In this paper, I argue that, following from the work of Bultmann
and Ricoeur, traditional apologetic approaches to the Bible fail as they
neglect the existential nature of the text and, thus, fail to recognize the
decision of the non-believer as legitimate. By the same token, however, the
"refutational atheist" responses to believers fail to recognize the legitimacy
of the “yes” answer to the existentiell decision the Bible poses. Though it is a
difficult position to stake out in current religio…
Read moreIn this paper, I argue that, following from the work of Bultmann
and Ricoeur, traditional apologetic approaches to the Bible fail as they
neglect the existential nature of the text and, thus, fail to recognize the
decision of the non-believer as legitimate. By the same token, however, the
"refutational atheist" responses to believers fail to recognize the legitimacy
of the “yes” answer to the existentiell decision the Bible poses. Though it is a
difficult position to stake out in current religious discourse, I conclude
by offering a sketch of what it would mean to approach the Bible with the
openness that allows for accepting the legitimacy of either answer to the
existentiell decision of the Bible.
