The Bible is not for children
Adult themes inappropriate for the young
Linus Shentu
Posted on: 7/13/08 Section: Opinion
Coming from a background of Chinese religion I have always come to admire the Bible as a great book of wisdom, righteousness and foundation for morality and truth. Many of the principles in Confucianism and Chinese Buddhism are morally congruent to the teachings of the Bible.
In addition to those virtues, I and other PCC students are aware of the Bible containing many adult themes like murder, sodomy and rape.
These strange stories do perhaps have an esoteric meaning for those who have an intimate understanding of the Bible, but reading these stories at face value from an outsider's perspective can be perplexing.
As someone from an eastern tradition of principles similar to Christianity, it is puzzling that the most revered piece of literature includes such strange and brutal stories. The Bible, which is suppose to lay the moral groundwork for a society based on moral principles, is also a book that contains very violent, if not strange subject matter which should not be available to children.
One story comes from the older Catholic version of the Bible (Latin Vulgate) in the fourth book of Kings (2:23-24) about Elijah. In the Old Testament, the revered Elijah could raise the dead, bring down fire from the sky and could cruise to heaven in a chariot. He apparently could not cure his baldness. As the story goes, Elijah was taking a stroll to Bethel and encountered a gang of children who taunted him with names like "baldy." These children clearly angered Elijah to the point that he cursed them in the name of the Lord. Immediately after, two bears jumped out from the woods and mauled the 42 children to death.
While this story could be seen as a lesson for children to not make fun of bald people, it is a little bit extreme for the reasonable person. Sure don't make fun of bald people, but letting children be violently killed by bears is just too much.
In another story, God commands his people to remove their foreskins (Genesis 17:10). Those who did not do so were cursed.
In addition to those virtues, I and other PCC students are aware of the Bible containing many adult themes like murder, sodomy and rape.
These strange stories do perhaps have an esoteric meaning for those who have an intimate understanding of the Bible, but reading these stories at face value from an outsider's perspective can be perplexing.
As someone from an eastern tradition of principles similar to Christianity, it is puzzling that the most revered piece of literature includes such strange and brutal stories. The Bible, which is suppose to lay the moral groundwork for a society based on moral principles, is also a book that contains very violent, if not strange subject matter which should not be available to children.
One story comes from the older Catholic version of the Bible (Latin Vulgate) in the fourth book of Kings (2:23-24) about Elijah. In the Old Testament, the revered Elijah could raise the dead, bring down fire from the sky and could cruise to heaven in a chariot. He apparently could not cure his baldness. As the story goes, Elijah was taking a stroll to Bethel and encountered a gang of children who taunted him with names like "baldy." These children clearly angered Elijah to the point that he cursed them in the name of the Lord. Immediately after, two bears jumped out from the woods and mauled the 42 children to death.
While this story could be seen as a lesson for children to not make fun of bald people, it is a little bit extreme for the reasonable person. Sure don't make fun of bald people, but letting children be violently killed by bears is just too much.
In another story, God commands his people to remove their foreskins (Genesis 17:10). Those who did not do so were cursed.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Jay
posted 9/05/08 @ 10:59 PM PST
I do have a pet peeve for those taking the Bible out of context. Linus is definitely taking the Bible out of context.
Adam Michael Kratt
posted 9/18/08 @ 12:49 PM PST
As a Religious Studies Major and as someone who is Jewish and who was raised on the Bible, I have to admit there is alot in the Bible that children shouldn't be exposed to. (Continued…)
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