From the ST today by William Furney:
THE Bible is back.
Verily I say onto thee, the seraphic tome is making a stealthy
reappearance.
Often touted as the world's best-selling book - only
occasionally surpassed by a new Harry Potter - it's also the
world's best never-read book.
For some time I've had a dawning revitalisation that the Word of
God is making increasing inroads into our lives. During the past
few years, relatives and friends in England, not altogether known
for their religious bent, have opted to name their boys Joshua,
Joseph, Jacob.
These days, it's easier than ever to plough through the Holy Bible.
Amazon.com lists the King James Version (bound in black imitation
leather) as its most popular choice. There's also something called
The New Oxford Annotated NRSV Bible with the Apocrypha, Third
Edition. (There was a first and second?)
An online reviewer of the former, porsie from Borneo, said: 'I have
attempted to get through this novel again and again, and it wasn't
until I realised that it had a whole...load of authors that I
understood the reason it's so unevenly written...The creation of
the world in seven days? Give me a break! It takes that long to
drive across the US...'
Z. D. Houghton of Indiana flippantly writes on the same review
page: 'Although it can sometimes come off as a bit preachy, the
Bible is a true semi-autobiographical masterpiece by the reclusive
God, age 53 (to the infinite power), who resides lately in Indiana.
One certainly hopes to hear more of this promising young writer in
the days to come.'
Just as most in the Eastern world devotedly centre their lives
around their religion - be it Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, Shintoism,
Confucianism, Taoism, etc - in the Western world - where
Christianity prevails - most devotedly centre their lives around
the ever-rising creed of consumerism while cheering and ridiculing
religion.
Take this Amazon review of The Holy Quran: An English Translation:
'It proves wrong all those who seek to make Islam into a dogmatic
tool for oppressors. Islam is for all people of all times.' (Bobby
Darvish, Utah)
The Quran reviews are overwhelmingly positive while the
bible postings are underwhelmingly negative.
Is it any wonder that Islam is the world's fastest-growing
religion while Christianity is possibly a contender for the world's
fastest-declining religion? Even a staunchly Catholic country like
Ireland is having trouble filling its once-overflowing priestly
ranks and nunneries.
Still, a shift is taking place - spurned by recent, global
events.
And while we may not like to attest, the Bible has become so
ingrained in Christian lives that it naturally spawns generations
of doppelgangers, albeit for financial, narcissistic and
un-altruistic gain: The Beauty Bible, The Ultimate Guide To Smart
Beauty; The Sales Bible: The Ultimate Sales Resource; and what
about: Bad Girls Of The Bible And What We Can Learn From Them
(wisdom for today's woman from strumpets Jezebel and
Delilah)?
In some ways, a womb-like return to the protected days of childhood
is not altogether unexpected in this post-Sept 11 world.
As crazed militant bombers weave their deathly trail from New York
to Istanbul to Madrid, we seek security in these insecure and
largely unsecured times. Meanwhile, in the United States, millions
have latched onto the fear-factor mantra extolled by the current
administration and conservative media outlets in an attempt to keep
the populace in hand for political gain.
Even those normally opposed to ethereal belief utter entreaties to
a higher power when in situations of strife.
The Western world, unlike in many parts of the East, is overtly
material and covertly spiritual. But our spirituality, regardless
of religion, is wired within us like circuits seared onto a
microchip, and if heretofore untapped, springs forth to calm our
restive minds. And that could well be balm to the stressed
soul.
The writer is a freelance journalist based in Bali.