If Biblical Scholars studied early American history…
In honor of the 4th of July, I want to share with you an interview with a top American history scholar, Dr. Raymond Fitzmyer:
Divine Life: Happy 4th of July! What are you doing to celebrate the birthday of our country?
Raymond Fitzmyer: Well, of course nothing really happened on July 4th, 1776 – it is just a date the early American community later chose to represent their feelings of tolerance towards others.
DL: So I guess you are not doing fireworks?
RF: No, I’ll just be listening to NPR as I usually do most evenings.
DL: So you are an expert on the Declaration of Independence. What do you think is the greatest strength of Jefferson’s famous work?
RF: First of all, Thomas Jefferson didn’t write the Declaration of Independence. It was written by the Jeffersonian community over the span of about 50 years and didn’t take its final form until about 1830 CE. In fact, some of the latest critical scholarship is even questioning if there ever was such a person as “Thomas Jefferson”. Most likely, the figure of Jefferson simply represented the early American community’s desire to be tolerant of England.
DL: Well, what do you think is the greatest strength of the “Jeffersonian community’s” famous work?
RF: The Declaration of Independence was formed in an ancient culture, so of course it contains all the biases and antiquated notions of that ancient culture. For example, it talks about “truths” being “self-evident”, which we all today know is simply not true. Truths are based on our perceptions, and what is true for you might not be true for me, except of course the truth of the statement I just made, which is always true. We now understand that nothing is “self-evident” to anyone, except for the self-evidence that there is nothing self-evident. Furthermore, the Declaration speaks about a reliance on “Divine Providence”, which reflects the superstitious culture in which the early Americans lived. We know today that our only reliance is on government, not some figure in the sky looking out for us.
DL: So, is there anything you actually like about the Declaration of Independence?
RF: Of course, of course! After all, I’ve spent my whole academic career studying it! I think the Declaration of Independence is a fine example of pre-modern American literature.
DL: That’s it?
RF: Well, we must remember that humankind has advanced greatly since the time of the first Americans, and there is very little we can learn from those primitive peoples. But their writings do make for fine symposium topics as well as good subjects for journal publications.
DL: Thank you for your time, Dr. Fitzmyer. Is there anything else you’d like to add?
RF: Yes, I’d like to tell everyone that I have a new book coming out about the Constitution. In this book, I prove that the Constitution actually wasn’t completed in its final redacted form until after the Civil War and was the result of the Northern community’s desire to justify their actions towards the South. It’s sure to get me on TV…I mean, it’s sure to advance American scholarship greatly.
why on earth did you put this on your blog?? If you added some comments or info from others to challenge what he’s saying there’s be a point to make. As you simply put it here as is it appears you agree with this guy…???
Actually, all that happened on the Fourth was the announcement. They voted for Independence on the 2nd, and it took most of the summer for everyone to sign the Declaration. Our images of the scene are based in paintings and even Broadway musicals.
Not to mention the haggling, the committee work, and all the rest! So, in a sense, it was a communitarian event.
And yes, the Constitution’s sense of “We the people….” did evolve over the centuries, especially if you were black or female.
Nothing is as cut and dried as we would like it. Besmirching honest scholars who engage their task out of love for the Scriptures, the Lord and the Church is not very productive.
Can scholars be wrong? Certainly. Most of them approach their work with some humility.
“Most of them approach their work with some humility.” With the exception of Joseph Ratazinger I have yet to find any scholar in any field who was or is not pompus and convinced they have the final answer on any given subject and in fact they think that because they a lot about one subject they are free to speak with authority on all subjects. “Publish or Perish” is the only maxim these people believe in.
How’s that for an arrogant statement from the peanut gallery!
I’m pretty sure it’s satire, guys.
ROFL! This is HILARIOUS! You totally nailed Fitzmyer!
Eric, some of my friends on facebook had linked to this–fortunately, they understood that it’s a joke. : )
Hahaha love it. I attend a “Catholic” University, where any kind of scholarship other than this is hardly even tolerated. Good laugh, very refreshing.
Too funny! (and unfortunately, too true)
Look into Fr. William Most. He too was a humble scripture scholar (and very faithful as well).
The parody of many so-called “biblical scholars” is hilarious.
TeaPot562
i think dear mare, may be the type who likes to point out that the saints in antiquity wrote of sarcasm as sinful.
Although this is great satire, I fear that it hits dangerously close to home. This is what passes as American history at the university level.
Deconstructionist have completely lost their capacity to reason. And their sense of humor.
I understood, when I first read this, that it is a form of sarcasm. It’s a free country and your speech is protected. But, I don’t think this was a prudent way to approach the topic of Biblical scholarship.
Ruth Ann
Most ‘Biblical Scholarship’ is neither Biblical or scholarly. It’s the foundation of modern ‘Critical Studies’, which are an exercise in narcissistic wishful thinking by persons whose literary talents would otherwise be ignored. Essentially they create individualised pseudo-historical imagined narratives which they subsequent can spend decades elucidating. Such scholars spend less effort studying the Bible than HS students reading Finnigan’s Wake. In comparison, Dan Brown is a splendid example of a notable Biblical Scholar, and completely First-rate.
Keynesian economics is much better sourced.
Cheers
Mare’s remarks are right to the point. Just to recap: Independance was voted on the 2nd and the Declaration adopted on the 4th. It was not signed until August. Most of Jefferson’s ideas come from John Locke’s Second Treatise on Government. Locke was one of those “questionable” Enlightenment writers. You should read the original Jefferson version with the final version after Congress was finished with it. Modern biblical scholarship upsets many people who like their religion simple and absolute without question marks. Try reconciling Matthew’s and Luke’s infancy accounts. One conservative scholar even said Jesus multiplied the loaves and fishes seven times to avoid having to deal with the variations in the accounts. While we are talking scholarship: What is conservative church history? A pious account of what should have happened.
Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
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