First winner of the Caldecott Medal in 1938. A Bible storybook would probably not win now. But this would still be a good baptism gift or of interest First winner of the Caldecott Medal in 1938. A Bible storybook would probably not win now. But this would still be a good baptism gift or of interest to children who are fascinated by animals....more
The late and much-lamented Rachel Held Evans grew up in Dayton, Tennessee (yes, the home of the Scopes trial). Her father was a professor at Bryan UniThe late and much-lamented Rachel Held Evans grew up in Dayton, Tennessee (yes, the home of the Scopes trial). Her father was a professor at Bryan University (named for guess who) and she was raised in an evangelical church. At the time she lived and wrote this book, she had been blogging about what I'd call the widening of her spiritual horizons for a while. This is not, however, a "recovering evangelical" memoir.
Rachel is inspired to try living by the Biblical precepts for women, both Old and New Testament -- particularly as set forth in Proverbs 31:10-31. With a book contract as well as her blog keeping her accountable, she plans a focus for each month with several activities -- everything from sequestering herself in a tent on the lawn during her period to learning to cook to reexamining some of Paul's strictures on women. Each chapter of often hilarious description of how this worked out is preceded by a thoughtful essay on women and the Bible.
A Year of Biblical Womanhood was both entertaining and thought-provoking. I recommend it highly and will be reading more by this author....more
I don't actually speak Swedish, but this little booklet will be useful if I ever go caroling with a bunch of Swedes or Swedish-Americans. It has most I don't actually speak Swedish, but this little booklet will be useful if I ever go caroling with a bunch of Swedes or Swedish-Americans. It has most of the carols that they would be likely to sing, and is nicely illustrated with tomten, Christmas trees, etc. (Interestingly, the Christmas tree has Danish flags on it, not Swedish ones.) You can probably find this book or a similar one at any Scandinavian gift shop....more
Although I shelved this book under "Books by People I Know," it's actually that I heard Rev. Barbour preach once and have known his son and family forAlthough I shelved this book under "Books by People I Know," it's actually that I heard Rev. Barbour preach once and have known his son and family for many years. I think I picked this up at a church rummage sale. While not great poetry, the poems in this small volume do a good job of putting the reader into the Biblical setting; many of them are told in the first person, a form of preaching I've always enjoyed. If you ever come across a copy, it's worth picking up....more
Raised in an evangelical family (his parents worked with Campus Crusade for Christ and similar organizations) and now a professor of Biblical studies Raised in an evangelical family (his parents worked with Campus Crusade for Christ and similar organizations) and now a professor of Biblical studies at Case Western Reserve, Beal knows his Bible and its history. He begins by surveying all the rather peculiar ways in which the Bible is marketed today, especially to evangelicals. I had seen some of these in bookstores but I didn't know about "Biblezines" in which the sidebars of commentary and Tips for Teens eclipse the Bible text; manga Bibles; and Bibles for every age and gender, with "appropriate" bindings -- there's even a Duct Tape Bible! He also points out the use of "Bible" as a term for the definitive work on a subject, from the Shooter's Bible to the Cake Bible. Beal also discusses translations and the difference between those which try to find the most accurate translation of each Hebrew or Greek word, and the "functional equivalent" translations/paraphrases like the Living Bible. Readers who are fairly familiar with the history of the Bible and its criticism may find a lot to skim, but I believe nearly everyone has something to learn from this book.
Beal's book also deals with what I might call the sociology of the Bible and how it achieved a sort of iconic status quite apart from the actual texts and their meanings. He gives a good rundown of Bible history, reminding us that the earliest Christians did not have a common Bible but rather collections of texts which differed from group to group. Beal also has some excellent suggestions for how Bible studies might best be conducted. (If his ideas, which are quite similar to my own, were to be adopted, I'm afraid there'd be a lot of Bible study workbook authors out of work.)
