In Dan Kelleher’s 9/3/05 letter, he challenged me to a public debate “for an in-depth expose of the Bible as a book of misogynist perversity”. His attempt in that letter to discredit God’s character has been addressed by Terry Forke, Sharon Salyer, Denis Milutinovic and Eric Knutson. They demonstrated well how Mr. Kelleher referred to Bible verses that he misrepresented by various means including overriding rules of English grammar and taking verses out of cultural/historical context. Such methods of argument do nothing to promote truth. Mr. Kelleher’s various letters to the editor make it clear that, either he is uninterested in truth or he doesn’t believe that objective truth exists. Furthermore, I have not seen evidence that he is capable of honest, courteous, respectful, discourse without excessive emotion. With such a person, public debate beyond the scope of this opinion page would be unfruitful and unpleasant.

      It takes dedication to truth and intense study to make sense of some of the historical texts of the Old Testament and find their congruity with the New Testament. The God of the Old and New Testaments can appear to be of drastically different character if passages are taken out of context, and if one emphasizes certain isolated scripture passages and ignores others rather than looking at the whole.

      It is a great joy to serve a God of such compassion and mercy, who makes the sun to shine on the evil and the good” (Matthew 5: 45) and wants to lavish blessings upon His children. Dan Kelleher has blasphemed Almighty God, and yet if Dan were to call out to God with a contrite heart, He would listen and respond. He is tapping on Dan’s shoulder, wooing him, and there is nothing Dan can do or say that would cause God to stop loving him. “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).

      As much as I enjoy debate and value the intellect and reasoning ability that God has given to humans, I am ever-mindful that there will always be some things we just can’t fathom. Our human capacity for understanding remains finite:

       “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:8-9).

Annie Bukacek MD