Inspired by God

For many years I taught a popular class for adults called "Learning to Read the Bible." It wasn't a Bible study. It was "tips" on how to make reading the Bible easier. It's like "the lounge act before the big room." (A Vegas term.)

One of the questions we discussed was "What does the term 'Inspired by God' mean to you?"

Christians and Jews (and Muslims to a point) are supposed to believe that the Bible (for Christians all 66 books of the Bible) is "Inspired by God."

So it's important to know what that means.

I think it's a personal question.

in 1670 Spinoza was excommunicated from the Jewish faith because he published a paper saying the Bible should be interpreted as a document produced by human beings.

Well, yeah, it was. But billions of people believe that these human beings were inspired by God. What does that mean?

Were all great writers and artists inspired by God? How about Shakespeare, Mozart or the Beatles?

If so, then how is the Bible different? Maybe you believe that the Bible is the "infallible" word of God. What does that mean?

I have the answer for me but I don't have the answer for you. You have to decide. When you do it makes reading the Bible much more fun.

I hope you find a loving, kind, nonjudgmental group of people to help you ponder the question.


***