tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5818452314475850649.post8069096770125082101..comments2023-05-14T06:59:50.554-07:00Comments on One Year Skeptic: Jul 19Erikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16846371347200009801noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5818452314475850649.post-69819008827880555912010-07-20T20:12:47.372-07:002010-07-20T20:12:47.372-07:00I agree with your general point, but I would cauti...I agree with your general point, but I would caution you about dissing on the Pharisees. As you will learn in Armstrong's book, part of the vitriol that the Biblical authors had toward the Pharisees is because they were the main competitors to the early Christians in trying to become the future of Judaism. They are also, it is worth noting, the ones who won with respect to the Jewish people. <br /><br />Much of the Biblical view of the Pharisees is just plain wrong if you look at the actual beliefs and teachings of the Pharisees. They were not obsessing over their knowledge over the scripture. Rather, they were of the sincere belief that everyone could live a priestly life, and, therefore, encouraged people to follow the laws that were generally applied only to those who needed priestly purity. This is very difference than blind adherence to the scriptures.Erikahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16846371347200009801noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5818452314475850649.post-3744908954072278112010-07-20T10:22:31.035-07:002010-07-20T10:22:31.035-07:00I come from a tradition that cherishes the Bible i...I come from a tradition that cherishes the Bible in a way that is probably considered radical by standards even within the larger Christian community. That said, I definitely think Christians can be guilty of what has been called bibolatry. The Bible, of course, is a critical book--it is God's word to His people--but many, many people have proven that you can know Scripture inside and out and yet completely miss God. The learned Pharisees in Jesus' time were so sure of their knowledge of Scripture that they missed the coming of the Christ. And I have definitely worshiped with people who know the Bible inside and out, and yet they have somehow missed that love is the most important part of God's message. Sometimes I have even BEEN that person.<br /><br />The bottom line is that, ultimately, the Bible is not what draws people to God. GOD draws people to God.Kimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15063678082377147197noreply@blogger.com