A notable author is facing criticism and allegations of “bigotry” for describing the Bible as a “work of fiction” and “fertile ground for hypocrisy.”
In a Jan. 11 post on X, best-selling author Joyce Carol Oates responded to podcast co-host Sam Adler-Bell’s suggestion that she needs to read the Bible by declaring, “The [B]ible, as you call it, is a work of fiction; or rather, an anthology of fictions.”
There is more.
Now, this has gone viral.
Oates personifies the spirit of hate toward biblical Truth.
Be informed, not misled.
In a Jan. 11 post on X, author Joyce Carol Oates responded to podcast co-host Sam Adler-Bell’s suggestion that she needs to read the Bible by declaring, “The [B]ible, as you call it, is a work of fiction; or rather, an anthology of fictions.”
the bible, as you call it, is a work of fiction; or rather, an anthology of fictions. it is not "the" bible for much of the world's population & those who claim it as their own select those verses that appeal to them while ignoring other verses. fertile ground for hypocrisy. https://t.co/fWT8lC4ipM
— Joyce Carol Oates (@JoyceCarolOates) January 12, 2024
She added, “It is not ‘the’ [B]ible for much of the world’s population and those who claim it as their own select those verses that appeal to them while ignoring other verses.” She concluded by characterizing the Bible as “fertile ground for hypocrisy.”
Oates’ remarks about the Bible followed her reaction to a post from a podcaster who was talking about the Bible's directive to help the "Widows, orphans and prisoners."
In response, Oates asked, “‘widows, orphans, prisoners’ — really, these entirely disparate groups have something in common?
"widows, orphans, prisoners"--really, these entirely disparate categories have something in common? https://t.co/KWGyjvcjum
— Joyce Carol Oates (@JoyceCarolOates) January 11, 2024
While the Bible is very clear about the church's responsibilities to the widows, orphans, and prisoners, this exchange raises an issue that is too prevalent in our culture today: An attack on the Bible's authenticity.
Tom Fitton, president of the government watchdog Judicial Watch, took to X on Saturday to condemn her post as an example of “ignorant, anti-Christian bigotry.”
Ignorant, anti-Christian bigotry from @JoyceCarolOates. https://t.co/LhBLUmfENL
— Tom Fitton (@TomFitton) January 13, 2024
Tim Spivey, founder and lead pastor of New Vintage Church in Escondido, California, and adjunct professor of religion and philosophy at Pepperdine University, responded to her post on X Saturday by stating: “Good to see religious bigotry is alive and well. Even if you think it’s fiction, it’s the most influential written work in history and it isn’t close … for good reason,” he added. “Christians do breathtaking good around the world, despite your scorn and caricature.”
Good to see religious bigotry is still alive and well. Even if you think it’s fiction, it’s the most influential written work in history and it isn’t close…for good reason. Christians do breathtaking good around the world, despite your scorn and caricature.
— Tim Spivey (@timspivey) January 13, 2024
The Christian Post says: "The Rev. Ben Johnson, an Orthodox Christian who serves as senior editor of The Washington Stand, replied to a post from Clemson University visiting fellow Philip Bunn lamenting Oates’ decision to “dunk on widows and orphans” by identifying her statement as “minimizing the impact of a book that has sold infinitely more copies than all the books you’ve written combined.”
They also note that "Podcast host and author Kale Zelden characterized Oates’ post about the Bible as an example of how “famous public intellectuals out themselves as ignorant lightweights.”
As other X users took issue with Oates’ claim, she continued to double down with additional assertions casting doubts on the Bible’s authenticity. In one post published later Thursday, Oates insisted, “It’s pointless to try to reason with persons for whom blind faith is an ideal.” She added that “what is particularly exasperating is that ‘the’ [B]ible is cited haphazardly & arbitrarily as vindication for virtually anything.”
A subsequent post from Oates took a dig at Christians’ intelligence, particularly that of Christians who support former President Donald Trump: “Why is it ‘the’ [B]ible? In fact only a small portion of Christians believe in a literal interpretation of the Bible & they are also likely to believe that T***p is heralding the Second Coming.”
In another post published Thursday, Oates shared her opinion that “the Hebrew Bible & the New Testament are two separate gatherings of writings by various persons over a considerable period of time” while stressing that “those who want to believe that these are ‘divine’ books are welcome to their belief.”
When accepting the 2007 Humanist of the Year Award at the 66th annual Conference of the American Humanist Association, Oates outlined how “it has always been something of a mystery to me that intelligent, educated men and women — as well as the uneducated — can ‘have faith’ in an invisible and nonexistent God.”
In a 2009 interview with The New York Times Magazine, Oates reflected on her Catholic upbringing, recalling how “I could never take the idea of religion very seriously.” However, in a Friday post on X, Oates said: “it’s embarrassing to admit that I was very impressed at a young age by ‘the’ [B]ible & learned all one need know about the male ego — self-aggrandizing, self-regarding, self-preening & even self-begetting in Genesis, Chap. 5.”
Takeaway
America's Founding Fathers recognized the importance of the Bible. Tragically Oates does not.
Our Founders said:
- John Adams: “The Bible contains the most profound philosophy, the most perfect morality, and the most refined policy that ever was conceived upon earth.”
- John Quincy Adams: “[The Bible] is of all books in the world that which contributes most to make men good, wise, and happy.”
- Elias Boudinot: “Were you to ask me to recommend the most valuable book in the world, I should fix on the Bible as the most instructive, both to the wise and ignorant.”
- John Jay: “Let us therefore persevere steadfastly in distributing the Scriptures far and near, and without note or comment. We are assured that they ‘are profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness (2 Tim. 3:16).’”
Joyce Carol Oates needs biblical reproof, correction, and instruction. And she needs to be reminded, as she enjoys the benefits of a country founded on biblical principles and values, that the God she mocks has blessed the nation she enjoys.
At some point in her life, Oates will face the reality of her empty atheism as almost every other atheist does when they look eternity in the face. Where, then, can she turn?
Jesus told his followers in Matthew 5:13, "Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid."
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