A Believable Bible
An Enlightening and Inspiring Guide to a Mature Faith
by
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PREFACE
The “Bible” is the most widely published book in the world, yet interestingly, it is also the least read, and the most misunderstood book in the world. While the Bible is heralded as the founding document of the Hebrew religion and the Christian faith, most Christians are biblically illiterate. Not only do people have little knowledge of what is contained in the Bible, they have practically no knowledge of how the Bible came into existence. There is probably more misinformation about the Bible circulating in the world than there is about any other book in existence.
During the past several decades, biblical scholars have made available enormous amounts of information that never quite seem to reach the public. It may be that the media does little to distribute that information, or it may be that people have already made up their minds, and simply cling to false notions about the Bible.
“A BELIEVABLE BIBLE” is “An Enlightening and Inspiring Guide to a Mature Faith.” It is “What You Need to Know ABOUT the Bible BEFORE you read the Bible. It provides you with not only current biblical scholarship. It provides you in the end with a “Believable Bible.” It puts together for you what you need to know ABOUT the Bible, in order for you to make sense of what is IN the Bible. It also tells you how Christianity came to be what it is today.
You have heard and been told many things ABOUT the Bible. You may have come to believe and accept what may be called “common knowledge” about the Bible. But unlike true “common sense,” “common knowledge” about the Bible is neither, necessarily true, nor is it necessarily, accurate, credible, or valid.
My concern has always been to have people NOT read the Bible UNTIL they have read ABOUT the Bible. This issue is the same as the issue about the Christian faith. One may ask whether one practices the religion OF Jesus or whether one practices the religion ABOUT Jesus.
The religion ABOUT Jesus is what has evolved over the centuries. Much of it as practiced today has little or nothing to do with the actual beliefs and practices OF Jesus. Biblical scholarship has made it possible to discover and understand how the book, the Bible, came into being, and became something of a literary bed-rock of our Western culture. It is crucial to anyone’s faith that they know the basic historical information about the evolution of their faith document. If the Bible is the work of a god or gods, who is it that declared that it was? When was that done? Where was it done? How was it done? Finally, why was it done?
Your journey through these pages will be a journey of enlightenment and surprise. You may finally place your faith and spiritual journey on a firmer foundation than ever before. Enjoy the trip.
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About the Book
In a recent study reported by the Associated Press, the American Religious Identification Survey concluded that, the percentage of Christians in
Why is this true? Increasingly, people feel the need to make a decision. They must decide between, accepting and becoming a Biblical literalist or, embracing the known, verifiable realities about the world in which they live. This choice is confusing, and it creates a state of cognitive dissonance that becomes intolerable for most people.
Having to accept a Bible that is unbelievable, that is filled with pre-modern, unacceptable notions, and even noxious declarations, is a turnoff to people in an educated culture. Having to believe in an indefinable, punitive, and capricious God as promoted in religion, is a difficult and repulsive pill for most people to swallow.
In “A Believable Bible” you are provided with a guidebook for understanding and making sense of the book of faith that is the basic document of, and that is responsible for the Christian faith in
You will be surprised to discover that the Bible may not be what you have been led to believe. Incorporating the best of recent biblical scholarship and psychological insight, Dr. Kania takes you on a fascinating journey of discovery and new truth, much as he did in his prior book, “Healthy Religion.”
Visit his website: walterkaniaphd.comAbout the Author
Dr. Kania, a clinical psychologist in private practice, holds a Ph.D. degree from Michigan State University where he served as University Pastor and Director of a United Campus Ministry. He also earned a Master of Divinity degree from Brite Divinity School, the graduate theological seminary at Texas Christian University. He held a faculty position in the Department of Religion at Texas Christian University and faculty positions in Psychology at Bethany College and The Ohio State University.