Bibliograph

A most peculiar book, the inherent strangeness of the Bible, Kristin Swenson

Type

Label

A most peculiar book, the inherent strangeness of the Bible, Kristin Swenson

Language

eng

Bibliography note

Includes bibliographical references and index

Index

index present

Literary Form

non fiction

Main title

A most peculiar book

Nature of contents

bibliography

Oclc number

1145572872

Responsibility statement

Kristin Swenson

Sub title

the inherent strangeness of the Bible

Summary

"[Bible] is read with intense devotion by hundreds of millions of people, stands as authoritative for Judaism and Christianity, and informs and affects the politics and lives of the religious and non-religious around the world. But how well do we really know it?.. It is full of surprises and contradictions, unexplained impossibilities, intriguing supernatural creatures, and heroes doing horrible deeds. It does not provide a simple worldview: what "the Bible says" on a given topic is multi-faceted, sometimes even contradictory. Yet, Swenson argues, we have a tendency to reduce the complexities of the Bible to aphorisms, bumper stickers, and slogans. Swenson helps readers look at the text with fresh eyes. A collection of ancient stories and poetry written by multiple authors, held together by the tenuous string of tradition, the Bible often undermines our modern assumptions. And is all the more marvelous and powerful for it."--Dust jacket flap

Classification