The Influence of the Old Testament on Western Culture is
Undeniable. Yet they deny it.
I have found that the Old Testament has something in common
with the traditional, formal poetry that many in the contemporary
“Literary community” revile and despise. Most of them have never
read much of the poetry they revile, and, similarly, most have not
read the Old Testament writings that they also profess to despise.
But hell, reading something before they condemn it is apparently
just a silly formality in these times of the instant "intellectual."
Today’s “intelligentsia” just does not seem to have the time to
read something that can much more easily be hailed or derailed
simply by finding out the political perspective and pigmentation,
genitalia and/or ethnicity of the author. That's a much easier path
to intellectual acclaim than actually reading and understanding
alternative perspectives or the world around us.
And, very much like formal traditional poetry, there are many
people among the self-proclaimed "literary elite" who just can’t
contain their animosity towards anyone who mentions the Old
Testament or in any obvious way alludes to it in their writing. That
is unless the writer shares and expresses the same politically-
correct contempt for Biblical text as they do.
But, just as I enjoy the formal, traditional poetry the “literary elite”
seem to hold in high contempt (again, usually a contempt they
adopt without bothering to actually read the work) so, too, did I
enjoy reading Biblical stories from the Old Testament during my
childhood and so too do I enjoy revisiting those stories today.
If I were not already an outsider, I would have to worry about
whether I could be in their club, liking Bible stories as I do.
Although, most of the “literary elite,” beneath the arrogance and
attitudes they have adopted from their peers, started out with
good minds and a great love of knowledge, literature and a love of
good writing. I bet if they gave the stories half a chance, they
might enjoy them too. At the very least they would understand the
cultural context of what they read a lot more thoroughly than
many "intellectuals" currently do.
Just as with formal poetry, people have personal preferences in
the literature they read, the social structures they pursue, the
philosophies they adopt and their personal beliefs about spiritual
matters; that's understandable. I just don’t understand the intense
anger that the mere mention of the Old Testament seems to invoke
in minds that are supposed to be open and eager to understand
all literature.
Where does that come from? Why do people who can discuss
almost any element of human nature with some level of civility—
mass murder, child abuse, genocide or whatever---become
enraged over the reality of the existence of these ancient writings
and the impact they have had on our lives? Good or bad, that
impact is enormous; if you ignore it, you ignore who we are and
where we came from and, very often, why we behave as we do.
According to Grant L. Voth, Professor Emeritus in English and
Inter disciplinary Studies at Monterey Peninsula College, whether
contemporary American writers want to acknowledge it or not, the
reality is that the Old Testament has influenced western literary
tradition and thinking since the fourth century. Nearly everyone in
the West who has written anything since then has written within
the Judeo-Christian culture.
That reality is repugnant to some and counted a blessing by
others; but, regardless of how you feel about it, it is a reality that
can not be denied, at least by anyone who actually knows
anything about the history of Western culture. And certainly it is
impossible to understand where we are now, especially in the
United States of America without some understanding of the
stories in the Old Testament.
Voth goes on to say that the Old Testiment is still a sacred book
for around a billion Jews and Christians, and an important book
for around eight hundred million Muslims. Its Hebrew name is the
Tanakh which is made up of the first letters of the Hebrew words
for law, prophets and writings.
So, what is it about literary references to a book of laws, prophets
and writings, a book that has been around since the fourth
century and that talks about laws, prophets and writings that have
existed for many centuries before that and still exist today, and a
book that undoubtedly influences everything we write and think
today? How is it that Literary “scholars” can possibly think it is
too offensive to reference this in a literary discussion?
How does an educated person gain the level of arrogance and
ignorance it would take to put his self or her self above even
speaking of this overwhelming force that shapes everything we
think and say and do? And, as if that is not enough, how can they
possibly justify their unbridled anger towards someone more
objective who alludes to the obvious influence of the text on our
culture, or, God forbid, actually enjoys the Old Testament stories.
What is “scholarly” or intelligent about this attitude? More
importantly, why have these people become the individuals who
act as gatekeepers to academia and to the world of art and
literature?
Does this book frighten them that much? Is this just one more
place where the elite socialists have decided that we are just too
stupid to have this knowledge and that it is better that we live in
ignorance and darkness than to know the truths within the Old
Testament and its impact upon us?
It is not really just Western Culture affected by these values. The
Old Testament contains guidance for followers of what might be
called the "the good will religions" that swept the world 25-30
centuries ago. If you think the Old Testament is tough, you should
have been part of "civilization" before these guidelines were
introduced. These values swept the world because they were
desperately needed.
Deity is something each person has to work out for him or her
self. But a set of principles we can all live by is something that
has great value. The Old Testament has given us that set of
principles for many centuries and we have done well with it.
Before you throw it out completely, you should at least give it the
courtesy of a read.
I'm not sure why or how, but somehow it makes people smarter
and more compassionate. I keep hearing the "eye for an eye"
quote as an example of the violence of the Old Testament." These
people lived in a time when you could have your head chopped
off for an Improper glance at an Emperor's thirty-seventh wife. "An
eye for an eye was a limitation not a requirement.
So many of the stories are misunderstood and their intent
perverted by detractors. But there is a great understanding of the
way we behave in civilization to be gained from reading the book.
Not to mention, a skill set for survival.
I know much is made of the creation story, and its contrast to
“scientific” information. But, if all literature were held to that test,
we would lose almost all literature.
The text itself is not uniquely offensive. In fact, the oldest epic
poem we know, The Epic of Gilgamesh has many parallels to the
Old Testament and no animosity exists towards that epic poem or
anyone who references it, except perhaps by the business major
who has to read it as a requirement.
So too do all formal religions have creation stories that are myth
and metaphor to many, and interpreted literally by some as much
as is the Old Testament. Why does academia fear that text so
much more than any other?
Is it the Old Testament’s flood story that wipes out humanity
because the people are evil? That seems unlikely since many
other religions also have flood stories. And almost all have
apocalyptic punishments for bad behaviour.
I don’t really have a thorough understanding of any of this
because although I sought this knowledge in Western Civilization
classes and literature classes, I was unlucky enough to attend the
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in the eighties when
iconoclasts felt it was a “red flag” if anyone referenced the Old
Testament in class or in a paper. Consequently, questions about
this could not be asked, never mind answered, in the intellectually
stifling environment at UWM.
I've heard that's all over now. Today, Universities are back to the
calm seats of intellectual enlightenment they once were. At least
so reads the bulletins. Students, however, tell me it has not
changed much and I would meet the same narrow-thinking
iconoclasts today should the Old Testament be discussed in class
or sited in a paper.
The "calm" only exists by virtue of their comfort in classes today
that are devoid of pesky students who ask questions outside a
politically correct box. Students who ask questions that make the
socialist iconoclasts uncomfortable have been punished as
children in the primary schools, long before they get to advanced
indoctrination centers like UWM.
Those stubborn students that are persistent in their quest for
knowledge and truth have already been weeded out.
Is that the punishment for eating of the tree of knowledge
mentioned in the Old Testament and in countless works of art and
literature? Oh wait, few would know the answer to that question
since no one is allowed to read that big scary book that for many
centuries, billions of people turned to for comfort and knowledge.