The Big Question - Is the Bible still relevant?

source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b0114q4t/The_Big_Questions_Series_4_Episode_15/ (7 days left to view this 1 hour debate, from 8 May 2011) - Series 4, Episode 15.

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To commemorate the 400th anniversary of the publication of the King James Bible, the programme debates just one topic: is the Bible still relevant? Contributing their views from the panel are: the Right Reverend Michael Nazir Ali, the former Bishop of Rochester; the scientist and atheist campaigner, Professor Richard Dawkins; Rabbi Laura Janner-Klausner from the North Western Reform Synagogue; and the Bible scholar Dr Francesca Stavrakopoulou, who presented the BBC Two series, The Bible's Buried Secrets.

My highly selective summary of the debate:-

Nicky Campbell (NC) (Presenter): Is anything in the bible historical fact?
Francesca Stavrakopoulou (FS), Bible Scholar, Exeter University: Very little probably is fact in the bible. Ancient writers had a different understanding of what a fact or what fiction was, compared to us today. It wasn't written to be a factual account of the past. As a historian of the bible I think there was very little that was factual. (2:25) David and Moses were not factual but most scholars would agree that Jesus existed. A sophisticated collection (not a hodgepodge) of ancient literature, creative writers, brilliant stuff. How do you know when to read something as history or something as not history? (7:15)

Rabbi Laura Janner-Klausner (LJK) (North Western Reform Synagogue)

NC: There are Greek myths. They don't need to be true to derive truths from them.
Richard Dawkins (RD): Richard Dawkins (Evolutionary Biologist & Humanist / Atheist): The world is full of creation myths and myths of all kinds. Many of these myths are very beautiful. Everybody knows something about the Greek and Valhalla myths and Aboriginal myths -  they are interesting. I don't think there are many truths in any of the myths. (9:20) But the Bible myths today are given a privileged position over other myths (which are not very much use anyway). If you looking for god, why not Zeus or Jupiter or Thor? Sophisticated theologians and historians don't think the bible is true but 45% of USA people literally believe in Adam and Eve and that world is only 6000 years old.

RD: About the New Testament, why didn't god just forgive mankinds sins, why did god have to sacrifice his son? Isn't that the most disgusting idea you've ever heard? The criterion we choose to pick the good stories in the bible are that we are all decent human beings. We reject those aspects of the bible which are horrible

We cherry-pick the bible! "Why bother with the bible? How do you know what are the good ideas and the bad ideas in the Bible? So don't live by the book. Why not bypass the bible altogether as a source of moral authority (34:47) - you can get it from Dickens, Milton, Shakespeare, anybody in literature!, moral philosophers, science today etc etc; We should not just be discussing the bible, we should be discussing whether all literature is relevant to decide what todays morals should be. Those that wrote the bible, were ignorant (lacking knowledge- knowledge that was plain wrong, not pejorative), desert dwelling scribes (48:00) Nothing special about the bible - could listen to Confuscious or modern philosophers or scientists.

Francesca Stavrakopoulou (Theology & Religion Senior Lecturer): You don't need a book of any description to help you have some moral awareness (44:28); Most of the monotheistic religions advocate treat people fairly and decently - but that's what humanists would say - you don't need religion here.

Guy Otten (Greater Manchester Humanists) recommends AC Grayling - The Good Book as todays Humanist / Secular updated version of the bible. Morals have NOT developed from the bible, it comes from our evolutionary background and we've been developing it. (39:25) The Human Rights Convention developed in the last 60 years is a much more advanced moral document than anything you find in the bible.

Right Reverend Michael Nazir Ali, the former Bishop of Rochester, the bible is the moral guide that has led to, god implanted the moral sense in every human.

Rt Rev. Stephen Lowe (Anglican Bishop): Look at the bible a fresh today in 2011 not as it was written 2011 years ago.

Take part in The Big Questions

Take part in The Big Questions
The Big Questions , BBC1's flagship religious and ethical talk show, hosted by Nicky Campbell, is looking for secular minded people to take part in its television show say NSS.

As audience members you'll get to see behind the scenes and be at the centre of the debates as they unfold. It may also be possible for you to join in the debate if you have a particular interest in the discussed topics.

The programmes are broadcast on Sundays between 10am and 11am. If you'd like to take part in any of the shows below send your contact details including a daytime and evening contact number to Harry Robbins via email at hrobbins@mentorn.tv or call 01865 318 476.

10th February 2008 – London
17th February 2008 – Nottingham
24th February 2008 – Bristol (TBC)
2nd March 2008 – Leicester
9th March 2008 – Warrington (TBC)
16th March 2008 – Southampton
30th March 2008 – Birmingham
6th April 2008 – London

Want to have your say on TV?

reposted from: NSS Newsline October 5th
Chris Street comments are in bright green; highlights in blockquotes (yellow).

Want to have your say on TV?

The BBC1 programme The Big Questions is looking for secularist voices to take part in future programmes.

It is broadcast on Sunday mornings in the slot previously occupied by the Heaven & Earth Show. The Big Questions is similar in format to Question Time, with a panel of pundits, and an audience. However, the audience in this show is much more involved and given a lot more time to put a point of view. The programme will be in these places on these dates, and if you would like to be in the audience to comment on the questions of the moment from a secularist point of view, please contact Harry Robbins the researcher at hrobbins@mentorn.tv.
Future programmes will be at: Sunday 14th Oct – Bradford;

Sunday 21st Oct – Oxford;

Sunday 28th Oct – Liverpool; Sunday 4th Nov – Leicester; Sunday 18th Nov – Birmingham (TBC);

Sunday 25th Oct – Oxford.