Download or read book The Bible According to Mark Twain written by Mark Twain and published by University of Georgia Press. This book was released on 1995 with total page 413 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This volume collects the most important writings by Mark Twain in which he used biblical settings, themes, and figures. Featuring Twain's singular portrayals of God, Adam, Eve, Satan, Methuselah, Shem, St. Peter, and others, the writings stand among Twain's most imaginative expressions of his views on human nature and humankind's relation to the Creator and the universe. Composed over four decades (1871-1910), the writings range from farce to fantasy to satire, each one bearing the mark of Twain's unmistakable wit and insight. Among the many delights in store for readers are Adam and Eve's divergent accounts of their domestic troubles; Methuselah's discussion of an ancient version of baseball, complete with a parody of baseball jargon; Shem's hand-wringing account of how material shortages and labor troubles were hampering the progress of the ark his father, Noah, was building; a description of the disruptive actions of the fire-and-brimstone evangelist Sam Jones upon arriving in heaven; Captain Stormfield's revelations of what heaven is really like; Satan's musings on our puerile concepts of the afterlife; and Twain's advice on how to dress and tip properly in heaven. Twain's humor, however, is never gratuitous. As readers laugh their way through this volume, they will find ample evidence of Twain's concerns about scriptural fallacies and inconsistencies, the Bible's rather flat portrayal of important characters, and our limited notions about the nature and meaning of our own--and God's--existence. Many of the pieces in this collection, even the most lighthearted, might still be considered controversial; of some of the darker pieces, Twain himself acknowledged that they would be heretical in any age. Moreover, these writings are valuable cultural artifacts of a time when, across the Western world, fundamental religious beliefs were being called into question by the precepts of Darwinism and the rapid advances of science and technology. Several of this volume's selections are previously unpublished; others, like Letters from the Earth, are classics. Virtually all have been newly edited to reflect as closely as possible Twain's final intentions for their form and content. For serious Twain devotees, editors Howard G. Baetzhold and Joseph B. McCullough have supplied an abundance of background material on the writings, including details on the history of their composition, publication, and relevance to the Twain canon.

Download or read book A History of the Bible written by John Barton and published by Penguin. This book was released on 2020-08-04 with total page 642 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A literary history of our most influential book of all time, by an Oxford scholar and Anglican priest In our culture, the Bible is monolithic: It is a collection of books that has been unchanged and unchallenged since the earliest days of the Christian church. The idea of the Bible as "Holy Scripture," a non-negotiable authority straight from God, has prevailed in Western society for some time. And while it provides a firm foundation for centuries of Christian teaching, it denies the depth, variety, and richness of this fascinating text. In A History of the Bible, John Barton argues that the Bible is not a prescription to a complete, fixed religious system, but rather a product of a long and intriguing process, which has inspired Judaism and Christianity, but still does not describe the whole of either religion. Barton shows how the Bible is indeed an important source of religious insight for Jews and Christians alike, yet argues that it must be read in its historical context--from its beginnings in myth and folklore to its many interpretations throughout the centuries. It is a book full of narratives, laws, proverbs, prophecies, poems, and letters, each with their own character and origin stories. Barton explains how and by whom these disparate pieces were written, how they were canonized (and which ones weren't), and how they were assembled, disseminated, and interpreted around the world--and, importantly, to what effect. Ultimately, A History of the Bible argues that a thorough understanding of the history and context of its writing encourages religious communities to move away from the Bible's literal wording--which is impossible to determine--and focus instead on the broader meanings of scripture.

Download or read book Story Shaped Worship written by Robbie F. Castleman and published by InterVarsity Press. This book was released on 2013-04-03 with total page 225 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In Story-Shaped Worship Robbie Castleman attempts nothing less than to uncover the fundamental shape of worship. Right worship doesn't require a traditionalist return to earlier forms of church, she argues, but a fresh response to God in light of the revealed patterns of worship we find in the Bible and church history.

Download or read book What Is the Bible written by Rob Bell and published by HarperOne. This book was released on 2019-02-05 with total page 336 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Instant New York Times Bestseller Rob Bell, the beloved author of Love Wins and What We Talk About When We Talk About God, goes deep into the Bible to show how it is more revelatory, revolutionary, and relevant than we ever imagined—and offers a cogent argument for why we need to look at it in a fresh, new way. In Love Wins, Rob Bell confronted the troubling questions that many people of faith were afraid to ask about heaven, hell, fate, and faith. Using the same inspired, inquisitive approach, he now turns to our most sacred book, the Bible. What Is the Bible? provides insights and answers that make clear why the Bible is so revered and what makes it truly inspiring and essential to our lives. Rob takes us deep into actual passages to reveal the humanity behind the Scriptures. You cannot get to the holy without going through the human, Rob tells us. When considering a passage, we shouldn’t ask "Why did God say . . .?" To get to the heart of the Bible’s meaning, we should be asking: "What’s the story that’s unfolding here and why did people find it important to tell it? What was it that moved them to record these words? What was happening in the world at that time? What does this passage/story/poem/verse/book tell us about how people understood who they were and who God was at that time?" In asking these questions, Rob goes beyond the one-dimensional question of "is it true?" to reveal the Bible’s authentic transformative power. Rob addresses the concerns of all those who see the Bible as God’s Word but are troubled by the ethical dilemmas, errors, and inconsistencies in Scripture. With What Is the Bible?, he recaptures the Good Book’s magic and reaffirms its power and inspiration to shape and inspire our lives today.

Download or read book Saving the Bible from Ourselves written by Glenn R. Paauw and published by InterVarsity Press. This book was released on 2016-03-30 with total page 233 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Has dividing the Bible into chapters and verses led to sampling Scripture rather than reading it deeply? According to author Glenn R. Paauw, misreading the Bible has divorced it from its context, leaving only a database of quick answers to life's questions. In these pages he introduces us to seven new understandings of Scripture to help us read and live the Bible well.

Download or read book The Missionary in Many Lands a Series of Interesting Sketches of Missionary Life Illustrated and Enlarged written by Erwin House (A.M.) and published by . This book was released on 1871 with total page 346 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Poetic Wit and Legends in Verse Humorous Serious Sarcastic By A W Cole Robert B Brough and Others Illustrated by Harvey and Others written by Alfred Whaley COLE and published by . This book was released on 1876 with total page 442 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Scripture s Story written by Jared August and published by . This book was released on 2021-07-15 with total page 212 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Lives of the British Admirals and Naval History of Great Britain written by John Campbell and published by . This book was released on 1873 with total page 408 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Reference Catalogue of Current Literature written by and published by . This book was released on 1909 with total page 1230 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Widow Wakefull s Mission Or Gleanings in Mildewed and Blighted Fields written by Catherine Grant and published by . This book was released on 1874 with total page 264 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Blue eyes or brown By George Fawcett written by Sophia Alice Fawcett and published by . This book was released on 1878 with total page 236 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Treasured thoughts of great minds compiled by J B written by Treasured thoughts and published by . This book was released on 1876 with total page 296 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Jottings and Recollections of a Bengal Qui Hye written by Louis Emanuel and published by . This book was released on 1885 with total page 264 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Bound by fetters or The evils of drink written by Emily Foster (novelist.) and published by . This book was released on 1887 with total page 312 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Wisdom and Genius of Dr Samuel Johnson written by Samuel Johnson and published by . This book was released on 1875 with total page 332 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book The Poetical Works Essays and The Vicar of Wakefield By Oliver Goldsmith With Introductory Memoir by Professor Spalding Etc written by Oliver Goldsmith and published by . This book was released on 1874 with total page 504 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: