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Reading the Bible for All the Wrong Reasons
The Bible can be hazardous to one's health if read with faulty expectations. Writing with compassion and wit, Russell Pregeant shows that reading "without interpretation" is impossible. The right question is which assumptions are appropriate. He addresses the most common and most harmful assumptions about the Bible, beginning with the expectation that it will always "speak" as directly and immediately as a fortune cookie. He moves on to address biblical authority, the Bible and science, "last days" prophecies, and the Bible as rulebook and guide to beliefs. Pregeant insists that we take responsibility for what we do with this powerful book.
- GenresTheology
136 pages, Paperback
First published August 15, 2011
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
September 19, 2014
This is the first book from this Author that I have read. The description of the book sounded excellent and I was particularly attracted to the chapter headings. After reading the introduction, I was convinced this was a book that I would enjoy.
Sadly I was disappointed :( The Author raises many excellent points in regard to the misuse (though I would sometime argue "perceived misuse") of the Bible. In each chapter, I would again start to feel an affinity for the Author's development of his argument. However that changed most times when he addressed the argument.
He seems to lump all of us with a more Conservative approach to Scripture together as Fundamentalists with very little education. For example, he boldly claims that there is overwhelming evidence that the Pastoral Epistles were not written by Paul and then seems to indicate that therefore we can basically ignore anything that we don't like in them. I agree that there are some good arguments for non-Pauline authorship but wouldn't say it was overwhelming and there are many noted scholars who disagree.
It is just how dismissive the Author is. He often argues from emotion: this view of the Bible leads to these bad things, thus the view must be wrong. When it could as well be argued that it is not the view of the bible that is at fault, but the hardness of the hearts of the people in the way they apply it.
I also felt that after an excellent setting the stage for a decent discussion on a many topics, he then almost trivialises things when addressing the solution. Academia and Science seem to be faultless but Church Tradition and History is always suspect.
Besides my frustrations above, the Author is a good communicator and the book is easy enough to read. I do believe that the Author cares very deeply and justifiably for those who have been hurt from the misuse of the Bible. However he fails to convince me that he has the solution.
Sadly I was disappointed :( The Author raises many excellent points in regard to the misuse (though I would sometime argue "perceived misuse") of the Bible. In each chapter, I would again start to feel an affinity for the Author's development of his argument. However that changed most times when he addressed the argument.
He seems to lump all of us with a more Conservative approach to Scripture together as Fundamentalists with very little education. For example, he boldly claims that there is overwhelming evidence that the Pastoral Epistles were not written by Paul and then seems to indicate that therefore we can basically ignore anything that we don't like in them. I agree that there are some good arguments for non-Pauline authorship but wouldn't say it was overwhelming and there are many noted scholars who disagree.
It is just how dismissive the Author is. He often argues from emotion: this view of the Bible leads to these bad things, thus the view must be wrong. When it could as well be argued that it is not the view of the bible that is at fault, but the hardness of the hearts of the people in the way they apply it.
I also felt that after an excellent setting the stage for a decent discussion on a many topics, he then almost trivialises things when addressing the solution. Academia and Science seem to be faultless but Church Tradition and History is always suspect.
Besides my frustrations above, the Author is a good communicator and the book is easy enough to read. I do believe that the Author cares very deeply and justifiably for those who have been hurt from the misuse of the Bible. However he fails to convince me that he has the solution.
February 20, 2012
For me the beauty of this book says a whole lot that I already know and agree with, but Pregeant has such a way with words that what he says is offered in a lovingly pastoral, yet pedagogical way. I especially appreciate one of his opening statements, wherein he argues that no one simply "reads" the Bible; we all are interpreters of Scripture, whether we realize it or not. Pregeant also deals with "hot-button" issues within the church as it has sought to interpret Scripture in such a way as to maintain good scholarship and point out the complexity of the matters at hand, but without letting anyone off the hook. This is a great text for any pastor seeking to lead a study on Biblical interpretation or for anyone who's wondering what some of the wrong reasons to read the Bible are. Enjoy!
January 22, 2012
OK, so I thought this was going to be all churchy and stuff, but it was really interesting. The author, professor of religion emeritus at Curry College, makes some interesting points about using the Bible to bludgeon people in various ways, cautioning them from many Bible abuses (often distorting what is written or exerpting things to our own ends) and encouraging us to consider it "...as reflection on life's meaning and purpose, on ethical responsibility, and on the values by which we live our individual and collective lives." (p. 131)
September 25, 2011
Excellent introductory text for discussion of the way we use the Bible. Pregeant deals with issues such as science and the Bible, eschatology and Last Days theology, and ethics. He warns against looking to the Bible for answers to questions the text isn't meant to answer.
He writes from a Process perspective, but while it undergirds his perspective it's not overt.
So, if you're looking for a readable and usable text on the bible for a general audience this might be a good place to start.
He writes from a Process perspective, but while it undergirds his perspective it's not overt.
So, if you're looking for a readable and usable text on the bible for a general audience this might be a good place to start.
August 29, 2012
If you wan to be challenged to think about why you believe what you believe and how they plays into how you read the Bible, get ready!
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews