The Foundation of Man-Made Religions
As a reader one thing anyone can learn from reading from a wide range of sources, is that no matter what you say, there are always those who will differ. This is natural and what a dull world if every human being thought exactly alike. I have read on the websites of many who have the belief that "the Bible is infallible and inerrant" and is "totally inspired by God." The "Holy" books of all the religions of the world are in fact the primary source and foundation that have fueled a world of division, antagonism, elitism and a host of other human problems. I suppose if we had been born on Mars and it was inhabitable and we were brought up believing in a book called "The Writings", which was a collection of writings from "prophets" and "prophetesses" of other inhabitable planets and which found their way to Mars, then that is what the common people would accept as "truth." In that book of "The Writings", it may say "all these writings are given by inspiration of God" and that would seal it for many who would forever believe that indeed God was the author.
The world is full of theologians, "scholars" and believers in the Bible, who think the Bible itself "proves" that it is the word of God. If indeed God is not the author of confusion, you have to scratch your head and wonder how the world is so divided into so many different interpretations of the Bible and thus innumerable churches and major religious beliefs. The general excuse is "well those who don't believe as we do, just don't understand the Bible." Yeah sure! Some people have been highly offended when I told them that the church world is full of Bible worshipers, who think the Bible is God. They always have a retort to "God is not the Bible and the Bible is not God." God is not ink on paper, but not only do millions of churchians seem to think so, but so also do other religious groups who think their "Holy" books are God also. Religious minded people love to quote passages from their "sacred" writings, which is their source that supposedly validates what they believe.
As far as the Worldwide Church of God and its offspring are concerned, their view of the Bible is peculiar to the interpretation of Herbert and their leaders. This is of course true of all groups and no one is convinced that anything that differs with their views is acceptable. I have emailed several splinter groups or their representatives in the past and expressed a few views, and the general reply is silence, but also a time or two---hostility. People simply do not want their comfort zone rocked. I agree that it is unsettling to be told that the Saturday Sabbath has nothing to do with salvation or eternal life, or material blessings for observing it, if you have been indoctrinated that it is paramount.
Most people have had the idea of Bible infallibility so pounded into their thinking for so many years, that to even entertain that their "Holy" book is full of holes is unthinkable. To question or challenge the Bible is tantamount to questioning God Himself and so to them, it is off limits. In the Old Testament anyone who picked up sticks on the Sabbath was to be put to death, and no one who can reason would believe that this represents the God of love, portrayed by Jesus Christ. And yet millions say "the Bible is totally inspired by God." Surely something is intrinsically wrong with a book that is the foundational source that causes some people to believe that they have rights to your property by force, or that they can kill the men and women and children in conquest and save the virgins for themselves. Writings that purport to enslave people to rulers of men, must have been penned by aliens, but not by God. Giving a priest class of people "right" to your pocketbook, because they represent God on earth is far fetched. The clergy class of "professional" Bible-thumpers are naturally ecstatic, because they can pick out passages in "The Writings" that give them status and free money at your expense.
I wonder how many more thousands of years will pass before people the world over come to their senses about "The Writings?" We know instinctively the basics of right and wrong without having to read it in ink on paper, scrolls or on papyrus. Don't we all know that it is wrong to murder your next door neighbor? Do we need a "licensed" preacher to stand in a pulpit and tell us this? Who were all these dead men, who penned "The Writings" and attributed them to God? Were they LYING SCRIBES with an agenda to control the world and pocket a treasure chest full of coins, compliments of their sheep-like followers? How do "The Writings" identify the splinter groups of the WWCG as the "one and only true church of God" on earth? I guess some people believe in magic.
Van Robison
