Sure, the Bible is holy, but does it really mean anything?

Sure, the Bible is holy, but does it really mean anything? | Poem

20 May, 2005 - 11 Iyar, 5765
Sure, the Bible is holy, but does it really mean anything?
By Rabbi David Fohrman

"How do people deal with cognitive dissonance? The not-so-pretty truth is: Usually through an act of suppression."
Unfortunately, more often, through an act of aggression - and is exactly why the rhetoric is heating up, as the pressure is put on politicians to forward the truths from opposing sides...i.e. one man's truths is another man's lies when there is dissonance. And yes, today, in the US of A, politics mixing with religion, is exactly the point of the spear.
"The Bible will have become both holy and irrelevant....For those of you who suffer from "holy irrelevance", I'd like to suggest a way out."
For those of you who suffer from "spiritual wickedness", I'd like to suggest a way out.
"Maybe the Bible wants us to ask questions."
Better questions?
"...religious schools would give children shiny new coins for brilliant questions..."
Brilliant questioners want brilliant answers not shiny new coins.
"Judaism understands that the Bible isn't some sort of fairly straightforward book you're just supposed to "believe in."...Yes, every Bible story has its "problems"...PLEASE try to stump our master teacher!"
Does the Bible story of Isaac and Ishmel coming together at their father Abraham's funeral suggests that their protégé should come together (Arabs and Jews)?
When today's bottom line problem between the Israeli and Palestinians the Temple on the Mount in Jerusalem why is no compromise offered?
Why, when God told Abraham, before the birth of Isaac or Ishmel, the land of Israel would belong to Abraham's offspring, do the Jews believe this does not include Abraham's offspring from Ishmel?
How can Adam and Eve be born 5,765 years ago when the Chinese religion is much older than 6,000 years?
"...Judaism understands that the Bible isn't some sort of fairly straightforward book..."
Which leaves it open to interpretation and questions and my last question (today) is: Considering the bloody history of the Jerusalem and the surrounding land, which is more important - a new temple or the lives of human beings?