are made and their children are shown the comic and are told to believe in Superman. When the children ask why they must worship Superman they are told because we have evidence of cars and buildings and the comics pictures show a primitive tribe worshipping him.

Further comics are written and eventually a Bible comic is formulated and agreed on starting with this verse: “In the beginning Superman created the heavens and the earth. A few chapters on we come across this verse: “In the beginning was the Spiderman, and the Spiderman was with Superman, and the Spiderman was Superman”.

Doctrines follow and rules are made and if you do not kiss the Super Priests ring on earth you are an outsider and an athiest worthy of death.

You may say this is a simple and naive way of looking at the Bible and why people believe in its every word. You may argue it goes deeper than that. You may have  a personal testimony or you will want to refer to clay tablets and the Dead Sea Scrolls as your evidence, but I say to you if you can show me a talking snake or a talking donkey I will believe you and embrace the entire Bible whole heartedly.

If you are still unsure as to what I am saying perhaps Bishop NT Wrights academic views will help you.

Bishop N T Wright

N.T. Wright is a prominent New Testament scholar and theologian known for his work on Christian origins and biblical interpretation. He has written extensively on the story of Adam and Eve in the Bible, particularly in his book “Surprised by Scripture.”

While Wright is not a “deconstructionist” in the sense of seeking to discredit the Bible, his views on the Adam and Eve story may challenge traditional interpretations. It’s important to note that his perspective is just one among many within the field of biblical scholarship.

N.T. Wright’s Views on Adam and Eve:

  1. Archetypal vs. Historical: Wright suggests that the story of Adam and Eve may be more archetypal than historical. In other words, he does not necessarily view them as two specific individuals who lived in a literal Garden of Eden. Instead, he sees them as symbolic figures representing humanity’s universal struggle with sin and disobedience.
  2. Israel’s Story: Wright argues that the Adam and Eve narrative is part of the larger story of Israel and its calling to be a light to the nations. This perspective emphasizes the importance of Israel as God’s chosen people, and Adam and Eve as archetypal representatives of all humanity.
  3. Stewardship of Creation: Wright emphasizes the biblical theme of humanity’s role as stewards of God’s creation. This implies a responsibility to care for the world and not exploit it. In this context, the story of Adam and Eve serves as a reminder of humanity’s failure in this stewardship role.

Ok, so lets move on.

I remember one time when I was reading the Bible, I came across a passage that said that women should be silent in church. I was really disturbed by this passage. However, as I continued to deconstruct my faith, I came to realise that the passage about women being silent in church was written in a different cultural and historical context than our own.

I have also questioned how God can annihilate women and children and how Jesus who is the embodiment of Gods love is the complete opposite in nature to the Old Testament Deity. I realised that The Jews often justified their barbaric actions by claiming that God told them to do it.

As a tribe the Jews were constantly rebelling against the priests and the prophets and it is clear that their behaviour was curtailed and controlled through fear propaganda and lies. The modern church followed suit and this is why hell has always been the stick and Jesus the carrot.

Historically all tribes and nations worshipped Gods who rewarded them for good behaviour or punished them for sinful or poor behaviour. All tribes and nations had priests and prophets who were overseers of their Gods rules and laws. Centuries later nothing has changed.

So, Where Do I Stand on the Bible and my Faith?

If I don’t accept the literal interpretation of creation in 6 days and the claim of a talking snake and two naked sinful people in a garden then I am sure you will have realised by now that  I do not believe that the Bible is inerrant. However, I do believe that the Bible is a valuable source of wisdom and inspiration, and I believe that it can be used to create a more just and compassionate world.

My personal creed is based on the following principles:

  • The Bible is a product of its time. It was written by people who lived in a different culture and time period than we do. As such, it is important to read the Bible in its historical and cultural context.
  • The Bible is not a monolithic (consistent or unchanged text). It is a collection of writings from different authors, written over a period of centuries. These writings reflect a variety of perspectives, scripture adjustments and additions as well as theological traditions.
  • The Bible is not inerrant or infallible. It contains errors and contradictions. It is important to be critical of the Bible and to use our own judgment when interpreting it.
  • The Bible should be interpreted in light of our own experiences and understanding of the world. We should not simply accept the Bible’s teachings at face value. We should use our own critical thinking skills to discern what is true and meaningful for us.

These principles lead me to the following beliefs:

  • God is love. This is the central message of the Bible. God loves us unconditionally and desires us to live in love with one another.
  • Jesus is the embodiment of God’s love. Jesus came to earth to show us what God’s love looks like. He taught us to love our enemies and to forgive those who have wronged us.
  • The Holy Spirit guides us in our journey of faith. The Holy Spirit is God’s presence within us. It helps us to understand the Bible, to discern God’s will, and to live a life of love and compassion.

My Bible deconstructionist beliefs have helped me to become more compassionate and inclusive. I now believe that God loves everyone equally, regardless of their race, gender, sexual orientation, or religious beliefs. I also believe that it is important to listen to the voices of marginalized people and to learn from their experiences.

I am grateful for the journey that I have been on as a Bible deconstructionist. It has helped me to develop a more nuanced and sophisticated understanding of the Bible and of God.

Current understandings and certain doctrines in my view are untenable. It’s a very heavy ship which is beginning to turn based on the sheer evidence against many of its claims.  Does this mean I have dismissed the Bible in its entirety? No, not at all. I have simply learned to read it with a wider lens and I no longer rely on Theologians and any man to influence my thoughts and actions based on their interpretation of the scriptures.

My transformation and my journey with Jesus is my own.  I pray that you to can find solitude and peace knowing that God is love and we can all have a relationship with the divine without the clutter of rules and doctrines imposed on us by man.