Bible as a Prop

It seems obvious that our scholarly study of the Bible is different from the cultural understanding and political usage of the Bible. Politicians tend to employ biblical rhetoric in their speeches because it lends them strength in their argument. Given the cultural authority that has been granted to the Bible, the words that are reiterated have a heavier weight and purpose to them. Not only does biblical scripture lend credibility asserting a speech, it also serves a function of unity. In times of disaster or national grief, the Bible is drawn upon for its strength of unity and hope. As Evangelicals believe we live in a Christian nation, which is horribly wrong and ignorant in the religious diversity that exists, it would only make sense that we are comforted by the Bible. The single most effective usage of the Bible is to use it as a tool of unity. The Bible has great messages on how we are one humanity, supporting each other.

But through all these uses, the Bible is still very much used as a prop. Politicians might have actual religious beliefs that coincide with what they are delivering in their speech, but it is largely used in a dramatic sense. It seems to me that the Bible is more of a red herring to distract us from the root causes of our societal problems. Our focus to dissect what is being said distracts us from what is really taking place in our society.