RELIGION

Reverend Gomes's "Scandalous Gospel"

Discussing his new book, the Harvard minister calls for modesty in religious debate and decries the domestication of the Christian God.

By Lisa Miller | Newsweek Web Exclusive
Nov 10, 2007 | Updated: 5:46  p.m. ET Nov 9, 2007

« Return to Article

Discuss

Member Comments

  • Posted By: pearblossom @ 02/28/2008 9:11:57 AM

    Many who hide behind the Bible and do horrendous things that does not make the Bible bad it makes the person evil and they will be held accountable. We can not let that stop us for searching for the truth. God is good and loving, people have done horrible things in his name. That does not make him bad.
    If some one killed another human and said they did it for you would that make it true?

  • Posted By: pearblossom @ 02/28/2008 9:08:04 AM

    How can you you claim to be Christian yet not believie the Bible is the Truth. Jesus Christ said his Fathers word was truth. Christianity works. What the world has turned it into does not work. True Chirstians, those who live with Jesus as their model, (1 Peter 2:21) look to God's Kingdom to solve mankinds problems, not the governments of this world. Matthew 6:9,10 Thy Kingdom Come thy will be done on EARTH as it is in Heaven.

  • Posted By: RyanTY @ 11/21/2007 8:27:01 PM

    Reverend Gomes interprets the Bible subjectively and not literally. According to Gomes, the Bible isn???t and cannot be literally true. The problem with this interpretation of the Bible is determining which parts of the Bible are true. If Reverend Gomes indeed believes in the divinity of God, then the entire Bible, which was God-inspired, must be true. Deuteronomy 4:2 states, ???Do not add to what I command you and do not subtract from it.??? Gomes???s skepticism of the Bible also leads him to question validity and divinity of God, which in turn, skews his views of Christianity. He believes that Christians should not domesticate God. On the contrary, Jesus says in Matthew 22:37, ???Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.??? In my opinion, this means that Christians are commanded to develop a relationship with God and not try to distance ourselves from Him. The Bible also likens God to a father who treats His people as His children. I agree with Gomes when he states that most self-proclaimed Christians know very little about the Bible. I also agree that most people treat God as their personal ???rabbit???s foot??? instead of their father and Lord of their life. When it comes to interpreting Gomes???s works, it is imperative to ask this question: ???Is the Bible truly literal, or is it a subjective piece of literature which can be interpreted according to the reader????

    • Posted By: Philly Mike @ 11/30/2007 12:40:42 AM

      You scare me. Did you read the article or any of his books. The simple fact that the Bible is translated into different languages means it is not "Literally" or "...then the entire Bible, which was God-inspried, must me true..." Some languages don't have words for English expression and vise versa.

  • Posted By: William.Demuth @ 11/27/2007 10:05:22 AM

    Yes books last for a reason although often not a desirable one, all one need do is enter Mein Kampf on EBay to see this. As far as The Brothers Grim, I am unaware of anyone quoting from it while they burnt people to death, or anyone hiding behind it as they defrauded the poor or molested children. If the Bible offers inspiration to those who seek it, so be it, but anyone claiming the Bible is divine is on the same wavelength as someone claiming to be Napoleon.

  • Posted By: RyanTY @ 11/21/2007 8:28:05 PM

    question: ???Is the Bible truly literal, or is it a subjective piece of literature which can be interpreted according to the reader????

  • Posted By: RyanTY @ 11/21/2007 8:27:57 PM

    with God and not try to distance ourselves from Him. The Bible also likens God to a father who treats His people as His children. I agree with Gomes when he states that most self-proclaimed Christians know very little about the Bible. I also agree that most people treat God as their personal ???rabbit???s foot??? instead of their father and Lord of their life. When it comes to interpreting Gomes???s works, it is imperative to ask this question: ???Is the Bible truly literal, or is it a subjective piece of literature which can be interpreted according to the reader????

  • Posted By: RyanTY @ 11/21/2007 8:27:40 PM

    subtract from it.??? Gomes???s skepticism of the Bible also leads him to question validity and divinity of God, which in turn, skews his views of Christianity. He believes that Christians should not domesticate God. On the contrary, Jesus says in Matthew 22:37, ???Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.??? In my opinion, this means that Christians are commanded to develop a relationship with God and not try to distance ourselves from Him. The Bible also likens God to a father who treats His people as His children. I agree with Gomes when he states that most self-proclaimed Christians know very little about the Bible. I also agree that most people treat God as their personal ???rabbit???s foot??? instead of their father and Lord of their life. When it comes to interpreting Gomes???s works, it is imperative to ask this question: ???Is the Bible truly literal, or is it a subjective piece of literature which can be interpreted according to the reader????

  • Posted By: RyanTY @ 11/21/2007 8:27:17 PM

    Reverend Gomes interprets the Bible subjectively and not literally. According to Gomes, the Bible isn???t and cannot be literally true. The problem with this interpretation of the Bible is determining which parts of the Bible are true. If Reverend Gomes indeed believes in the divinity of God, then the entire Bible, which was God-inspired, must be true. Deuteronomy 4:2 states, ???Do not add to what I command you and do not subtract from it.??? Gomes???s skepticism of the Bible also leads him to question validity and divinity of God, which in turn, skews his views of Christianity. He believes that Christians should not domesticate God. On the contrary, Jesus says in Matthew 22:37, ???Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.??? In my opinion, this means that Christians are commanded to develop a relationship with God and not try to distance ourselves from Him. The Bible also likens God to a father who treats His people as His children. I agree with Gomes when he states that most self-proclaimed Christians know very little about the Bible. I also agree that most people treat God as their personal ???rabbit???s foot??? instead of their father and Lord of their life. When it comes to interpreting Gomes???s works, it is imperative to ask this question: ???Is the Bible truly literal, or is it a subjective piece of literature which can be interpreted according to the reader????

  • Posted By: erieshark @ 11/10/2007 1:53:34 PM

    Rev. Gomes is so correct about modesty. If all of our ministers, priest, rabbis, and religious leaders shared his views on modesty the world would be a much different place.
    I fully agree that you don't have to be a Church-goer to be virtuous, and you don't have to be a Christian to find God.
    Thank you for you profound wisdom, and I hope that is not too immodest praise.

Reply

Report Abuse

Enter comments if any for reporting abuse