I think both clergy and laypeople could get something from The Rise and Fall of the Bible and that even atheists (who so often seem to be just a different variety of fundamentalists) could learn enough from it to make some of their arguments a little less ridiculous. Highly recommended....more
This was the book chosen for my church's Lenten study group, which I was unable to attend because of work. I would really have liked the chance to disThis was the book chosen for my church's Lenten study group, which I was unable to attend because of work. I would really have liked the chance to discuss it in a group; now I have to wait till my other family members have read it, I guess.
This is not my first reading of Marcus Borg and John Dominic Crossan. Whether I've mellowed or they have improved in their ability to get their points across, I'm not sure, but I liked them better this time around, especially Borg. (I've had an opportunity to hear Crossan speak and actually have no real problems with him, other than that his books are usually quite long and dense with footnotes; writing this one with Borg seems to have made him a little more accessible.) Not having been raised Lutheran or Catholic, some of the big discoveries they make don't seem that earth-shaking to me, but it's always pleasant to have renowned authorities make assertions that jibe with my own long-held beliefs.
The Last Weektakes us through Holy Week from Palm Sunday through Easter using primarily the Gospel of Mark, though it does point out some of the additions and differences one finds in the later Gospels. If you are a strong believer in the doctrine of substitutionary atonement, you will have trouble with this book. If the idea of God sending God's Son to die as the only way to wash out mankind's sinfulness has always bothered you, this book will help you. Borg and Crossan point out the dangers of Biblical literalism for those who confuse facts with truth. I would highly recommend this book and may come back to add some more thoughts later after I've digested and discussed it....more
A. J. Jacobs writes for Esquire magazine, which should give you an idea of the tone of this book. He set out to spend a year trying to follow, literalA. J. Jacobs writes for Esquire magazine, which should give you an idea of the tone of this book. He set out to spend a year trying to follow, literally, every commandment in the Bible -- giving eight months to the Hebrew Bible and four to the New Testament. The New Testament gets short shrift, not only because Jacobs's studies in the Hebrew Bible moved him closer to his Jewish faith, but also probably because his wife is expecting, and then has, twins during the time he's working on it. I learned some interesting facts from this book (for instance, that there are people whose work it is to test fabrics for the Biblically-prohibited linen/wool combination). What Jacobs, who was raised in a secular, agnostic home, learned was more important: through the practice of various aspects of faith (most especially prayer, but also such things as avoiding gossip and other negative talk)he felt himself becoming a better person. Recommended, though you may want to read it as I did, over a period of a few weeks....more
Great midrash! I wish she would write more like this, as there are many stories in the Bible that could benefit from her treatment. It will give you aGreat midrash! I wish she would write more like this, as there are many stories in the Bible that could benefit from her treatment. It will give you a lot to think about....more
The culmination of Gomes' trilogy which started with The Good Book, this book was pretty much preaching to the choir as far as I was concerned, so ofThe culmination of Gomes' trilogy which started with The Good Book, this book was pretty much preaching to the choir as far as I was concerned, so of course I liked it. Also, Gomes uses hymns to make his point a lot of the time, which was great. As a gay, liberal Christian, chaplain at "Godless Harvard," and consistently rated as one of America's best preachers, Gomes has a lot to offer. I particularly liked his differentiating between optimism and hope. My one quibble would be that he has a little too gloomy a view of the state of mainline churches in the US. If you read Christianity for the Rest of Us or simply go out and look, you can find many vital churches preaching and living out "The Scandalous Gospel of Jesus" already....more
A useful corrective to the "Left Behind" series, showing that Revelation is not a prophecy of doom but a message of hope.A useful corrective to the "Left Behind" series, showing that Revelation is not a prophecy of doom but a message of hope....more
I haven't read every word of this, but used it in Bible study. It can be controversial but is a useful springboard for discussion.I haven't read every word of this, but used it in Bible study. It can be controversial but is a useful springboard for discussion....more
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