An Interview With ThumpMe (aka Ivy Hughes)

I’ve become addicted to hearing a fresh reading of the Bible through the words of “thumpme” — a blog written by Ivy Hughes. She — a self-professed agnostic — decided to read the Bible through for the first time. She began this reading journey in June with Genesis and intends to end at Christmas with Revelation. You can find her blog here; and you can find subscribe/follow (Twitter)/contact information here.

Her writing is honest and witty. It’s hard for me to imagine reading a book of the Bible for the first time, so I enjoy hearing what captured her attention — especially since she’s reading as a non-believer (though a generous one, I might add — this isn’t Bible-trashing).

I asked Ivy if I could interview her for this blog, and she kindly agreed.

Mike: First things first. Your website says you are offended by Tex-Mex. Seriously — have you never really had great fajitas and guacamole? How can I trust your theological instincts if you don’t love Tex-Mex?

Ivy: Well, I grew up in Colorado so I’m a snob when it comes to Mexican food. To me Tex-Mex is American/Mexican food — huge burritos, mayo infused guacamole, hard shell tacos — and that’s an entirely different beast than authentic Mexican food. You know, corn tacos with pastor, onion, cilantro and a little lime, mayo-free guac with avocado, cilantro, lime, garlic. Maybe a little tomato. To me that’s heaven.

As for theological instincts…I can’t say I have any. My thoughts are entirely unpredictable. I don’t know if I’d recommend listening to a loose cannon, but it can be entertaining.

Mike: While I find the 2011 taser project interesting, it’s the one for 2010 that really interests me. What made you decide to read the Bible all the way through for the first time?

Ivy: Couple of things. One, I’m a writer (obviously) yet I miss a lot of literary Biblical references so I wanted to educate myself. Two, I always need a project and am forever seeking new experiences. For example, I lived with a random family in Fon du Loc Wisconsin for a month; bribed a cop in Mexico; honeymooned in a hurricane; met a mystic while living in a cabin in Rifle, Colorado; made a fool out of myself during a fashion shoot I had no business being a part of; went to an Indian pow wow; and on and on. These are pretty PG compared to some others…

I just realized this list sounds like something you’d see in an off-beat personal ad.

I’ve always thought about reading the Bible, but the relationship I have with my sister was the real impetus behind the project. We don’t really have a relationship and I have no idea why. I’ve been trying to figure it out for years, but I’m not really getting anywhere. Anyway, in 2009 she started going to church. She wasn’t pushy or aggressive about it. On Christmas Eve of 2009, I volunteered to go to mass with her. I thought “hm, since I don’t understand my sister and I don’t understand religion, maybe if I study both, I’ll get some answers.” Hence, ThumpMe. The irony is, when I saw her a month ago I asked her about church and she said she doesn’t go anymore. Interesting.

Interestingly, this project has helped me understand my in-laws a bit better. My mother-in-law’s family were missionaries in China in the 1950s/1960s. I was nervous to meet them because I pictured some pitch-fork wielding Bible thumpers but they’re the exact opposite. They’re wonderful people and never force their views on anyone. They went through some tough stuff and I could never understand why they kept their faith. I feel like I understand that decision a bit better.

Mike: What’s the most surprising insight you have so far? Do you have a favorite book of the ones you’ve read? A least favorite?

Ivy: This is going to sound stupid, but I never realized how applicable the teachings in the Bible are to real life, even for us non-believers. I guess I had this notion that the Bible was nothing more than love God or go to hell. There’s quite a bit of that, but there’s also a lot of great lessons. It’s all perspective.

I’ve got a soft spot in my heart for Job. He’s inquisitive, doesn’t take things at face value. I respect that. He also suffers deeply, which is something I can relate too. I’m sure everyone can. I read the Book of Job at a particularly low point in my life so I’m sure there’s something to that.

I can’t remember the names of my least favorite books. I probably blocked them from my memory. They include the ones detailing dates, clans, deaths, etc. I would have a more favorable view of these books if the following book (s) didn’t begin by essentially saying, “By the way, here’s a two page summary of the 50 pages you just read.” That about killed me. What a tease!

Mike: Are you finding the message(s) of the Bible compelling, annoying, or perhaps a bit of both?

Ivy: It’s all perspective. Sometimes I find it annoying, sometimes I find it very relevant. When I sit down to write the blog, I try to pick topics that are a bit different. I’ve talked about having respect for others, the negative impact extremes can have on society, gossip, the power of women, etc. I’m not saying these are new ideas, but the way they relate to the Bible and modern society is entirely new to me.

A lot of the cliche topics — how do you know God exists, etc. — are simply a matter of faith. You have it or you don’t. I don’t see any point in writing about those kinds of topics. Not only has it been done over and over again, it always leads to circular conversations and I see no point in that.

This may not go over well, but the further I get into the Old Testament, the more I believe God and man are essentially the same. The contradictions, the overreactions, power, greed, manipulation, etc. Those are all human qualities. I think God as a being is just a larger manifestation of human beings. Of course, I don’t believe God exists as a single, tangible being.

Mike: The “ThumpMe” name suggests that you’ve been on the receiving end of some Bible thumpers. Any chance you’ll be one of those thumpers one day?

Ivy: I have been on the receiving end of some good old Christian thumpings, but for every thumping I’ve received, I’ve had about 200 positive experiences with people of faith. I view thumping the same way I view politics. The extreme liberals and extreme conservatives get all of the attention and by doing so, they paint a very damaging picture of what it means to be a Democrat or Republican. Plenty of people operate in the middle, but the minute someone says “I’m a Republican,” they’re perceived as an extreme conservative. Thumpers do the same thing — “you either abide by this teaching or your toast.” Unfortunately thumpers have the same impact on religion that extreme liberals and extreme Democrats have on politcs. They paint this very ugly picture of religion so when a person like me hears that so-and-so believes in God and goes to church, I think he/she must be a thumper, intolerant, etc. It’s unfortunate.

I don’t think I’ll ever be a thumper in any fashion. I don’t have much respect for anyone who tries to force their views on others. If I become a thumper in any capacity, I give you and anyone else the right to sew my mouth shut. I suppose in my case it might be more effective to glue my fingers together…

If you’re asking if I’ll ever believe in the main tenants of Christianity, I’d have to say it’s unlikely. I can’t get past some of the big questions namely, how do we know God exists? The answer to that question, in my opinion, comes down to faith and I simply don’t have that kind of faith.

I will continue learning about religion. I find it fascinating. I’m thinking that in between the Bible project and the 2011 taser project, I may pick up the Koran. We’ll see.

Mike: What would you like to say to readers of this blog — mostly Christians — about church, Christianity, and faith?

Ivy: I certainly don’t think it’s a bad thing to have faith. Faith does a lot of good for a lot of people. Even a heretic like me has faith. I have faith in my family and my friends. I have faith that I can do anything I set my mind to. I have faith in other people (generally). I have faith that everything will workout the way it’s supposed to for each individual. Destiny if you will.

I want people to know I’m not reading the Bible to debunk or make fun of it. I really had no idea what I was getting myself into and, as much as a person can go into something with an open-mind, I opened the first page of that great book with one goal: Finish it by Christmas 2010.

I don’t know about church as an institution but again, if people want to go into a building every Sunday because it makes them feel at peace with the world, knock it out.

Some of the people I have the greatest faith in (Ms. Ellenita Zimmerman) have a very strong faith in the Lord. As long as some one’s a good person and doesn’t try to push their views on others, they’re good in my book.