3 minute read
Questions of Faith
Comment
Father Wilmer Todd
The Bible and history
Are the stories in the Bible historical accounts or are they meant to be lessons about life?
The Scriptures are full of stories that have shaped our lives and our future.
Storytelling is one of the most important elements of our religion. The Bible is full of stories that have shaped our lives whether we realize it or not. For example, the story of the teenager, David, killing the giant Goliath has given courage to many people to stand up against gigantic odds and to overcome a difficulty that most people would think to be impossible.
Jesus constantly used stories to illustrate religious teachings. We use the title of these stories in our everyday Western culture. We have codified the story of “The Good Samaritan” into some laws. Most Christians can repeat the stories of “The Prodigal Son” or “The Rich Man and Lazarus.” Stories give us directions and help us discover who we are and where we are going.
Stories are also one of the most powerful tools we can use to engage and to connect with other people. The power of a single story can go far beyond simply relaying facts and data that can be a highly effective tool to give people a sense of purpose, direction and happiness. Stories give color and depth to otherwise bland material, and they allow people to connect with the message in a deeper, more meaningful way.
Certain scientists have made fun of the factual accuracy of some stories in the Jewish Scriptures, especially the story of Adam and Eve. It’s sad because although the events never happened the way they were written, when we read the stories as myth or poetry, they are true.
This story is a narrative of the human condition. It speaks to where we are in life. The fact that the story contains a talking snake and that the names of Adam and Eve are symbolic tells us what type of literature we are reading. The story deals with us rather than our “first parents.”
The names of Adam and Eve hint at the meaning of the story. Adam means “the red earth” from which God made him, and Eve means “the mother of the living.” Their story in the Garden of Eden is the story of rejection by human beings and their desire to usurp the role of God in our lives. We want to be in control. This story is a text book account of the teenage years. Some people say this is where we are as a nation. We want our personal freedoms to do it our way. This is why we have had so much trouble getting rid of COVID-19.
God loved and created Adam and Eve and placed them in the perfect environment to ensure their happiness. God gave them guidance for good and bad behavior. For a while Adam and Eve were happy and content in the garden that the Creator had made for them. They were tempted to want more. They rejected God and wanted to be gods themselves. They ate the forbidden fruit and lost their innocence then realized they were naked. They hid from God and covered themselves with fig leaves. They made excuses: It wasn’t my fault, he/she told me to do it.
Adults warn children about drinking, drugs, fast cars and immature sexual experiences. Unexpectedly, it seems teenagers are seduced from family values; the modern-day serpent comes in the guise of friends, social media and peers.
Another important story from Scriptures is the Magi following the star to find Jesus. How does a person follow a star? The stars do not “move”; we move as we look at the different consolations in the different parts of the sky. The story is most important because it is our story.
When Jesus was born, only the Jewish shepherds welcomed his arrival. The Magi represent the non-Jewish world. Jesus came for all peoples. He is our light shining in the darkness. He is the bright star that wise people follow today. Their gifts are very symbolic. Who would give a new born baby embalming fluid or incense at a baby shower? We welcome Jesus into our hearts.
The biblical stories are not meant to be historical accounts. They are our stories to be lived! BC
