The Bible has been interpreted to justify such evil practices as, for example, slavery, the slaughter of prisoners of war, the sadistic murders of women believed to be witches, capital punishment for hundreds of offenses, polygamy, and cruelty to animals. It has been used to encourage belief in the grossest superstition and to discourage the free teaching of scientific truths. We must never forget that both good and evil flow from the Bible. It is therefore not above criticism.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Allen argues the Bible has been used to justify evils like slavery and war, so it is open to criticism.
- In plain terms
- The Bible supports both good and evil; it is not beyond critique.
- What can you take from it?
- Scripture has been used for harm and cannot be exempt from critique.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Can texts be morally neutral?
- How do we judge scripture?
Another view
Some argue context limits these interpretations.
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