“[The Bible and Its Influence] is an undisputed triumph of
scholarship and presentation. The achievement is breathtaking….Your
[Hebrew Scriptures] unit raised the bar very high, and I was a
priori a little skeptical about whether you could make the [New
Testament] genuinely literary in nature. I actually ended up liking
the NT unit better than the OT one. … If virtue is its own reward,
so is excellence. The material is excellent.”
Leland Ryken, Ph.D., the Clyde S. Kilby Professor of English at
Wheaton College, IL
"In The Bible and its Influence, the Bible Literacy
Project has produced an outstanding textbook that will both
encourage literacy and open students’ minds to the significant role
the Bible has played in shaping our modern civilization. With
excellent scholarship, it provides a broad-based curriculum that
explores the history, culture and content of the entire Bible and
demonstrates the value and relevance of biblical literacy for
today."
Leith Anderson, President, National Association of Evangelicals
“The volume is well done. …I was quite taken with the abundance of
supplementary materials included in the text—the artwork (highly
variegated and well-chosen), the insets about the Bible in
subsequent literature, the Bible in political life, etc. All this, I
think is likely to help students see concretely how the Bible is not
just a set of ancient documents or something confined to pulpit and
Sunday school, but a series of powerful writings that have had, and
continue to have, profound effects on a whole range of our cultural
institutions and on the way we think about the world.”
Robert Alter, Ph.D., professor of Hebrew and comparative
literature, University of California at Berkeley
“This text provides an extraordinarily helpful background—the
Bible’s impact on literature, the arts, and life. If anyone is
looking for a comprehensive academic understanding of the roots of
modern civilization, this book is an indispensable resource.”
Chuck Colson, author and Founder, Prison Fellowship
“It is, on the whole, an excellent job. It will serve as an
excellent and even-handed introduction to the Bible. Without
question, it can serve as the basis for a constitutional course
about the Bible in the Nation’s public schools. It is therefore a
signal achievement.”
Marc D. Stern, general counsel, American Jewish Congress
“Familiarity with the literary allusions of the Jewish and Christian
scriptures has been the classical mark of a well educated person in
Western Society. The Bible Literacy Project’s textbook, solidly
researched and professionally written, enables those enrolled in our
nation’s public schools to savor that heritage in a way which
respects religious freedom and prepares for the rigors of the very
best of university education in the arts and sciences. I am pleased
to endorse this effort wholeheartedly.”
Richard Sklba, S.S.L., S.T.D., auxiliary bishop of the Roman
Catholic Archdiocese of Milwaukee and chair of the board of trustees
for the Catholic Biblical Association
“It is a pleasure to recommend the textbook produced by the Bible
Literacy Project. This book splendidly illustrates the importance of
the Bible for understanding western culture. It does so in a way
that is respectful towards Jewish and Christian tradition and that
also appreciates the light shed on the Bible by modern historical
study. It takes an ecumenical approach that avoids confessionalism
but is appreciative of the positive role that the Bible can play in
our society. It is an excellent illustration of the way the Bible
can and should be taught in American public schools.”
John Collins, Ph.D., Holmes Professor of Old Testament Criticism
and Interpretation, Yale Divinity School
“As a former secondary school teacher in the Los Angeles City
schools, I am concerned about the loss of Bible literacy in this
generation and know that it can handicap a student’s understanding
of literature, art, music, history and culture. I am greatly
heartened by this remarkable new student textbook for public high
schools, The Bible and Its Influence, which was created as a
legal means to fill a major void in public education- academic study
of the world’s most important written document."
Vonette Bright, Co-founder of Campus Crusade for Christ
International
“Let me say how impressed I am by this ... It is clear that much
hard work and good scholarship have gone into the text. The
instructional design is excellent. This promises to be an
outstanding resource for public schools.”
Charles C. Haynes, Ph.D., senior scholar, First Amendment Center,
Arlington, Virginia
"The Bible and Its Influence textbook is 'fabulous and
long overdue.'"
Janice Crouse, Concerned Women for America, from CBN TV Report.
“To be considered fully literate in the arts and letters of Western
culture, one needs to know the Hebrew Bible, one of the cornerstones
of this culture. This volume provides students with the necessary
tools to attain such literacy.”
Ellen Frankel, Ph.D., CEO and editor-in-chief of The Jewish
Publication Society
“There is a reason that the Bible has lasted through the centuries
as a best-seller… it has something significant to say! Whether it is
compelling history, principles for successful relationships, or
other “on target” revelations, it is a book that cannot be ignored.
