I know what you’re about to say: “What a way to start the first day of classes at UP Diliman!”

Anyway, a student of De La Salle University (DLSU) sent an emailed question about my views on the Holy Bible. His Theology professor requires him and his classmates to ask questions to selected journalists and celebrities. I take this opportunity to share with you my short reply to him. (That he is a student of the university where I got my master’s degree partly explains my accommodation of his request, even if I don’t consider myself an expert when it comes to the Bible.)

I am not an authority when it comes to the Holy Bible, so all I can provide is a personal opinion which is anecdotal and subjective. The greatest book ever written is said to contain the greatest story ever told: That of a man who said that he was the son of God and who made a selfless sacrifice of allowing himself to be humiliated, severely punished and painfully executed for all of humanity’s sins. From a historical viewpoint, I think we should also look at the Bible as an account of the history of Israel, Egypt, Iraq and other countries. What I find personally interesting in the Bible are the first and last chapters (i.e., Genesis and Revelations). The first explains the Divine Theory regarding the creation of the world and the second contains predictions about the future and the end of the world which have been the subject of so many speculations.

Do you have other opinions regarding the Bible? Secular and other views are most welcome.

Incidentally, if you’re in a spiritual mood today, you may want to read a reflection essay I wrote in Filipino during the Holy Week titled “Saysay ng pagninilay-nilay.”

That’s all for now. Thank you for reading.