CNN news 2011-06-11
All right. So let's talk about what your favorite bible verse is, OK? How about this? "God helps those who help themselves."
Do you like that one? Well, that's great but there's just one problem. It is not in the bible.
How about, "God works in mysterious ways."
Let's see, what book, what chapter and verse is that in? Well, you're going to be looking forever because it's not in the bible either.
"Cleanliness is next to Godliness."
Nope, sorry, that's not in there either.
John Flake is a long-time religion writer. His article on CNN.com calls that expression that sound biblical but they're not.
John, welcome.
Thank you.
All right. Now here's one that stood out to me. Let me go ahead and get out my notes here.
Somebody actually thought, "This dog won't hunt," was a bible verse? I mean, that sounds like something out of "Dukes of Hazard."
Right. And this person was a student in a college religion class. So you would think they would know better. But that's how pervasive biblical literacy is. I think the bible is kind of like the constitution. We quote it, we revere it but a lot of people don't read it.
And also, too, you sort of add your little touches here and there.You kind of decide, this might sound a little better this way and the next thing you know, it's become a verse to people.
Right, right. People kind of embellish things. Like, if I told you a story right now and I went downstairs, five minutes later,the story has changed.And so people like to embellish, and a little poetic touches and that changes the scripture in the stories.
It's like the game of telephone. Remember, you'd whisper something and by the time it got around the room it was totally different from what you whispered?
Right. Right, right.
I'm going a long way back. You may not remember that game, John.
I do.
OK. Let's take a look at some other examples, shall we?
OK, how about,well, actually, let me ask you this first. How did these expressions actually become biblical to people? Is it just because they heard them from somebody and then kind of took it as the truth or how did it,what'd you find?
Well, that's one way. Just various ways. Often, one way is that people would tell bible stories through pictures. So, for example, if you take the Garden of Eden, there is no Satan in the Garden of Eden if you read the book of Genesis.There's a serpent but he's never identified as Satan.But, if you're an artist and you want to draw a picture, it's so much better if you draw the Satan as a devilish tempter. So that's one way these stories became biblical,even though they're not really biblical.
I got it. And then it sticks in your mind because you've seen that one image.
Right.
OK. Now, we've heard political figures, our parents, even our coaches say what we think are verses from the bible to inspire us, to get us motivated.
Right.
And you found one actually from Coach Ditka.
Let's take a listen.
Scripture tells you that all things shall pass, this too shall pass.
I am so disappointed because that's not in the bible.
No
I thought it was.
There was a religion professor who lived in Chicago at the time who saw that live press conference and he said, wait a minute, that's not in the bible. And he kind of figured out where Ditka got that.
I mean, on one level, it's kind of funny. We can talk about this and say these things aren't really in the bible.But at another level, it can become dangerous.
How can it become dangerous?
Well, people can impose their own values on the bible. Like, for example, the phantom biblical scripture,"God helps those who help themselves."That's not in the bible but a lot of people think it is.And we say, well that's a good scripture because it celebrates self- reliance and individual liberty.
But that's not what the bible is about.
Well, the bible's about helping the poor,the outcasts. The ultimate virtue is not what you do for yourself, but for your neighbor who needs you.
Boy, you and I could talk about this.I feel like I just went to church, John.Thank you so much.
Thank you.
And if you want to learn how to quote the bible correctly,then you've got to look at John's article. It's actually not in the bible but it should be, because he totally nails it.It's a big hit on CNN.com.So check it out, our belief blog,CNN.com/belief.
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