For the first time, I've been sitting down to read the bible, cover to cover. I've read it in pieces before, went to bible school as a kid, bible study as an adult, the normal stuff. Something different about this read through is I have no intent in doing so other than to discover truth. Sort of by the accident of jettisoning any mental reason to read, I have been thinking deeper about how one reads the bible. It has to do with how truth is communicated in religion and has to do with how a religious text is read.
It seems that there are different ways to receive truth in reading the holy word. One can read the bible and read it as though it is a text. When doing this, it can be read for it's literal understanding, historicity, the nature of what things are, a sort of materialist approach. It could also be read as a text and read for it's metaphors or allegories. In doing this, one attempts to think and interpret using reason or logic what the truth is that is expressed in the text. In one or both methods, one might look at other sources or commentaries. One might look at different languages or translations, all in an attempt to discern through thinking what is meant. Both of these approaches are of the mind. A sort of meaning or a sort of truth can be acquired and received in both approaches. I have come to the conclusion that these are not themselves the true or fullest meaning or truth expressed. They are a shade of the truth and only a shade can be acquired even when reading these ways with a religious eye.
Another approach, one much more difficult to describe, is to read the text with an openness, intention, or receptivity to the deepest level of meaning or truth. In doing so, one doesn't necessarily put away all thought, but one uses only that thought which is relevant to the deepest meaning. It doesn't require mental effort per se. One way to describe this kind of reading is to say that one reads with the heart. It seems to lead to a sense of the profound that is beyond verbal expression. This truth has no adequate verbal equivalent. I don't know how else to describe this method other than to say it is done with a seeking of revelation. You might say a seeking of the mystery. So far, it has been quite fruitful, in the spiritual sense.
Has anyone heard of, read about, tried, or considered something like this approach?
It seems that there are different ways to receive truth in reading the holy word. One can read the bible and read it as though it is a text. When doing this, it can be read for it's literal understanding, historicity, the nature of what things are, a sort of materialist approach. It could also be read as a text and read for it's metaphors or allegories. In doing this, one attempts to think and interpret using reason or logic what the truth is that is expressed in the text. In one or both methods, one might look at other sources or commentaries. One might look at different languages or translations, all in an attempt to discern through thinking what is meant. Both of these approaches are of the mind. A sort of meaning or a sort of truth can be acquired and received in both approaches. I have come to the conclusion that these are not themselves the true or fullest meaning or truth expressed. They are a shade of the truth and only a shade can be acquired even when reading these ways with a religious eye.
Another approach, one much more difficult to describe, is to read the text with an openness, intention, or receptivity to the deepest level of meaning or truth. In doing so, one doesn't necessarily put away all thought, but one uses only that thought which is relevant to the deepest meaning. It doesn't require mental effort per se. One way to describe this kind of reading is to say that one reads with the heart. It seems to lead to a sense of the profound that is beyond verbal expression. This truth has no adequate verbal equivalent. I don't know how else to describe this method other than to say it is done with a seeking of revelation. You might say a seeking of the mystery. So far, it has been quite fruitful, in the spiritual sense.
Has anyone heard of, read about, tried, or considered something like this approach?