Bill Maher, Religious Fundamentalist?
Posted by MichaelOct 20
Bill Maher may be a gifted comedian, talk show host and the creator of the recent movie “Religulous” yet most would agree that he is about as far from being a fundamentalist you can get.
Or Is he?
Maher and I agree that it is ridiculous to steadfastly hold on to the belief that the universe was created in six literal twenty four hour days as told in Genesis’s story of creation. And, as religious fundamentalist believe, evolution is just a man made theory with no validity. Yes, ridiculous, you might agree.
Here’s where I part with Maher and other “scientific fundamentalist’s.” Suggesting that the rich texts in the Christian Bible have no validity and the impact they have on people’s lives is a hoax, as Maher suggests, is equally ridiculous.
While the religious fundamentalist literal claim;“It’s in the bible, God said it, I believe it and that’s all I need to know” is a bit shallow, the scientific fundamentalist’s” claim of Maher and others, that the stories in the bible are ridiculous and only stupid people take them seriously is, …well, a bit stupid. Both miss out on the rich spiritual insights that can bring both meaning and practical wisdom to our daily lives.
The late Joseph Campbell, known by many as the leading expert in mythology, helped me to understand that spiritual teachings are spoken about through metaphors and stories. The depth of their truth is beyond facts and the limitations of language. The truth is in the illumination provided by the beauty and purity of what the story is pointing to.
All spiritual literature, whether Christian or from other religions and cultures can reveal a message of truth far deeper than the words, if heard from our hearts rather than interpreted, defended or dismissed by our heads. Find the beauty and purity expressed in these stories and you will find the richness of the Spirit.
Ego seeks the illusion of certainty. Essence seeks Truth.
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