Ancient Quote by Marilynne Robinson
![“If these laws [in the Bible] belonged to any other ancient culture we would approach them very differently. We need not bother to reject the code of Hammurabi. Presumably it is because Moses is still felt to make some claim on us that this project of discrediting his law is persisted in with such…” quote by Marilynne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/c8c/marilynne-robinson-602_ancient_if-these-laws-in-the-bible-belonged-to-a_2143870.jpg)
“If these laws [in the Bible] belonged to any other ancient culture we would approach them very differently. We need not bother to reject the code of Hammurabi. Presumably it is because Moses is still felt to make some claim on us that this project of discrediting his law is persisted in with such energy. The unscholarly character of the project may derive from the supposed familiarity of the subject.”
About This Quote
Source Book: "The Givenness of Things", 2016
Biblical laws are treated differently because of Moses’ authority; rejecting them feels like rejecting a cultural identity, not just legal codes.
In simple terms: Moses’ authority makes biblical laws unique and hard to dismiss.
Key Takeaway
Consider cultural context before judging ancient laws.
Themes
religion
law
culture
authority
Mood
thoughtful
inquisitive
philosophical
Type
philosophical
reflective
When to use this quote
- theology studies
- legal analysis
- interfaith dialogue
- education
Key Concepts
biblical interpretation
historical context
cultural identity
Questions to Reflect On
- Can moral truths be separated from cultural authority?
- How do we evaluate ancient laws today?
A Different Perspective
The view may ignore universal ethical principles that transcend cultural ties.
