Steve Allen on the Bible, Religion and Morality - Hardcover

Allen, Steve

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0879756381 ISBN 13: 9780879756383

Publisher: Prometheus, 1990

Synopsis

America's dean of intelligent comedy doesn't think the Bible is a laughing matter. His good look at the good book is a closely reasoned examination of Scripture, designed to encourage rational analysis of the most influential document of Western civilization. Although the Bible has been consulted for more than twenty centuries, Allen asserts that there remains an extensive degree of common ignorance about it. Noting that most people today rarely read the Bible, Allen is convinced that the millions who do read it are not able to understand certain passages at all.Steve Allen on the Bible, Religion, and Morality took form when Allen began his own exploration of the Bible, marking passages that struck him as extraordinarily beautiful, or those that were profoundly confusing. Spellbound by the very mystery of it, he perceived that much of the text leads directly to controversy. And, he urges, it is of greater importance now than ever before that all Americans be conversant with the Bible, partly because of those who would use Scriptures as a weapon to force their views on others.Allen presents his ideas as a series of alphabetically arranged essays on characters, events, and books of the Scriptures, as well as on such controversial topics as abortion, anti-Semitism, capital punishment, death, evolution, and original sin. He draws on the expertise of biblical scholars, theologians, and philosophers to demonstrate that fundamentalist assumptions about the reliability and authenticity of the Bible as the inviolable Word of God simply have no rational or factual basis.Allen highlights the errors, inconsistencies, and self-contradictions of the Bible. While not denying the value of many biblical passages, he argues that Americans can and should critique the Bible as they would any other historical document.While Allen finds much in the Bible with which one can take issue, his examination also reveals that much is meaningful. Allen's goal - to make people think reasonably about Scripture - is achieved through remarkable clear, readable, and insightful prose.

About this title

From the Inside Flap:

As one of America's most versatile and creative entertainers, Steve Allen has composed thousands of songs, written dozens of books, and created many television programs including NBC's "Tonight Show" and the PBS "Meeting of Minds" series. In this book, Allen focuses his talents and critical intelligence on the Bible. He points out that despite the significance of the Scriptures to Western culture, history, religion, and morality, the majority of Americans are almost completely ignorant of the actual contents of the Good Book. STEVE ALLEN ON THE BIBLE, RELIGION, AND MORALITY is an attempt not only to inform the public but to stimulate critical inquiry into the history of the Bible and its role in the formation of religion and morality.

In a work reminiscent of Voltaire's PHILOSOPHICAL DICTIONARY, Allen presents his ideas as a series of alphabetically arranged essays on characters, events, and books of the Holy Scriptures, as well as on such controversial topics as abortion, anti-Semitism, capital punishment, death, evolution, flying saucers, and original sin. He draws on the expertise of biblical scholars, theologians, and philosophers to demonstrate that fundamentalist assumptions about the reliability and authenticity of the Bible as a historical document or as the inviolable Word of God simply have no rational or factual basis. Like Thomas Paine's THE AGE OF REASON, this book highlights the errors, inconsistencies, self-contradictions, and morally repugnant episodes and characters of the Bible. So much in Scriptures is at variance with our Western ideals of morality and common decency that an intelligent, objective reader cannot help but judge the Bible as a fascinating, important but very fallible, al! l-too-human book. While not denying the value of many biblical passages, Mr. Allen argues that Americans can and should critique the Bible as they would any other historical document. This by no means implies, however, that in so doing they must discard their faith.

Steve Allen's interest in biblical scholarship began with casual reading of the Gideon Bibles that are found in hotel rooms across the country. In the course of his reading, so many questions were raised in his mind that he started recording his thoughts. The practice turned into a 20-year habit and enough material to fill the present volume and many more. STEVE ALLEN ON THE BIBLE, RELIGION, AND MORALITY will stimulate readers to go back to their Bibles and consider a variety of thorny but ever-important issues.

About the Author:

Steve Allen (1921-2000) was known as television's renaissance man. He authored more than fifty books and composed over 8,500 songs. Allen was the creator and original host of the Tonight Show and the award-winning PBS series Meeting of Minds. You can learn more about this legendary entertainer by visiting his official Web site at SteveAllenonline.com.

About this edition

• Publisher: Prometheus
• Publication date: 1990
• ISBN 10: 0879756381
• ISBN 13: 9780879756383
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 463