by Mike Giannone

Created on: November 10, 2009   Last Updated: December 04, 2009

As a collection of well-preserved documents from ancient times, the Bible deserves study.

As a credible record of history and a roadmap followed by so many throughout the ages, the Bible deserves study.

As a foundation for ethics, philosophy, and religion, the Bible deserves study.

As a series of reasoned arguments and a critical examination of thought, the Bible deserves study. A well-developed capacity for critical thinking and right behavior can go hand-in-hand with Bible literacy.

One of the marked shortcomings within our education system and, sadly, American society as a whole is an anemic ability to think through ideas. All too often we cannot follow a book-length argument or hold a meaningful discussion that doesn't involve name calling and yelling. Rather than working through ideas and critically examining them, we substitute screaming talk show hosts for reasoned discourse. The modern response to those who disagree with us is to simply get angry. Throw something. Shout a few profanities and accuse them of being "phobic" about whatever it is they disagree with us about.

Sadly, we do not seem to be persuaded by reasoned arguments and debate. Rather, we are moved by emotions and the turn of a good phrase. If it sounds right, it must be. A good ad agency rhyme scheme is better than a truth culled from a life well lived or even, heaven help us, from a God who might be there.

"I'm with stupid" trumps "Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not [love], I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal".

"They killed Kenny. Bastards!" wins over "Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for thou art with me".

A good understanding of the Christian Bible, like French literature, the Bhagavad Gita, the Odyssey, and other classical writings, can help improve our capacity to reason. Exercising our minds by studying such texts gives us a foundation for understanding how ideas and thoughts have developed and changed over time. Such texts help us think in meaningful ways about the big and important issues - the meaning of life, our purpose in the universe, our relationship to each other, and so on.

Yet, the Christian Bible gives us so much more than other such texts. Its sixty-six books contain poetry, history, philosophy, theology, and truths that have withstood scrutiny for some three thousand years. From its earliest books (Job, the Pentateuch) to the last writings (John, Revelation), the Christian Bible from Old Testament to New has remained consistent and reliable even in the face of scientific challenges and aggressive scrutiny. From cover to cover, the message is consistent, unchanging, and timeless. Apart from its religious posture, the Bible gives us a clear understanding of ethics and right behavior.

Whether you believe in its God or hold that its religious truths are of no significant interest, the Bible's message and ethical guides can help shape individuals and society for the better. By studying its books, we can develop our capacity to think through issues in meaningful ways.

We have lost our ability to reason well.

We have lost our moral compass.

We have lost the vision of those who have gone before.

As such, the Bible deserves study.

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