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Understanding the Bible: An Introduction for Skeptics, Seekers, and Religious Liberals
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Average Rating:  out of 6 Reviews
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Price: $15.00
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Sale: $5.99
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Manufacturer: Beacon Press
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EAN (European Article Number): 9780807010532
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Number of Items: 1
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Binding: Paperback
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Author: John A. Buehrens
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Publisher: Beacon Press
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Dewey Decimal Number: 220.61
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Publication Date: 2004-06-15
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Reading Level: 214
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Description: "An introductory survey of biblical scholarship, [Understanding the Bible] says that you don"t have to believe in the supernatural to appreciate the wisdom of the Bible." — Rich Barlow, Boston Globe
This warm, straightforward guide invites readers to rediscover our culture"s central religious and spiritual text and makes accessible some of the best contemporary historical, literary, political, and feminist readings of the Hebrew and Christian scriptures.
"[Buehrens] demonstrates that it is both intellectually respectable and politically savvy to know your Bible well." —Joyce Smothers, Library Journal
"Forsaking the Bible means forsaking the best-selling book of all time . . . It is difficult to understand much of Western literature and culture without knowing Scripture . . . [Buehrens"s] book is a readable, salient introduction to biblical study and history." —Religion News Service
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Customer Reviews
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Review Summary: The Perfect Fit |
Date: 2007-05-17 |
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Details: Buehrens claims to have written his book for 'Skeptics, Seekers, and Religious Liberals', and I fit into all three categoies. Having had a religious upbringing that required blind faith in the Church's teachings without any room for questioning and interpreting on one's own, it is wonderful to read Buehrens' statements that it is necessary to read and interpret the Bible through one's own personal experience. Buehrens writes simply and understandably without making the reader feel that he is 'talking down' to someone of lesser intelligence. Thank you, John Buehrens, for opening the door to an adult understanding of scripture that doesn't make me feel silly or inadequate. |
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Review Summary: Very Relevant |
Date: 2006-11-11 |
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Details: This is an excellent and easy to understand book for anyone with an open mind about the origins and interpretations of the Bible. As a skeptic I now have a better appreciation for the Bible as an important work of literature in spite the baggage of my fundamentalist upbringing. |
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Review Summary: A Bare-Bones Introduction |
Date: 2005-08-19 |
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Details: I've come to believe that expectations matter a lot when you pick up a book to read. For me, this book fell short of my expectation, but then again, my expectations were probably unreasonable.
I attended a Christian liberal arts college, majoring in English, and decided to take quite a few Bible classes as electives. I knew that there would never be another time like then to explore the issues raised by the biblical text. My professors were fantastic (language experts, brilliant people, and progressive Christians), so my understanding of the Bible flourished there.
Fast forward one and a half years, and I find myself forgetting much of what I learned. Buehren's book, however, did little to help me regain my intellectual footing. Had I skimmed a bit before leaving the library, I would have seen that he planned, excepting the first couple chapters, to summarize the entire Bible. There was scant analysis or interpretation.
If you haven't read the Bible through and desire a sense of narrative (what happens and when), this would be a great starting point for study. However, if you are looking more for help understanding and appreciating the stories of the Bible, I'd point you towards a topical study instead. Buehrens would do well to take his abilities and understanding and apply them to a book-length study of a book of the Bible, say, Exodus, instead of wrangling with the whole massive thing in one short book. |
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Review Summary: Everyone should read this book! |
Date: 2005-05-26 |
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Details: I recommend this book to everyone I know, no matter what their religion or lack there of! Rev. Buehrens helps open up the Bible and educate you enough to read it and come to your own conclusions, whether you agree with everything he says or not. I'm a new Muslim and highly recommend this to all people because the Bible truly is part of literature and history and should be read and known by all. I was actually recommended this book by a rabbi friend who believes that despite it covering the ENTIRE Bible (Old and New Testaments), he points out that it shows the literary importance and historical importance of the work as a whole, no matter what your
(dis)beliefs are.
Take the time and READ THIS BOOK! |
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Review Summary: Great Book! |
Date: 2003-08-23 |
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Details: If you consider yourself a traditionalist or a modernist or neither, you will find this book a tremendous aid in interpreting Hebrew and Christian scriptures. I highly recommend this book to anyone wishing to wrest the bible from the pejorative ranks of literalism. If you've ever lived in a place where people use the bible to justify ever action, and you do not have knowledge of the bible, you may have found that you had arrived at a battle and you were unarmed. If you've ever been to a place where people use the bible as a cookbook, applying the letter of its content, but not the spirit, and do authoritative damage to others, then you will find John Buehrens' book, Understanding the Bible, a refreshing, easy-to-read book that captures the spirit of the bible while providing the reader with the necessary armor to shield them against any biblical interpretation that is based in disguised fear rather than compassion. John Buehren looks at the bible through a modern-day lens that includes both Jewish and feminist perspectives that enables us to unchain the bible from the past and make it relevant and useful for the 21st Century. Whether you consider yourself to be a skeptic, seeker, or religious liberal, neglecting the rich rhetoric and iconic power of the bible is to ignore the impact that it has had on western Society and continues to have. Buehrens looks at historical aspects, original intent, and how tradition has reshaped the historical literature of the bible. Understanding the bible is key to our being interpreters of our common Judaeo-Christian heritage and is key to taking responsibility for our own spiritual maturation. Rather than preach about the bible, Buehrens eloquently writes of the bible and explores its narrative as metaphor so that we may transcend any arbitrary boundaries or creedal beliefs and enter into a relationship with others by finding common ground for which to begin conversations so that we may live together in harmony. For anyone who wishes to understand the bible and apply its content to today's world, John Buehrens' book, Understanding the Bible, is a must read. |
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