The bible as literature? Danger, Will Robinson! There are so many ways this segment could step on a land mine or merely wallow in lameness. The premise is interesting, but perhaps a little flawed. I don't know anyone who has read the bible because it's a good book, but many who have read it because it's The Good Book. As literature it is an anthology of wildly varying content, tone, and writing style. From the beautiful Psalms to the stupifyingly boring begat lists on the old testament. However, if any program can make this topic interesting it's the BPP. Go with God.

Sent by Dave Wiley | 3:28 PM ET | 04-09-2008

I am listening to the piece on the Bible.

I am skeptical about the veracity of the poll.

The notion that "Gone With the Wind" was listed as #2... Really? That many contemporary Americans are reading Gone With the Wind? Or did they just see the movie once or twice in their lives and simply name the book becuase it makes them sound smart?

Lord of the Rings is more plausible as the Dude #2 book, but I have a feeling most people who gave that answer saw the movie and figured it counts.

The Bible.... truly, how many people have actually read the thing from front to back? People like to say they own one, and like to say its an important book. But most people simply cannot talk about the Bible in great detail or with any authority, because they haven't really read it that well.

It's not even well written. Half contradicts the other half. And everyone is racist, homophobic, sexist, or a murderer.... and that's AFTER they find salvation and become good Jews or Christians.

It's also a dumb book becuase people are reading it with modern sensibilities. Things we think of as appalling (or should see as appalling unless you are a psycho), were seen as heroic back then. The Bible is an interesting document to see how people used to think back then, but for the most part has very little to do with modern life or modern morality.
The fact that people are familiar with so few Bible stories is proof to that; heck, even clergy have to look hard to find stuff they can use in church.

I see myself as a spiritual person, so this isn't an atheistic argument I'm making. I'm just saying that if your holy book has stuff that appalls you, makes you laugh becuase its so dumb, has a lot of stories you skip becuase they don't make ethical nor literary sense, is so lame even people who go to church don't read it...

Yes the Bible is complex and has a lot of stories and and contains the whole field of human emotion... but so does Star Wars or Homer's Odyssey. Being complex doesn't make something holy.

Sent by Brian | 12:49 PM ET | 04-10-2008

I really liked Alison's question (paraphrased) "It it possible to separate your faith from the text?" The long and stammering answer to this really boiled down to "no." This was emphasized by the fact that he didn't read the New Testament because "it didn't speak to me." If he had truly been approaching the Bible as literature he wouldn't have had this problem.

@Brian: "Or did they just see the movie once or twice in their lives and simply name the book because it makes them sound smart?"

I agree at least partially. I believe many people will give the answer they think sounds right or smart. Others, including me, will name some obscure novel (_Ringworld_ by Larry Niven) that will never make the top of the list because not enough people have read it.

(By the by, I highly recommend _Ringworld_. Read it and you'll never think about luck or arthritis the same way again.)

Sent by Dave Wiley | 1:31 PM ET | 04-10-2008

I find it downright curious that last week the report was that the FAA and the airlines were bedfellows. Perhaps there has been a divorce...American Airline was the first to get kicked out of bed for eating crackers. Today more were added to the sudden concern for safety.

Sent by Randall Day | 5:10 PM ET | 04-10-2008

So...I had castigated the BPP for some soporific choices for musical profiles and for slighting the anniversary of the King assassination by not giving it the attention deserved.

Then...BAM! The BPP drops the "Rapping About Land and Identity" interview. The music was provocative, the interview was intelligent, and the young woman interviewed was eloquent.

It was if the BPP was asking me "Who's your daddy now!"

Well, you're not quite my "daddy," (you're still on the hook for that MLK slight), but well played, BPP. Well played, indeed.

Sent by Phillip | 10:01 PM ET | 04-10-2008