To Grow the Faith: Leave out the Talking Snakes, Donkey and Trees.


When a person who did not grown up with the Bible reads about its talking snakes, donkeys and trees, he/she must do an eye roll. Then, there is the God who loves us, but murdered nearly all of us. Let's move on to the many times witches are real. Oh, there is Satan the current Pope even talks about. I didn't mention the flying serpents, dragons and the long dead skeletons who walked out of their graves. And there's more, the unicorns. 

There are those, even the main character, who is dead for days and temporarily comes back to life. I'm running out of space needed to discuss the invisible places, heaven and hell.

It seems to me, the faith's growth or status quo is and always will be limited to the minority of people who can hear or read the fantasy book, the Bible, and get some warm feeling. The rest of us, I believe the large majority, does not want to waste our finite years of life and finite amount of money on utter nonsense. Surely there is something in the faith that is not nonsense and that something would appeal to a larger audience than the one that believes in talking snakes.

That said, I can observe with my own eyes the talking snakes audience is the one most devoted and puts up the most money to keep the enterprise going. Leave out the miracles and talking trees and maybe there would be even fewer, no one knows for certain.

As an example of the passion that can be generated by nonsense, I watched some of Joel Osteen's return to Yankee Stadium today. Admission tickets started at $25 and went to over $1,000. It looked like there were empty seats but a big crowd nevertheless. I think I can accurately sum up his message as, "No matter what you think of yourself, God thinks you are OK."

Since it was streamed all over the world, the comment section had many from other countries. The majority said Osteen gave them on an emotional high. It all but save their lives, many said.

While Osteen hardly mentions the Bible, he uses it as a prop. It's still part of his schtick. It seems like leaving out the foolishness of talking snakes and trees would be helpful, but I'm on the outside looking in.  

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