There are a few logical places to start off a conversation on Scripture.

We could start with all of the questions and problems late modern, Western people,

in particular, Portlanders have with the Bible itself.

Have anybody here read it?

The whole thing.

It's full of weird stuff.

Why does Ruth sleep at Boaz' feet?

And how does Jacob not recognize Leia on his wedding night?

Have you read that one?

Or who in the world are the Nephilim in Genesis chapter 6?

It has lots of cringe-worthy stuff from polygamy to sexual assault to all sorts of holy war.

It's full of the miraculous, which is really hard for late modern secular people to trust.

And it's full of teachings that are at odds with both the progressive left and the conservative

right.

So no matter what side of the spectrum you fall on, you're unhappy once in a while.

And I have come to realize over the last decade now at Bridgetown Church that we are living

in a generation-wide breakdown of trust in the Bible.

So many young people see the Bible as more of an obstacle to faith than an aid.

Whereas my parents' generation could read the story of the Battle of Jericho and say,

yes, God is for me.

And what's my Jericho?

And let me turn this into Al Gorey, which it's not.

...