Mary Ann Tolbert

“The doctrine of biblical authority has generally functioned to assure not the continuing importance of widely attested or programatic themes in scripture, but rather the divine inspiration of the tenuous and the marginal. Indeed, from just a superficial overview of Christian history since the Reformation, the invocation of the tenet of biblical authority has been remarkably negative; that is, it has been employed most often to exclude certain groups or people, to pass judgment on various disapproved activities, and to justify morally or historically debatable positions.” —Mary Ann Tolbert



Just as a reminder, I know that many of my non-religious friends like to group Christians/religious folks into the same category. Not all Christians use the Bible like a weapon or give it literal authority, nor do all science-minded folks agree with how science has been used to advance weapons technology and use drone strikes to kill innocent civilians.



Please remember that your own experience of religion is only your own and is limited to your own families and social circles and the folks you like to listen to on the radio/TV.