I commend The Bible and Its Influence to both the curious and the
committed!”
Joseph Stowell, Th.M., former president, Moody Bible Institute
“This text will be especially helpful for high school students in
identifying biblical allusions in classic and contemporary
literature and thought. In addition, the overview of each book of
the Jewish Bible and the Christian New Testament should prove very
helpful, along with the identification of specific literary passages
and motifs. ... Highly recommended for adoption in classes featuring
‘the Bible as literature.’”
Paul Borgman, Ph.D., professor of English at Gordon College
“This text is a feast for the mind, the eye, and the heart.
Instructive, beautiful, and engaging, it promises to keep THE
seminal works of the Western tradition alive for generations of
young people.”
Amy A. Kass, Ph.D., senior lecturer in the humanities at the
University of Chicago and senior fellow at the Hudson Institute
"The Bible and Its Influence is true to the basics ... the
Bible, and its moral values. It is a valid, excellent
contribution."
Finn Laursen, Executive Director, Christian Educators
Association International
“The influence of the Bible on Western culture in every respect—arts
and literature, politics and justice—is immeasurable. Thanks to this
volume, students can begin to get some sense of the range of that
influence. Despite the sensitivity of the subject matter, this
volume succeeds in being admirably balanced and fair, and yet
accords full respect to sincere religious faith. Too long the Bible
has been selectively ignored by educators afraid of giving offense.
This volume makes it possible to once again bring into the classroom
the book which has had the single greatest impact on Western
civilization.”
Frederica Mathewes-Green, M.A., author and commentator
“As a university professor, I see the deleterious effects of student
Bible illiteracy on a regular basis. I am pleased to endorse this
textbook, which provides the background in Biblical knowledge
required for advanced study of the humanities, philosophy, and
political life.”
Jean Bethke Elshtain, Ph.D., Professor of Social and Political
Ethics at the University of Chicago Divinity School
“The Bible Literacy Project material is an excellent guide for
students to come to know the Bible and its influence on our history
and culture.”
Emil Wcela, D.D., auxiliary bishop for the Roman Catholic Diocese
of Rockville Centre and former chair of the board of trustees of the
Catholic Biblical Association
“No piece of western literature has had the culture-shaping impact
of the Bible. Knowledge of its genres, metaphors, and content is
fundamental to understanding literature, music, art, and politics.
The pleasing format, the engaging style, and the compelling and
accurate content of this textbook will provide students with the
necessary information to become competent and insightful readers of
culture and society.”
Tremper Longman III, Ph.D., Robert H. Gundry Professor of
Biblical Studies at Westmont College
“The informational content, accuracy, exposition, illustrations, and
tone are all extremely well done, and I congratulate you on a highly
accurate and readable presentation.”
Peter Lillback, Ph.D., president of Westminster Theological
Seminary
“This is a masterful project. It covers the range of Biblical
literature. The illustrations are strong. The sidebars are helpful.”
Thomas Dozeman, Ph.D., Professor of Old Testament, United
Theological Seminary
“I am very admiring of it all, as well as extremely heartened by the
impulse that has brought it into being.”
Elizabeth Macklin, poet, writer, translator and editor
“The volume integrates the Biblical material with culture,
literature, music, and art. In so doing, it fulfills its stated
purpose.”
Charles Talbert, Ph.D., Distinguished Professor of Religion at
Baylor University
“Very engaging and positively provocative. Should make a positive
contribution.”
Mark C. Johnson, Director of National Executive Initiatives, YMCA
of the USA
"The textbook follows a liberal arts methodology, showing the
interconnectedness of knowledge across the disciplines. Abundantly
illustrated, it is both appealing and educationally rigorous."
Gene Edward Veith, Jr., Ph.D., Culture Editor of WORLD MAGAZINE
and Former Dean of the School of Arts & Sciences, Concordia
University-Wisconsin.
“We have offered the English Department elective course ‘Bible As
Literature’ at our high school for many years. The course was first
authorized over 30 years ago. It fell out of popularity for many
years and was revived by one of my colleagues about ten years ago. I
have been teaching the course since then as have several of my
colleagues. We offer the course every other academic year because of
the number of electives we offer and it is always a favorite. This
year four sections of the course are filled to capacity and I am the
sole teacher. For the past years we have simply used the New
International Version study Bible as our text and each teacher
gathers what ancillary material they can on their own to supplement.
