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Title: Fundamentalism: Hazards and Heartbreaks by Rod L. Evans, Irwin M. Berent, Isaac Asimov ISBN: 0-8126-9081-8 Publisher: Open Court Publishing Company Pub. Date: December, 1999 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $13.95

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Average Customer Rating: 5 (1 review)

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Summary: A rationalist critique of Biblical Inerrancy
Comment: Mr. Evans is a philosopher and Mr. Berent is an historian. Together they wrote this book a decade and a half ago to address hazards inherent in Christian "fundamentalism." More specifically to address the issue of biblical inerrancy. A fundamentalist is described as someone who maintains "that respect for the Bible requires the belief that it is inerrant, that is, free from error of every sort. Holding that belief, most but not all people who call themselves 'fundamentalists' often view the Bible as representing the very Word of God, dictated to writers who were Divinely preserved from error.... Doubts about the truth of any Biblical claim are seen as immoral if not Satanic" (p. xviii). The authors do not clearly distinguish between those who would consider the Bible as inerrant within the confines of each text's literary type and intended purpose and those who would hold all texts inerrant in a literalist dictation fashion. Either group, however, would find this book challenging their view of the Bible.

The major focus of this book is to show that the Bible is not infallible but affected by historical and cultural limitations in wisdom and knowledge. The authors maintain that "this book is written not to discourage either faith in God or reverence for the Bible." In fact the authors claim, "we are not 'secular humanists', nor are we 'fanatical liberals.' We believe in God and love the Bible. Our chief purpose in writing this book is to further the pursuit of truth..." (xviii). Later they maintain that "God has, indeed, provided mankind with an excellent source of inspiration and guidance in the form of the Bible" (p.30). Yet, what exactly they believe about God is never clarified nor what they consider excellent about the Bible. In fact their pursuit of truth is such that two noted atheists, Steve Allen and Isaac Asimov, can compliment the book with a forward and introduction respectively.

The book is divided into twelve chapters, an appendix, and some suggested readings. The chapters include: a presentation of the claims of some former fundamentalists (members of Fundamentalists Anonymous) that their religious instruction led to views that caused psychological trauma; a presentation of relevant teachings from evangelists Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell; five chapters pointing out "particular implausibilities or inconsistencies" in Scripture that arise when approached as inerrant; a chapter on conjectured historical influences on biblical authors; and finally a chapter (at four pages, tied for shortest with the first on what is a fundamentalist?) on "Unlocking the Wisdom of the Bible." The latter, by the way, gives no insights from Scripture but is simply a concluding call for "genuine questioning" of the Bible so as to recognize the misguided nature of viewing "the Bible as 'perfect' or 'inerrant'..."in order to make the wisest possible use" of it.

For the authors the Bible is very much a fallible book. It contains a pre-scientific cosmology and endorses some archaic moral positions that violate justice and decency. Even Jesus, while having some admirable traits, is portrayed in the Gospels "at times as narrow-minded, vindictive, discourteous, ethnocentric, and even hypocritical" (p.60). What, then, is the value of this book? Well, for those with an axe to grind against Judaism or Christianity it can supply lots of ammunition and leave them feeling intellectually and morally superior. For the "fundamentalist," for whom the book is intended, it might instigate a serious reappraisal of any smug or simplistic view of biblical inerrancy and interpretation. The authors' comparatively polite manner can have the effect of being hit by a mace under a crocheted wool cover. Sadly, I think the book's readership more likely to be of the former type rather than the latter. People tend to read according to their predilection. I would definitely not recommend it for those of fragile faith. But for those open to critical inquiry it is a very good critique of Scripture from a rationalist perspective.