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Bible is used as a political tool says US professor

Bible is used as a political tool says US professor

By staff writers
20 Apr 2004

-20/4/04

Americans have often used the Bible to promote their politics, a University professor has said.

The comments by Robert Minor, a religious studies professor at Kansas University, come at a time when the bible and religious themes have become an important part of the current US presidential campaigns.

The Catholic faith of Democrat candidate John Kerry has been the subject of intense speculation, most notably in light of his views on abortion and gay marriage which critics say are at odds with traditional catholic teaching.

Last month however, the senator employed the bible to attack President Bush.

But such use of the bible is not new said Professor Minor, speaking as part of "Religion and Oppression," a panel discussion at the Kansas Union.

In the 1950s the Bible was used to push the importance of mothers staying home to raise their children while, at the same time, making room in the work force for servicemen returning from World War II, he said.

"Religion was used to promote a cultural value: in this case, the nuclear family," said Robert Minor, according to ljworld.com.

The fact that several passages in the Bible appear to endorse polygamy was conveniently overlooked, he said.

Abolitionists, too, used the Bible to attack slavery, Minor explained, adding that passages apparently condoning slavery and calling on slaves to "obey their masters" were rarely mentioned.

It's no surprise, Minor said, that the Bible today is being used to condemn homosexuality and gay marriage.

"There are seven passages in the Bible that are used against gay people," Minor said. "But the debate among biblical scholars is not whether they are pro or anti (gay)."

He added: "The word homosexual does not appear in the Bible."

Agreeing with Minor, religious studies professor Daniel Breslauer said among biblical scholars the often-cited passage "Lie down with no man as you would a women" is thought to have more to do with gender - men's power over women - than with homosexuality.

Tim Miller, another religious studies professor said however that he didn't think religion was "inherently oppressive."

"But I think people can be oppressive and are capable of using the Bible as a tool of oppression" he said.

-20/4/04

Americans have often used the Bible to promote their politics, a University professor has said.

The comments by Robert Minor, a religious studies professor at Kansas University, come at a time when the bible and religious themes have become an important part of the current US presidential campaigns.

The Catholic faith of Democrat candidate John Kerry has been the subject of intense speculation, most notably in light of his views on abortion and gay marriage which critics say are at odds with traditional catholic teaching.

Last month however, the senator employed the bible to attack President Bush.

But such use of the bible is not new said Professor Minor, speaking as part of "Religion and Oppression," a panel discussion at the Kansas Union.

In the 1950s the Bible was used to push the importance of mothers staying home to raise their children while, at the same time, making room in the work force for servicemen returning from World War II, he said.

"Religion was used to promote a cultural value: in this case, the nuclear family," said Robert Minor, according to ljworld.com.

The fact that several passages in the Bible appear to endorse polygamy was conveniently overlooked, he said.

Abolitionists, too, used the Bible to attack slavery, Minor explained, adding that passages apparently condoning slavery and calling on slaves to "obey their masters" were rarely mentioned.

It's no surprise, Minor said, that the Bible today is being used to condemn homosexuality and gay marriage.

"There are seven passages in the Bible that are used against gay people," Minor said. "But the debate among biblical scholars is not whether they are pro or anti (gay)."

He added: "The word homosexual does not appear in the Bible."

Agreeing with Minor, religious studies professor Daniel Breslauer said among biblical scholars the often-cited passage "Lie down with no man as you would a women" is thought to have more to do with gender - men's power over women - than with homosexuality.

Tim Miller, another religious studies professor said however that he didn't think religion was "inherently oppressive."

"But I think people can be oppressive and are capable of using the Bible as a tool of oppression" he said.

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