Biblical Literalism a Modern Invention?
Origen (c.185–254) was an early Christian writer, scholar and theologian. He is probably most well known for his desire to fuse Greek Philosophy with Christianity and for his eccentric doctrine of “the fabulous preexistence of souls” and also for his allegoric view of the Bible.
Despite some of his more radical views, he was never really considered a heretic because of the admiration he received by many beloved Orthodox theologians, such as Saints Basil and Gregory of Nazianzus.
As far as the question ‘is Biblical literalism a modern invention?’ Origen would most definitely say yes.
What intelligent person can imagine that there was a first “day,” then a second and a third “day”—evening and morning—without the sun, the moon, and the stars? [Sun, moon, and stars are created on the fourth “day.”] And that the first “day”—if it makes sense to call it such—existed even without a sky? [The sky is created on the second “day.”]
Who is foolish enough to believe that, like a human gardener, God planted a garden in Eden in the East and placed in it a tree of life, visible and physical, so that by biting into its fruit one would obtain life? And that by eating from another tree, one would come to know good and evil? And when it is said that God walked in the garden in the evening and that Adam hid himself behind a tree, I cannot imagine that anyone will doubt that these details point symbolically to spiritual meanings, by using an historical narrative which did not literally happen. (p.71)
Cited from Origen’s “De Principiis“ 4.1.6, translated by Marcus Borg, “Reading the Bible Again for the First Time: Taking the Bible Seriously But Not Literally“ (2001). (Quote via Aaron Rathburn)
This ancient scholar posses a profound awareness and sensibility, one in which, no doubt, could benefit all of us on some level.
Painting: Harold Cohen, Untitled, 1969, Computer print-out with coloured pen and ink
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