Finding The Bible and Its Influence has filled a gap left in our
curriculum for this course up until now. The breaking up of the
material into units and chapters is incredibly handy and sensible
and matches closely to what I have done in the past. The book simply
makes my life easier and is a wonderful resource for my students.
Now that we are placing an order for student texts, I am looking
forward to being able to put a book in each student's hands rather
than simply having to use the text as a classroom resource.”
Paula Petersen, public school English teacher, Silverdale,
Washington
“When someone first proposed this course, I voted it down because
I didn't want to support what I thought might be a watered-down
presentation of the Bible. But when I saw the textbook itself, I was
thrilled. The Bible and Its Influence is exactly what it needs to
be—respectful of the sacred text, instructive, visually exciting and
engaging. My students have absolutely loved this course. By the
second semester, we had a waiting list for the course.”
Barbara Blinn, public school English teacher, Tilton, New
Hampshire
"The Bible and Its Influence is an outstanding resource
for the academic study of the Bible in public schools. Bible
literacy enhances student understanding of literature, history,
music, art and culture. This textbook provides a constitutionally
secure approach to teaching what students need to know about the
Bible. The elective course in the Bible as Literature has been a
successful addition to our program of studies."
Judy Partlow, Administrator (Retired), Wilson County, Tennessee
“Although I have taught Bible literature courses for several
years, after using this new textbook with my students, I cannot
conceive of going back into my classroom without it. My students
have very positively responded to the Bible Literacy Project’s rich,
attractive and student-friendly materials.”
Joan Spence, public school language arts teacher, Battle Ground, Washington
“The Bible Literacy Project textbook was an indispensable tool in my
classroom last year. After using the text, my students felt that
they acquired a deeper understanding of not only the Bible as
literature, but of all the literature that we read throughout the
year. Having knowledge of Biblical texts allowed my students to
recognize archetypes and allusions in various types of literature as
well as in contemporary media. I will continue to use the text in my
classroom for years to come!”
Heidi Pike, public school English teacher, Snohomish, Washington
“In my 36 years of teaching Bible literature in public school
classrooms, I have never seen a textbook like this one—with such
possibilities across the curriculum. It's balanced, well-researched,
and sensitive to a wide spectrum of faith traditions. I think
students will find it consistently inviting—and thought-provoking.”
David Freitag, (retired) public school English teacher, Portland, Oregon
“I think it’s an excellent reference text. The background, the
literary connections, the art work all serve to give a teacher
excellent background information for tailoring Bible literature
teaching purposes in their own classroom. As a person who has read
and studied the Bible for a long time, I was a surprised how much
information I learned, for instance, about the structure of Hebrew
poetry and the structure of the Book of Ruth.”
Barbara Murray, Assistant Principal, West Linn, Oregon, former English teacher, 2001 Christa McAuliffe Fellow, and
1995 Oregon Teacher of the Year
“This book is extremely ‘student friendly.’ It is interesting,
informative, and challenging, and makes connections to contemporary,
relevant events. It is objective and unbiased, and is sensitive and
non-threatening to students' belief systems. Teachers and students
both will enjoy working with this textbook.”
Stuart Rowe, public school English teacher, Vancouver, Washington
“The Bible Literacy Project is contributing significantly to the
educational life of our nation with the publication of this
important textbook. The academic study of the Bible in our schools
has long been omitted. Now we can redress this omission with a
splendid new resource, one carefully crafted for the
humanities/English classroom.”
Gwendolyn Whitmore, public school English teacher, Portland, Oregon
“The textbook is very readable. I like the charts and the word
source sidebars. The editors did a nice job of connecting to current
events. The unit features are very strong.”
Bret Freyer, public school English Department Co-Chair, West Linn, Oregon
“I applaud your efforts: good, exciting summary, excellent
literature references; good cross-referencing. As I read through
each chapter, I felt inspired to include that section in my units. I
thought … ‘I can do this. This is manageable. My kids can deal with
this.’ The language of each chapter is easy to follow, enjoyable to
read.”
Michael Groves, public school English teacher, Portland, Oregon
“A non-threatening approach which would encourage many school
systems to incorporate Bible literature into their curriculum.”
Linda Hodges, English teacher, Jefferson County High School,
Dandridge, TN
