by Chris Markel

Created on: August 03, 2008

The vote of NO on the question "would Christianity survive without the bible?" is not a vote of confidence for Christianity. It just acknowledges the fact that without the Bible, Christianity has no foundation.

Even though that foundation does not actually stand up to the tests of history or the tests of logic, its doctrines and belief are formulated from the pages of that book. And with the different versions and the many translations of the Bible that it now has proves that it must have it to survive.

But the truth of it is as long as Christianity brings in revenue it will survive in this country and in the world. Because Christianity has become a big business. Look at the Evangelical movement. Notice the television programs, big productions that demand large sums of money. Amounts that the TV Preachers continue to con from their followers to fed the hungry apatite of their corporate ventures in "His name". And those funds it are tax exempt, not so much for the poor soul that donates the money, but for the organizations that collect it to survive.

Then there is the political machine, that has been coined, the "Christian Right". It has gathered enough political clout that, since Ronny Reagan, it has become a force that has to be reckoned with if anyone wants to be elected to public office. And the "Christian Right's" lobbying platform is their interpretation of the Bible and their goal is a theocracy. A government ruled by religious doctrine that will also use their interpretation of the Bible for its bases of law and governing decisions.

Now the history of western civilization, believe it or not, has illustrated the role that Christianity has played in the building and nurturing of imperialism. Imperialism has proven that it survives through brutality to maintain its control of people. And Christianity has also served in its role in its method of control of people in sanctioning those governments. But those that try to sanitize it,with their interpretations and versions, the Bible tells a very brutal story.

While Christianity would not be able to survive without the bible, it is historically clear, if not by any other method of judgment, it also needs capitalism and its force of arms to continue. But the day will come when this house of cards will collapse. They call it Revelations. But the events that will follow will be much different than their interpretations of the last days.

No, Christianity could not survive without the Bible. Nor could Christianity survive without the other social forms of practice and beliefs that it supports or that orbits around it.

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