Tag Archives: the Bible

Before Machiavelli, there was the Bible

One of my several reading projects is to make my way through the Great Books of the Western World—the works selected by Mortimer J. Adler, Robert M. Hutchins, and their fellow editors for inclusion in the 54-volume set published by … Continue reading

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circumnavigating a literary world

I have talked a bit about my project to read the Bible as though decoding the genome of Western Christendom (that is, Western civilization). I am treating the books of the Bible as “chromosomes” of the genome, with the individual … Continue reading

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mapping the Bible, gene by gene

In my last post I was talking about reading the Bible as though decoding a genome—the genome of Western Christendom (to use Arnold J. Toynbee’s label for our Western civilization). I am currently making my way through Chromosome 6 of … Continue reading

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chromosome 6—and other biblical topics

And now my flu is all but gone. I am in the long tail in which my lungs are gradually clearing themselves, and I’m building my strength back up. In all, it was not severe; it was mostly done in … Continue reading

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The Fatherhood Principle by Myles Munroe: making God your role model

The Fatherhood Principle: God’s Design and Destiny for Every Man by Munroe Myles My rating: 4 of 5 stars If you’re a Christian, or are willing to become one, this book lays out a strong and principled approach to being … Continue reading

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the Western Civilization Genome Project

One of my reading projects right now is to reread the Old Testament. I’ve been wanting to reread it for a couple of reasons: it’s part of the Great Books reading program, and it is also a key text for … Continue reading

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A History of Israelite Religion in the Old Testament Period, volume 1, by Rainer Albertz: the story behind the story of the Bible

A History of Israelite Religion in the Old Testament Period, Volume I: From the Beginnings to the End of the Monarchy by Rainer Albertz My rating: 5 of 5 stars A deeply researched and well thought-out examination of how Israelite … Continue reading

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The Illegitimacy of Jesus by Jane Schaberg

The Illegitimacy of Jesus: A Feminist Theological Interpretation of the Infancy Narratives, Expanded Twentieth Anniversary Edition by Jane Schaberg My rating: 3 of 5 stars This evenhanded work of New Testament scholarship is needlessly freighted with discussions of where it … Continue reading

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Middle Eastern Mythology by S. H. Hooke

Middle Eastern Mythology by S.H. Hooke My rating: 4 of 5 stars This concise, authoritative text gives an excellent overview of the myths of the ancient Middle East and their interconnections. I bought this little Pelican paperback in January 1986, … Continue reading

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Jesus the Man by Barbara Thiering

Jesus the Man: Originally Published in Hardcover As Jesus and the Riddle of the Dead Sea Scrolls by Barbara Thiering My rating: 5 of 5 stars This technical, meticulous, expository work of New Testament scholarship is the elephant in the … Continue reading

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