Re: [asa] Nailing sacred things to the wall... and idols

Hi Bernie,

"This made me think. Would people on this ASA list be upset if Myers took a Bible and nailed it to the wall?"

I would view this as a symbolic gesture of both violence and censorship. I would then explore it from that angle. Come to think of it, what if Myers burned a copy of the Bible? Would that be significantly different?

[BTW, the #1 Science Blog has, in the past, threatened to urinate on the Bible as a stunt to get more traffic.]

- Mike

  ----- Original Message -----
  From: Dehler, Bernie
  To: asa@calvin.edu
  Sent: Tuesday, August 12, 2008 3:58 PM
  Subject: [asa] Nailing sacred things to the wall... and idols

  From: http://www.cnsnews.com/public/content/article.aspx?RsrcID=33156

  "The Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights and the Christian Anti-Defamation Commission are calling for disciplinary action against biologist Paul Z. Myers. On July 24, he placed a video on his blog in which the Eucharist - the communion wafer that Catholics believe is the body and blood of Christ after it has been consecrated by a priest during Mass - was pierced with a rusty nail."

  This made me think. Would people on this ASA list be upset if Myers took a Bible and nailed it to the wall? How about a "Bible on CD?" What about a "Bible on cassette?" Just wondering as to some opinions. I suspect that nailing a Bible would upset many, but nailing a cassette would mean nothing . why is that? Both the book and cassette are only vehicles for transmitting the message. Can this reveal if the Bible (in book form) has become an idol in the minds of some?

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Received on Tue Aug 12 21:25:06 2008