Spinoza
RELIGION 175, “Introduction to the Critical Study of Biblical Literature”
Critical Reading Exercise #1
Reading Spinoza on Studying the Bible
Instructions: The following questions are designed to help you discover some of the most important points in your reading selection. The questions follow the basic course of the article excerpts.
1) At whom, what category of persons, is Spinoza “mad?” Spinoza is "mad" at those people in organized religions whose only aim is obdience and to "compel others to think as they do." He cautions the readers to be wary of those theologians and clergy that use human emotions to obtain followers.
2) To what kind of investigation does Spinoza liken what he believes to be the appropriate method for interpreting the Scripture? Spinoza believes that in oder to interpret Scripture as it is meant to be interpreted one must only look at what is directly stated in Scripture and what that meant to the author at the time it was written. He believes that just as knowledge of nature comes from studying nature alone so should knowledge of Scripture come from studying Scripture alone.
3) What do you think Spinoza means when he refers to the “natural light of reason?” I belive when Spinoza uses the term "natural light of reason" he is reffering to the scientific method. He states that the method needed to understand Scripture is no different than the method needed to understand nature, which would be the scientific method.
4) According to Spinoza by what criteria are we able to recognize true revelation? According to Spinoza true revelation can only be recognized through using the "natural light of reason." If one uses the "natural light of reason" and the original thought of the meaning of the passage stands then one has reached true revelation. Spinoza also believes that true revelation comes from the true meaning of Scripture, not by miracles, which he believes to be ignorance.
Critical Reading Exercise #1
Reading Spinoza on Studying the Bible
Instructions: The following questions are designed to help you discover some of the most important points in your reading selection. The questions follow the basic course of the article excerpts.
1) At whom, what category of persons, is Spinoza “mad?” Spinoza is "mad" at those people in organized religions whose only aim is obdience and to "compel others to think as they do." He cautions the readers to be wary of those theologians and clergy that use human emotions to obtain followers.
2) To what kind of investigation does Spinoza liken what he believes to be the appropriate method for interpreting the Scripture? Spinoza believes that in oder to interpret Scripture as it is meant to be interpreted one must only look at what is directly stated in Scripture and what that meant to the author at the time it was written. He believes that just as knowledge of nature comes from studying nature alone so should knowledge of Scripture come from studying Scripture alone.
3) What do you think Spinoza means when he refers to the “natural light of reason?” I belive when Spinoza uses the term "natural light of reason" he is reffering to the scientific method. He states that the method needed to understand Scripture is no different than the method needed to understand nature, which would be the scientific method.
4) According to Spinoza by what criteria are we able to recognize true revelation? According to Spinoza true revelation can only be recognized through using the "natural light of reason." If one uses the "natural light of reason" and the original thought of the meaning of the passage stands then one has reached true revelation. Spinoza also believes that true revelation comes from the true meaning of Scripture, not by miracles, which he believes to be ignorance.