| From a historical perspective, 'The DaVinci | | | | the world flood and its implications for |
| Code' is good fiction ...I do think the book | | | | humanity.The vital lesson of Noah's story is |
| has provided a very real cultural benefit, | | | | the human capacity for self-destruction and |
| though. By weaving many tales of medieval | | | | the ability of one person to save the world. |
| Christian mysticism into its story line, the | | | | |
| book has stimulated a multitude of readers to | | | | In our time, we possess the capability to |
| look beyond the veneer of printed words in | | | | quickly destroy creation through our nuclear |
| search of higher meanings. This is good, | | | | power or to slowly and significantly damage |
| because both literature and history contain | | | | our planet through waste and pollution. Like |
| them in abundance. The richness of the | | | | Noah's generation, we are also able to |
| written word and the refining effects of time | | | | corrupt the purpose of our existence through |
| have produced works essential to our lives' | | | | moral failure.When we come to think that we |
| inner guidance.Hopefully, more people will be | | | | or our creations are invincible, we soon find |
| inspired by this work of fiction to more | | | | ourselves in deep water, just like the people |
| fully explore other tomes that have even | | | | of Noah's generation. Even the most powerful |
| deeper meanings.I'm referring to the Bible, | | | | of human beings must face their limits or be |
| the Torah, and the Koran.Many of the world's | | | | brought low.The tale of Noah's ark is about |
| tensions have their roots in opinion leaders | | | | confronting both our power and our |
| who espouse literal interpretations of those | | | | limitations as individuals and as society. |
| volumes. Even more preposterous is that many | | | | The story is true not because it ever |
| of these issues are fomented by their own | | | | happened, but because it keeps on |
| self-serving versions of those | | | | happening.The Noah story is true, because it |
| interpretations. From the silly 'War on | | | | describes a drama we all face, generation |
| Christmas' campaign being waged by some | | | | after generation.When we go beyond the |
| religious conservatives in the USA to the | | | | literal sense of the text, we find meaning |
| tragic turf wars over perceived sacred | | | | and relevance. When we can see our own |
| grounds in the Middle East, power bases | | | | struggles in the text, we can then take hold |
| masquerading as pulpits exploit literal | | | | of the meaning of our sacred texts.Rabbi |
| definitions of holy words to seek nothing | | | | Naftali Zvi Yehuda Berlin, an authority on |
| more than an increase in their sphere of | | | | the interpretation of the Hebrew Bible and a |
| influence. It is not enough for them to sway | | | | giant of 19th century Judaism, maintained |
| likeminded individuals, they cannot wield | | | | that the entire Hebrew Bible "possesses the |
| sufficient power until they can alter the | | | | nature and the central character of poetry." |
| lives of those who have chosen a different | | | | One must be aware of poetic allusions, |
| moral path, no matter how independently | | | | metaphors and figurative expressions to |
| righteous that path may be.I believe an | | | | appreciate the meaning of scripture.How could |
| effective means of curbing this troubling | | | | it be any other way? Hardly a verse in the |
| tendency is to expose the shallowness of such | | | | Hebrew Bible can be understood verbatim. Take |
| literal espousings. And so, I would like to | | | | the statement, "And God said." Does God have |
| share an article written in 2000 by Rabbi H | | | | a larynx? In what language did God speak?To |
| David Rose, entitled:"The Literal Truth? | | | | read Torah with the question, "Did it |
| Pondering the Variety of Interpretations in | | | | happen?" in our minds is to think of the |
| Scripture."It is one of the best | | | | wrong question. As Elie Wiesel has taught, |
| dissertations on the subject that I have ever | | | | "Not everything that happened is true, nor |
| read.The balance of today's column consists | | | | did everything that is true necessarily |
| of Rabbi Rose's words:"Dear God," Donna | | | | happen."We all have the capacity to recognize |
| wrote. "Last week it rained for five days | | | | truth in art, in movies and in plays, whether |
| straight. We thought it would be like Noah's | | | | they accurately portray something that really |
| ark, but it wasn't. I'm glad because you | | | | happened or not.Imagine that two books are |
| could only take two of each animal into the | | | | lying before us. The first book was written |
| ark, and I have three cats."A professor of | | | | by a Dr. Smith, an eminent ophthalmologist. |
| molecular biology wrote in a national | | | | It describes a complicated surgery which |
| magazine, "Given the dimensions of the ark | | | | restored the eyesight of a Ms. Jones.Ms. |
| and its wooden construction, the first stiff | | | | Jones is the author of the second book. In |
| breeze would have broken it up. Its capacity | | | | this book, Ms. Jones reports her fright, her |
| was only a fraction of what was needed for | | | | anxiety and her pain. Then she tells of her |
| the animals and their food supply, not to | | | | exultation after the bandages were removed |
| speak of their specialized needs for | | | | and she could see again.Should we ask which |
| housing."Are the narratives in the Bible fact | | | | book is the truth? Each book has a different |
| or fiction? Were the prophets truth-tellers, | | | | intention and shares a different perspective. |
| or great storytellers? Did Methuselah live | | | | The doctor's truth is not that of the |
| upon this earth for 969 years, as we are | | | | patient. A single criterion of truth creates |
| taught in Genesis? Did Abraham send his first | | | | needless contradictions. Both are true. |
| child, Ishmael, out into the wilderness and | | | | Similarly, there is no single true way to |
| almost sacrifice his son, Isaac?And is any of | | | | read scripture.Our sacred texts are sources |
| this relevant to us and to our lives?Many who | | | | of truth and meaning, and we must learn to |
| read the Bible do so in a literal way. For | | | | open our eyes to them.A literal viewing of |
| these people, be they Christian or Jew, the | | | | our traditional books may obscure the truths |
| choice is simple: Either the Bible is the | | | | within them, or worse, cause us to turn away |
| exact written record of God's words, or it is | | | | and not look again.Most of us learned |
| not.If it is God's word, then it is to be | | | | scripture only as children. We were taught |
| followed exactly as written. If not, then why | | | | only literal explanations.When we grew up, we |
| bother?Others, including myself, are | | | | outgrew such literal fairy tales and left |
| convinced that to read our sacred texts | | | | them tucked away with the tooth fairy and |
| literally is to miss the point. To do so, in | | | | other such nonsense.As adults, our task in |
| my opinion, is to corrupt and stagnate the | | | | reading the treasures of our traditions and |
| ever-growing relevance of our holy texts.The | | | | in living lives based on scripture is to |
| Zohar (a book of Jewish mysticism) teaches, | | | | uncover the layers of meaning. When we study, |
| "Were the Torah (Bible) a mere book of tales | | | | read and meditate on our sacred words, we |
| and everyday matters, we could compose a text | | | | discover their spritual implications.May we |
| of even greater excellence. The Torah has | | | | hold on to our sacred texts, and may they |
| clothed itself in the outer garments of the | | | | guide our lives and give meaning to all that |
| world, and woe to the person who looks at the | | | | we do.J Square Humboldt is the featured |
| garment as being Torah."In other words, the | | | | columnist at the Longer Life website, which |
| essence of God's message is hidden from a | | | | is dedicated to providing information, |
| person who takes a literal view. The word is | | | | strategies, analysis and commentary designed |
| not the message; the message lies behind the | | | | to improve the quality of living. His page |
| words.Consider the story of Noah's ark. A | | | | can be found at and his observations are |
| literal interpretation misses the relevance | | | | published three times per week. |
| and profound moral symbolism of the story, of | | | | |