The Bible’s teachings are often open to interpretation, to put it mildly. Many fundamentalists bridle at that idea, but consider how much disagreement there is among those who claim to take the Bible literally.

Now zoom out and consider the disagreements within major faiths and between faiths. For a really jolly time, watch a debate between a Southern Baptist and a Roman Catholic on transubstantiation or the rite of baptism.

Yet for all its ambiguities, certain Biblical ideas are nearly universally accepted. Nearly, because Democratic Texas Senate nominee James Talarico begs to differ, offering up enough points of disagreement to suggest he’s seeking to establish his own cult rather than run for Senate.

Consider abortion. As a far-left warrior, Talarico says he supports abortion, “not despite my faith, but because of my faith. Jesus never talks about abortion. The Bible is silent on abortion.” 

It is undeniable the Bible is silent on abortion, per se. Talarico takes the Bible’s silence as license to advance his preferred policy of abortion on demand.

Problem one is that the Bible is silent on a lot of issues which, upon broader reading, appear to contravene God’s will. Cheating at poker, for example. I’ve found no Biblical prohibitions against palming cards, yet I’m pretty sure that’s a no-no, and not just in Vegas.

Problem two is that........

© Independent Journal Review