--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The problem with the Bible, the Qur'an…" description: "\"“The problem with the Bible, the Qur'an, the Torah - or any sacred text - as an authority is that so much depends on how the text is read and the inter..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b55/peter-vardy-104514_bible_the-problem-with-the-bible-the-qur-an-th_425502.jpg" --- # The problem with the Bible, the Qur'an, the Torah - or any… ![“The problem with the Bible, the Qur'an, the Torah - or any sacred text - as an authority is that so much depends on how the text is read and the interests of the reader. The Bible has been used to justify slavery, apartheid, the suppression of women, the 'evils' of sexuality, the 'evils' of…” quote by Peter Vardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b55/peter-vardy-104514_bible_the-problem-with-the-bible-the-qur-an-th_425502.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b55/peter-vardy-104514_bible_the-problem-with-the-bible-the-qur-an-th_425502.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b55/peter-vardy-104514_bible_the-problem-with-the-bible-the-qur-an-th_425502.jpg) > ““The problem with the Bible, the Qur'an, the Torah - or any sacred text - as an authority is that so much depends on how the text is read and the interests of the reader. The Bible has been used to justify slavery, apartheid, the suppression of women, the 'evils' of sexuality, the 'evils' of homosexuality, a male-only priesthood, the denial of any priests at all, the supremacy of the Pope, the irrelevance of the Pope, the authority of the Church, a denial of the authority of the Church, a feminist agenda, war, pacifism and almost every other position that people may wish to hold.”” [Peter Vardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-vardy/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Interpretations of sacred texts vary, leading to diverse, often conflicting, societal impacts. **In simple terms:** Texts read differently shape society. Key Takeaway Recognize bias in interpreting texts. Themes religion interpretation power Mood critical analytical Type academic controversial When to use this quote - theical debates - policy making - education curricula Key Concepts textual authority social influence Questions to Reflect On - How do personal interests shape reading? - What safeguards protect against misuse? A Different Perspective Interpretations can be manipulated for agendas. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bible/) [Bible Used](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bible-used-2815070/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Evils Homosexuality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evils-homosexuality-938086/) [Problem Bible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem-bible-2305193/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Sacred Text](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sacred-text-1803342/) ## Related quotes > [The big problem is not whether the Bible is true. The big problem is whether it is true in you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/the-big-problem-is-not-whether-the-bible-is-true-the-big-problem-is/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [I met too frankly preposterous, if it weren't for their banal evil, politicians and pastors who told knowing lies about the evils of homosexuality…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-fry/i-met-too-frankly-preposterous-if-it-weren-t-for-their-banal-evil/) [Stephen Fry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-fry/) > [“One Sunday morning Brother Jim preached about the evils of homosexuality. He kept saying it was "a bomb nation." I knew he meant abomination…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-hartwell/one-sunday-morning-brother-jim-preached-about-the-evils-of/) [Luke Hartwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-hartwell/) > [Every time I hear someone making ignorant comments about the supposed 'evils' of homosexuality, I think about the true evil of the high suicide…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-estrich/every-time-i-hear-someone-making-ignorant-comments-about-the-supposed/) [Susan Estrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-estrich/) > [Today we take it for granted that the Bible is in our language. We forget that the Bible used to not be available to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-green/today-we-take-it-for-granted-that-the-bible-is-in-our-language-we/) [Steve Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-green/) > [“The Bible itself can be used for both good and evil. That doesn't mean it's flawed. It means that it is perfect.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/northern-adams/the-bible-itself-can-be-used-for-both-good-and-evil-that-doesn-t-mean/) [Northern Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/northern-adams/) > [The Bible has been used as a way of making us accept our situation, and not to bring enlightenment to the poor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rigoberta-menchu/the-bible-has-been-used-as-a-way-of-making-us-accept-our-situation/) [Rigoberta Menchu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rigoberta-menchu/) > [“Just because a thing is present on earth, that does not mean it is inherently good or that we're supposed to consume or exploit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/northern-adams/just-because-a-thing-is-present-on-earth-that-does-not-mean-it-is/) [Northern Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/northern-adams/) > [ the Bible is used as a means of reinforcing their \[women's\] subordination to men through divine sanction. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/letty-m-russell/the-bible-is-used-as-a-means-of-reinforcing-their-women-s/) [Letty M. Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/letty-m-russell/) > [And it came to pass that in the hands of the ignorant, the words of the Bible were used to beat plowshares into swords](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-watts/and-it-came-to-pass-that-in-the-hands-of-the-ignorant-the-words-of/) [Alan Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-watts/) > [“Scripture trains us to listen to and learn from stories of all kinds, inside the sacred text and outside, and to discern patterns and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-t-wright/scripture-trains-us-to-listen-to-and-learn-from-stories-of-all-kinds/) [N.T. Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-t-wright/) > [There's a lovely Hasidic story of a rabbi who always told his people that if they studied the Torah, it would put Scripture on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/there-s-a-lovely-hasidic-story-of-a-rabbi-who-always-told-his-people/) [Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/) > [Women were forbidden to study the most ancient sacred text, the Veda,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-doniger/women-were-forbidden-to-study-the-most-ancient-sacred-text-the-veda/) [Wendy Doniger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-doniger/) > [“Long before the first line of Scripture was penned on papyrus scroll, the Word, unwritten, existed as the mind of God. Before the books…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-ois-du-toit/long-before-the-first-line-of-scripture-was-penned-on-papyrus-scroll/) [François Du Toit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-ois-du-toit/) > [The movie 'Rock 'n' Roll High School' was a sacred text in my household.