Posted on 10/21/2009 8:18:11 AM PDT by Alex Murphy
Lisbon, Portugal, Oct 21, 2009 / 12:43 am (CNA).- Several experts said this week that the statements by Jose Saramago about the Bible, which he called “a manual of bad customs, a catalogue of cruelties,” should lead the Church to value biblical culture and combat ignorance of Scripture.
While promoting his new novel “Cain,” the award-winning Portuguese author said that without the Bible, “a book that had great influence on our culture and even on the way we are,” human beings would “probably be better.”
In statements to the Portuguese news agency Ecclesia, Bishop Manuel Clemente of Porto, who is also the president of the Bishops’ Committee on Culture, said “a personality like Jose Saramago, who has undeniable literary merit, should be more rigorous when speaking about the Bible, because you cannot say what Saramago says about biblical facts and authors.”
“All you need to do is read the introduction of any book of the Bible, such as Genesis, to see that they are religious readings that have to do with the history of Israel” and that were later collected as “biblical history for all Christians and for all believers.”
Father Manuel Morujão, secretary of the Portuguese Bishops’ Conference, also lamented the “superficiality” with which Saramago treats the Bible, saying a recipient of the Nobel Prize for Literature ought to know better.
“There’s no need for criticism to be offensive. It should expressed with respect and humility. What we have here is clearly exaggeration, which we didn’t like to see in him [Jose Saramago],” Father Morujao said, adding that the statements by the Nobel laureate have “hurt the feelings” of more than two million believers.
The Portuguese biblical scholar, Capuchin Father Fernando Venturo, said Jose Saramago has the intellectual capacity to become informed on matters before writing.
“The Bible can be read by somebody who has no faith, but it requires some intellectual honesty on the part of the reader,” he said, accusing Saramago of “a huge lack” of it.
Graver still, Father Ventura said, is his ignorance “of literary genres” or of the role of “myth” in literature, which is especially troubling for a writer who expressed opinions “about a field in which he not an expert.”
“Not knowing how to situate a text in its context is unforgiveable for a writer,” the priest said, adding that he hopes the controversy will help Catholics find the best manner to respond to the publicity coup in a media characterized by “atrocious biblical ignorance.”
Despite the fact that many Catholics are ignorant of the Bible, Father Morujao said a writer of Jose Saramago’s caliber has more responsibilities than the average citizen. The Nobel statue does not give him the right to delve into fields “of which he does not have sufficient knowledge,” the priest said. “The Bible has 76 books and they must be interpreted in the diversity of literary genres,” he pointed out.
Father Morujao finished by saying he expected more from a Nobel laureate, “regardless of his ideology,” and he recommended Saramago express more “humility” when making statements.
He called for a greater promotion of “the biblical culture” and for more knowledge of the passage in which Jesus says “to love even one’s enemies.”
There was also this article found on ChattahBox.com:
Jose Saramago’s Book Won’t Offend Catholics Because “They Don’t Read The Bible”Portugal (ChattahBox) - Jose Saramago has caused controversy once again, after the 86-year-old Nobel Prize winner spoke out during a conference about his new book, ‘Cain’.
“The Bible is a manual of bad morals (which) has a powerful influence on our culture and even our way of life. Without the Bible, we would be different, and probably better people,” he said of his inspiration for his new book, which is a satirical and cynical look at the story of Cain, the eldest child of Adam and Eve, who kills his younger brother, Abel, in the book of Genesis.
When asked if he was worried about offending the Catholic Church, he replied that he didn’t worry “because Catholics do not read the Bible, and that “It might offend Jews, but that doesn’t really matter to me.”
Members of the Catholic Church have already spoken out, accusing Saramago of using his statements to gain publicity for his new book.
“A writer of Jose Saramago’s standing can criticize, (but) insults do no-one any good, particularly a Nobel Prize winner,” Father Manuel Marujao said.
Just shows that 0bama is in good company, winning a “Nebel” and all...
“Nobel” prize. Pffft!
He was and is an unrepentant hard-core Communist. How’s that for blind stupid faith? It’s not even lyrical.
“author said that without the Bible, “a book that had great influence on our culture and even on the way we are,” human beings would “probably be better.””
Islam is proof of how much “better” people can be when ‘Bible-free’.
Well, he is a Portagee, so therefore he’s a member of the master race.
5 points for who can name what movie that is from.
So he’s the 2nd dumbest Nobel laureate
Yeah, we’d all be much better off asking rocks for advice and making obsessive-compulsive sacrifices the gods before every move we make.
And of course it isn’t “anti-Semitic” to say that the world would be better off without the Bible. After all, the Bible isn’t Jewish, is it?
“the statements by the Nobel laureate have “hurt the feelings” of more than two million believers.”
Probably the only two million Christians in all of Europe.
I read his novel called Blindness.
I think he is VASTLY overrated as an author.
I was at RichardDawkins.com a while ago and they were discussing how willful ignorance of the Bible is a positive thing. Apparently, the Bible has the power to brainwash anyone who thinks too hard about it and any wise atheist should stick to certified ‘skeptic’ websites regarding this cursed magic book.
Yea...
I know from personal experience that I would not be a better off without the Bible!
Ping!
“Father Morujao finished by saying he expected more from a Nobel laureate”
I don’t. Rigoberto Menchu, Al Gore, Arafat.
The Nobel prizes for literature and peace are just chealp trinkets with a check attached.
Technically the Old Testament/ Tanak, is Jewish. The Bible is Catholic, and the KJV is Protestant.
::Sigh:: I was being sarcastic. I was pointing out the fact that no one is ever accused of "anti-Semitism" for bashing the Bible.
My apologies, Slow brain day, I read it while preparing to deal with about 17 screaming crazy ninth graders. My apolologies again.
Don't worry about it.
Sadly, it didn't begin "Hail Satan, King of the Losers!"
Some Catholics may indeed be offended, but I'm guessing most won't bother to read the trash he wrote. Like me. And to comment on his claim only fuels the notion that we don't read the Bible.
Jose Saramago, Nobel prize winner. What passes for talent these days....
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