Bible Babel: Making Sense of the Most Talked About Book of All Time

by Kristin Swenson

Overview

Why does the film Magnolia end in a downpour of frogs?

Is the serpent in the Garden of Eden the devil or just a snake?

How do people use the Bible to argue different sides of today's most controversial issues?

Why did Metallica's bass player name their song “Creeping Death” after watching The Ten Commandments?

Where does the fish symbol of the Christian faith come from?

Who is the lamb with seven horns and seven eyes who opens the seven seals of a cosmic scroll?

Without either promoting or undermining specific beliefs, religious studies professor Kristin Swenson offers an intelligent, humorous, highly accessible, engaging, and illuminating guide to the Bible—incorporating biblical scholarship with contemporary pop culture references to help readers better understand the most talked about book of all time.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780061728266
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	03/15/2011
Pages:	368
Product dimensions:	5.20(w) x 7.90(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

Kristin Swenson teaches religious studies at Virginia Commonwealth University. Her books include Living Through Pain: Psalms and the Search for Wholeness and What Is Religious Studies?.

Table of Contents

Map of the Ancient Near East, with Israel xiii

Introduction xv

1 What Is the Bible, Anyway? 1

2 Different Bibles and a Hidden Bible, Too 11

3 As It Is Written: History in the Bible 22

4 Contexts and Culture: History behind the Bible 31

5 Getting to the Good Book: History of the Bible 42

6 What's the Best Translation? 53

7 We've Got Issues 75

8 Quotes and Misquotes 99

9 Men, Famous and Infamous 128

10 Lovely (and Not So) Ladies 161

11 Flora, Fauna, Etcetera 187

12 Sites to Be Seen 217

13 God Names, Beings, and Doings 247

Conclusion 269

Appendixes

Appendix 1 Order of Books in the Hebrew Bible and in the Old Testament 272

Appendix 2 Order of Books in the New Testament 274

Appendix 3 Timeline of Some History in and behind the Bible 275

Appendix 4 A Tentative Chronology of Hebrew Bible Writings 276

Appendix 5 Major Events in New Testament History 278

Appendix 6 Abraham's Family Tree (Genesis) 280

Appendix 7 Abbreviations for Biblical Books 282

Resources for More Information 283

Notes 286

Index 325

What People are Saying About This

Michael Dirda

“Wide-ranging, objectively factual and written for the common reader. . . . Swenson’s book possesses a singularly breezy tone, a kind of “Jesus Christ Superstar” approach to the sacred. . . . A solid, readable work that doesn’t shy away from the tough issues.”

Stephen Prothero

“Finally, a book on the Bible for the rest of us! . . . This broadside against our collective biblical illiteracy hits the sweetspot between blind belief and angry atheism. Who said a book on the Good Book can’t be brave, smart, and fun?”

Walter Brueggemann

“Kristin Swenson offers a confident, well-paced, well-informed, and accessible guide to Bible basics and biblical literacy. The reader may expect some surprises, some confirmation of hunches, and some challenges—exactly what ought to arise from serious, sustained treatment.”

Robert Alter

“Bible Babel is a breath of fresh air. . . . Kristin Swenson’s writing is brisk and lively. She has an informed sense of everything relevant to the Bible. . . . She is an engaging corrector of misconceptions and a helpful guide to the common reader.”

Editorial Reviews

Wide-ranging, objectively factual and written for the common reader. . . . Swenson’s book possesses a singularly breezy tone, a kind of “Jesus Christ Superstar” approach to the sacred. . . . A solid, readable work that doesn’t shy away from the tough issues.” — Michael Dirda, Washington Post

“Kristin Swenson offers a confident, well-paced, well-informed, and accessible guide to Bible basics and biblical literacy. The reader may expect some surprises, some confirmation of hunches, and some challenges—exactly what ought to arise from serious, sustained treatment.” — Walter Brueggemann, author of An Unsettling God: The Heart of the Hebrew Bible

“Finally, a book on the Bible for the rest of us! . . . This broadside against our collective biblical illiteracy hits the sweetspot between blind belief and angry atheism. Who said a book on the Good Book can’t be brave, smart, and fun?” — Stephen Prothero, author of Religious Literacy: What Every American Needs to Know—and Doesn't

“Bible Babel is a breath of fresh air. . . . Kristin Swenson’s writing is brisk and lively. She has an informed sense of everything relevant to the Bible. . . . She is an engaging corrector of misconceptions and a helpful guide to the common reader.” — Robert Alter, author of The Book of Psalms: A Translation with Commentary

“Swenson successfully shows why, in spite of all its difficulties, the Bible remains a thought-provoking and infinite source of inspiration and debate for all kinds of people.” — Publishers Weekly

Hats off to Kristin Swenson. . . . Ms. Swenson combines meticulous scholarship with an original eye and a sense of fun. She has succeeded in presenting the Bible anew in a highly accessible way. . . . A most welcome achievement. — Washington Times

From the Publisher

Bible Babel is a breath of fresh air. . . . Kristin Swenson’s writing is brisk and lively. She has an informed sense of everything relevant to the Bible. . . . She is an engaging corrector of misconceptions and a helpful guide to the common reader.

Robert Alter

Wide-ranging, objectively factual and written for the common reader. . . . Swenson’s book possesses a singularly breezy tone, a kind of “Jesus Christ Superstar” approach to the sacred. . . . A solid, readable work that doesn’t shy away from the tough issues.

Michael Dirda

Kristin Swenson offers a confident, well-paced, well-informed, and accessible guide to Bible basics and biblical literacy. The reader may expect some surprises, some confirmation of hunches, and some challenges—exactly what ought to arise from serious, sustained treatment.

Walter Brueggemann

Finally, a book on the Bible for the rest of us! . . . This broadside against our collective biblical illiteracy hits the sweetspot between blind belief and angry atheism. Who said a book on the Good Book can’t be brave, smart, and fun?

Stephen Prothero

Hats off to Kristin Swenson. . . . Ms. Swenson combines meticulous scholarship with an original eye and a sense of fun. She has succeeded in presenting the Bible anew in a highly accessible way. . . . A most welcome achievement.

Washington Times