The Back Door Introduction to the Bible
About This Book
Overview
Truly engaging introduction that will stimulate classroom discussion
The Bible’s influence on Western culture is singularly profound: from Genesis through Revelation, its stories are commonly referenced in the arts, commerce, and beyond. Know the stories and you understand the sly allusion in a commercial, the imagery in a painting, the metaphor in a movie. For those of us living in the Western world, one simply cannot be culturally literate without knowing the Bible in some capacity.
But the Bible itself? A product of a world very different from our own, it can be hard to read and difficult to understand. If you have ever been asked (or asked yourself), “Why does that character have multiple wives?” or “Who was this stuff written for?” The Back Door Introduction to the Bible is for you. Authors Kaltner and McKenzie recognize that it is in the explanation of the customs, social mores, and expressions of the time—the answering of the “what’s the deal with that?” question—that the reader can find another level of understanding, one where the real intent or significance of a story can be more clearly revealed. A different kind of textbook, The Back Door Introduction to the Bible will open up the opportunity for a more engaged, lively, and spirited classroom dialogue.
Details
| Weight | 0.55 lbs |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 5.375 × 1.5 × 8.25 in |
| Format | Softcover |
| Print ISBN | 978-1-59982-089-7 |
| Pages | 220 |
| Item # | 7039 |
|---|
Customer Reviews
“Kaltner and McKenzie have done it again! As in their earlier Uncensored Bible, they have written a lively, insightful, and humorous introduction to the Bible that is sure to keep all readers—especially students—awake, informed, and entertained. In the field of biblical studies, that is no small feat! I enthusiastically recommend The Back Door Introduction to the Bible to one and all.”
Emory University
“A uniquely engaging, provocative, and I daresay fun invitation into the fascinating worlds of the Bible by two master teachers who clearly love what they do and want to share that love with others. It’s a gift to teachers and students alike. I can’t wait to use it in my own introductory courses.”
Case Western Reserve University
About the Authors
Table of Contents
Introduction
What Manner of Book Is This?
Keepin’ It Real
What’s Holy about the Bible?
Things That Make You Go “Hmmm . . .”
- What “Assume” Does
Genre
Genre and Genesis
Genre and Jonah
Genre and Jesus - Family Values
Tube Families
Threesome and Beyond
Putting on Heirs
All in the Family
Travelers and Daughters
Households and House Churches - Don’t Know Much about History
What Is History?
History and the Bible
A Problem of Epic Proportions
The Dirt on Archaeology
The Helping Hand of History
When in Rome . . . Or Not - Culture Shock
When in Rome
Circle of Trust
A Meaty Matter
Law
Covenant
Second Helping
Hair and Prayer - The Race Card
Ethnicity
Jews and Gentiles: Defining Christianity - Is That What That Really Means?
Eewwphemisms
Lefty versus Fatty
Deborah and Jael
Samson and Delilah
Jacob and Esau
David and Michal
Prophets and Kings
Paul and the Judaizers
Paul and His Accomplishments - Where in the World?
Places and Plots: Knowing Where You Are Helps You See
What It Means
The Lay of the Land: Geographical Formations Inform
Biblical Tales - All in a Name
The Name Game
A Bitter/Sweet Story
Baby Formula
Biblical Aliases
A Brief Biblical Onomasticon - The Real World
Profiting from the Experience
Propheting from the Experience
Domiciles
Other Buildings
Human Activities
Taking Stock - There’s a Time for Everything
All in the Timing
Purim: “They Tried to Kill Us—We Won—Let’s Eat!”
Rest for the Weary
Marking Time
This Land Is Your Land, This Land Is My Land
That’ll Be the Day - “In This Corner . . .”: Competing Perspectives
Who Says?
The Wise Guys
Two Pairs of Kings
Who Do People Say He Is? - All You Need Is Love
What’s Love Got to Do with It?
Sex, Not Sexxx
Two’s Company, Three’s a Crowd
The Dark Side
Jesus, the Love Guru - The Bible Recycled
Sample This
The Gospel Truth
In with the Old
Come Out, Come Out, Wherever You Are! - Knowing the Audience
Person to Person
It’s the End of the World as We Know It
Are You Talkin’ to Me?
Daniel
Additional Resources
Index
Professional Reviews
John Kaltner and Steven L. McKenzie, The Back Door Introduction to the Bible. Winona, MN: Anselm Academic (www.anselmacademic.org), 2012. Pages, 210. Paper, $22.95
This is a perfect introduction to the Bible for people who know little or next to nothing about the Scriptures. Combining an excellent mix of biblical scholarship, familiarity with the contemporary American cultural scene, and even some humor, it draws readers to conclude that the Bible is worth reading. Although it may not serve as a textbook it can be an effective counterpart to the more standard introductions. Just paging through the chapter headings reveals the book’s unique and engaging approach. The contents of each chapter will lead to lively interchange in the classroom. It is an “easy read” but one that does not shortchange its readers. It is the product of informed and creative scholarship.