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colson-whitehead/the-movie-rock-n-roll-high-school-was-a-sacred-text-in-my-household/) [Colson Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colson-whitehead/) ## More by Peter Vardy > [“Some people are convinced that they have the truth and are anxious to ensure others have it. These are the fundamentalists. Some people spend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-vardy/some-people-are-convinced-that-they-have-the-truth-and-are-anxious-to/) [Peter Vardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-vardy/) [Explore all 2 Peter Vardy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-vardy/) ## More Bible quotes > [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [From Augustine down, theologians have tried to compel people to accept their special interpretation of the Scripture, and the tortures of the inquisition, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matilda-joslyn-gage/from-augustine-down-theologians-have-tried-to-compel-people-to-accept/) [Matilda Joslyn Gage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matilda-joslyn-gage/) > [“God hates Hell. He hates the idea of people going there. He hates it so much that He was willing to take on human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-minton/god-hates-hell-he-hates-the-idea-of-people-going-there-he-hates-it-so/) [Evan Minton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-minton/) > [“The Devil can cite Scripture for his purpose, Sergeant,’ Anthony Payne replied. ‘That is from The Merchant of Venice, but it holds great truth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-arnold/the-devil-can-cite-scripture-for-his-purpose-sergeant-anthony-payne/) [Michael Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-arnold/) > [When you put your hand on the Bible, you are saying something much stronger than just telling your peers that you're going to tell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-greenwood/when-you-put-your-hand-on-the-bible-you-are-saying-something-much/) [Lee Greenwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-greenwood/) > [“Scripture also teaches that human beings are morally responsible creatures”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-peterson/scripture-also-teaches-that-human-beings-are-morally-responsible/) [Robert A. Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-peterson/) > [“The wife of a junior officer cooped up in a horrible canvas partition in steerage for five months wrote: "I had enjoyed much peace…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-taylor/the-wife-of-a-junior-officer-cooped-up-in-a-horrible-canvas-partition/) [Stephen Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-taylor/) > [O Word of God incarnate . . . It is the golden casket Where gems of truth are stored; It is the heaven-drawn picture…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walsham-how/o-word-of-god-incarnate-it-is-the-golden-casket-where-gems-of-truth/) [Walsham How](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walsham-how/) > [How can I trust that the Bible is reliable?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-horton/how-can-i-trust-that-the-bible-is-reliable/) [Michael Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-horton/) > [Every plant which my heavenly father has not planted with be uprooted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesus-christ/every-plant-which-my-heavenly-father-has-not-planted-with-be-uprooted/) [Jesus Christ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesus-christ/) > [Where I come from you're not raised to think on your own. It's not that you're pushed to read the Bible. The Bible is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abel-ferrara/where-i-come-from-you-re-not-raised-to-think-on-your-own-it-s-not/) [Abel Ferrara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abel-ferrara/) > [“I felt like praying or something, when I was in bed, but I couldn't do it. I can't always pray when I feel like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-salinger/i-felt-like-praying-or-something-when-i-was-in-bed-but-i-couldn-t-do/) [J.D. Salinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-salinger/) > [What comes to mind when you think of heaven? Heaven is referred to in fifty-four of the Bible's sixty-six books, and the final two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-jeremiah/what-comes-to-mind-when-you-think-of-heaven-heaven-is-referred-to-in/) [David Jeremiah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-jeremiah/) > [“While it is in one sense a result of God’s presence within us, the New Testament also describes a process involved in our “putting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallas-willard/while-it-is-in-one-sense-a-result-of-god-s-presence-within-us-the-new/) [Dallas Willard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-willard/) > [The definition of a Church is crystal clear in the New Testament. We see the picture of it. They came together the first day…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-macarthur/the-definition-of-a-church-is-crystal-clear-in-the-new-testament-we/) [John MacArthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-macarthur/) [Browse all 8,465 Bible quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bible/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The problem with the Bible, the Qur'an, the Torah - or any sacred text - as an authority is that so much depends on how the text is read and the interests of the reader. The Bible has been used to justify slavery, apartheid, the suppression of women, the 'evils' of sexuality, the 'evils' of homosexuality, a male-only priesthood, the denial of any priests at all, the supremacy of the Pope, the irrelevance of the Pope, the authority of the Church, a denial of the authority of the Church, a feminist agenda, war, pacifism and almost every other position that people may wish to hold.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Peter Vardy" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-vardy/the-problem-with-the-bible-the-qur-an-the-torah-or-any-sacred-text-as/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Bible" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-vardy/the-problem-with-the-bible-the-qur-an-the-torah-or-any-sacred-text-as/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b55/peter-vardy-104514_bible_the-problem-with-the-bible-the-qur-an-th_425502.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b55/peter-vardy-104514_bible_the-problem-with-the-bible-the-qur-an-th_425502.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b55/peter-vardy-104514_bible_the-problem-with-the-bible-the-qur-an-th_425502.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The problem with the Bible, the Qur'an, the Torah - or any sacred text - as an authority is that so much…” — Peter Vardy", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Peter Vardy", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-vardy/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“The problem with the Bible, the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-vardy/the-problem-with-the-bible-the-qur-an-the-torah-or-any-sacred-text-as/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-vardy/the-problem-with-the-bible-the-qur-an-the-torah-or-any-sacred-text-as/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```