In the given statement, Jon Meacham discusses the selective nature of how religious texts are interpreted by believers. He points out that even within a single faith community, there's no uniform approach to understanding and applying every part of sacred scripture literally. For instance, while some may adhere strictly to certain ancient laws or practices described in the Bible, others might interpret these same passages metaphorically or view them as products of their historical context rather than binding commandments for today.
Meacham delves deeper into this idea by highlighting that if everyone took every biblical teaching at face value without any interpretation, it would lead to some troubling consequences. Slavery and the subjugation of women are two examples where rigid adherence to ancient texts could foster practices many modern believers find abhorrent. Similarly, harsh punishments such as stoning would become more commonplace under a strict literalist approach. Meacham also notes that Jesus himself advocated strongly against divorce, indicating that even key figures in religious history didn't always take every commandment literally.
Jon Meacham is an American writer and editor who has authored several books on U.S. political and social history. He served as the executive editor and executive vice president at Newsweek before becoming the editor of Time Magazine. His writing often explores themes related to religion, politics, and American culture, making him a notable commentator in these areas.
