The sin of omission

There is a sin among a large segment of the Christian clergy that I find despicable. It is the sin of omission. It is the sin of not sharing with a congregation what you know to be true about the bible and Christianity. It is the sin of promoting what you know to be false in order to hold your job. Those graduating in religious studies from every major university in America, as well as every major theological seminary that is independent of Christian financial pressure, know certain facts to be true. They know:

1. That the entire bible is saturated with common mythological themes, from the creation and flood myth, to virgin birth and resurrected hero mythology.
2. That the stories of the patriarchs in the Old Testament are known as “temple legends” to enhance the history of the Hebrew people and are mostly fiction.
3. That the Gospels were not written by anyone who knew Jesus personally, and are to be read only in the context of legends.
4. That the “Christ” myths and formulas are direct copies of Zoroastrian and Egyptian myths adopted by the Jesus sect.
5. That these facts, with others, have been known for years, and taught, by scholars who are respected internationally in major universities world wide.

Religiously educated clergy, through the sin of omission, yet continue to promote superstition. The Senior Minister of one of the largest churches in this area said to me: “Edelen, I can’t talk about those things to my congregation. I would lose so much financial support I could not keep the church open. I just play the game they want.”

A woman in my Idaho church said to me in the parking lot one day. “I don’t care what you learned in seminary…I give more money than anyone else in this church and I just want you to talk about my sweet Jesus or I am taking my money and leaving.” I said to her: “well…good bye” and with that she slapped me so hard across the face you could hear it for a mile. In Christian “love” no doubt.

The much loved Senior Minister of the famed City Temple of London, Leslie Weatherhead, wrote: “not for much longer will the world put up with the lies, distortions and superstitions about Jesus and the bible.”

My friend, Dr. Gerald Larue, distinguished professor, emeritus of Biblical studies at the University of Southern California said this: “For clergy who do not know any better…it is simple gross ignorance. For clergy who do know better…IT IS A DISGRACE.”

For those who know better and yet choose to promote falsehoods, I used the word “despicable” to define them. I know of no more accurate word to define those who have been ordained to “keep abreast of truth”… remembering that truth and roses both come with thorns.