The Two Sides of the Bible
It's Time To See The Other Side...
I want to first draw your attention to this famous optical illusion of ‘My Wife and My Mother-in-Law’ by British cartoonist, William Ely Hill. Who do you do see first? In this illusion, you will either see the young woman or the old lady. Then, when you shift your focus you can see the other. This illusion demonstrates my central thesis: the Bible functions as a word illusion. From one perspective, it appears as a religious text—the Word of God. From another, it reveals itself as a secular philosophical work with profound insights into human nature and society.
1 | Side One: A Religious Book
When viewed as the Word of God, the Bible is perceived as:
"Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth" - an infallible instruction manual of “dos and don’ts” to ensure righteous living and eternal salvation
The ultimate authority on life and human conduct due to its divine inspiration
Historically accurate
All-good
Implications of Religious Interpretation
This perspective encourages outsourcing critical life decisions to external authorities:
Divine guidance: Direct communication with God through prayer and signs
Pastoral authority: Trusting clergy to interpret scripture and provide life guidance
Institutional authority: Accepting church doctrine as the final word on moral and practical matters
Consequences of Religious Literalism
Personal Level:
Moral compromise through biblical justification of slavery, genocide, violence, and discrimination
Impaired critical thinking (e.g., prioritizing prayer over practical action in emergencies such as praying instead of calling the ambulance service)
Diminished personal agency and decision-making capacity
Societal Level:
Immoral and illogical ideology such as “the chosen people” which justifies slavery or "guilty until proven innocent" which justifies the witch hunts
Conflict between religious worldview and scientific methodology (e.g., the battle between belief versus reason)
Institutional corruption and abuse of power
How was this perspective born?
Today, education and literacy may be taken for granted because we can read. But in historical periods when literacy rates were low—when only 20% of the population could read and 80% couldn't—societies naturally developed institutional structures to maintain social order and control.
Creating a divine authority figure to instil fear and respect among the populace was not limited to the God of the Bible, but is a common approach seen across other cultures with other deities. This system of centralized moral authority served to establish shared behavioural standards for social cohesion toward a civilized state.
2 | Side Two: A Secular Book
When approached as a philosophical text, the Bible becomes:
A collection of models, explained through fable and myth, of pathways that create positive or negative outcomes personally and societally
A practical workbook of critical thinking since the moral of the story must be discovered and the decision about which pathway to follow is in one's hands
The physical manifestation of the tree of knowledge of good and evil (providing lessons of good and evil while simultaneously upgrading one's wisdom)
Implications of Secular Interpretation:
This perspective empowers critical life decisions to individual agency:
Critical evaluation: Comparing biblical wisdom against real-world outcomes
Adaptable wisdom: You learn to extract underlying principles rather than rigid rules, making the guidance applicable across different cultures and time periods
Nuanced decision-making: You develop the ability to recognize when a principle should be applied, modified, or set aside based on circumstances
Cultural intelligence: You learn about human nature, including your own
Consequences of Philosophical Approach
Personal Level:
Integration of rational inquiry with moral reflection
Greater individual responsibility and empowerment
Societal Level:
Compatibility between scientific methodology and ethical development
Enhanced personal and societal decision-making based on evidence and wisdom
Reduction in corruption of religious institutions due to greater power in the hands of the people
How was this perspective born?
With the achievement of civilization, rising prosperity, and increased literacy rates—where 80% of a population are literate rather than 20%—every individual is capable of understanding the importance of social cohesion and can participate in it voluntarily without the need for an authority figure to threaten them into compliance.
Furthermore, an educated populace can engage directly with texts, eliminating the need for interpretive intermediaries, allowing for personal agency, responsibility, and accountability.
3 | The Core Distinction: Authority vs. Agency
The fundamental difference creating the biblical "word illusion" lies in the locus of authority:
Religious perspective: External authority (God, clergy, institution) governs behaviour
Philosophical perspective: Internal authority (reason, wisdom, conscience) guides decisions
This mirrors the foundational narrative of Adam and Eve—the transformation from innocent obedience to conscious choice after consuming the "forbidden fruit" of knowledge.
The Transformation: From Adam to Eve
Moving from religious to philosophical interpretation represents a profound shift:
From blind obedience → informed decision-making
From managed subjects → sovereign individuals
From fear-based compliance → wisdom-based choices
From institutional dependence → personal responsibility
Conclusion: How does the transformation take place?
To see the other side of the story, the other side of the illusion, one must first and foremost be willing and ready to govern themselves.