The Year of Living Biblically Part 30

The King James version cleans up Ezekiel 23:20. But the New International Version gives a more earthy, and accurate, translation: "There, she l.u.s.ted after her lovers, whose genitals were like those of donkeys and whose emission was like that of horses."

For more history of cursing try "Almost Before We Spoke, We Swore" by Natalie Angier, September 20, 2005. And "Tarnation Heck!" by William Safire, February 12, 2006. Both in the New York Times. New York Times.

DAY 287.

See A Practical Handbook for Ministry A Practical Handbook for Ministry by Wayne E. Oates for more on mentally ill patients who try to pluck out their eyes. by Wayne E. Oates for more on mentally ill patients who try to pluck out their eyes.

DAY 297.

Thanks to Roadside Religion Roadside Religion by Timothy K. Beal for first introducing me to the quote about religious study making the "strange familiar and the familiar strange" (p. 299). It's an interesting book about religious tourist destinations. by Timothy K. Beal for first introducing me to the quote about religious study making the "strange familiar and the familiar strange" (p. 299). It's an interesting book about religious tourist destinations.

Many scholars--including Bart Ehrman, in Misquoting Jesus Misquoting Jesus--contend that the Gospel of Mark originally ended with the verse 16:8. Or else, it continued, but the real ending has been lost.

DAY 314.

The translation of Exodus 21:22 is notoriously difficult. If you translate the Hebrew word for "lose her offspring" as "a miscarriage," the pa.s.sage seems to bolster the pro-choicers. If you translate it as "premature birth," then it can be used by pro-lifers. For more on this, see www.religioustolerance.org/abo_biblh .htm.

Here are some other websites that deal with abortion and the Bible from both sides: www.prochoiceactionnetwork-canada.org/articles/bible.html; www.priests forlife.org/brochures/thebible.html; www.elroy.net/ehr/abortion.html; www .jimfeeney.org/pro-life.html.

By the way, here's an etiquette tip: Do not say "Mazal tov" to a Karaite. The phrase mazal tov mazal tov means "good stars" or "good constellations," which they see as violating the Bible's ban on astrology. means "good stars" or "good constellations," which they see as violating the Bible's ban on astrology.

The C. S. Lewis quote is from Surprised by Joy: The Shape of My Early Life Surprised by Joy: The Shape of My Early Life (New York: Harcourt, Brace & World, 1956), p. 192. (New York: Harcourt, Brace & World, 1956), p. 192.

DAY 378.

For more on women being banned from talking in church, see Rescuing the Bible from Fundamentalism Rescuing the Bible from Fundamentalism by John Shelby Spong. by John Shelby Spong.

Selected Bibliography Armstrong, Karen. The Battle For G.o.d. The Battle For G.o.d. New York: Ballantine, 2000. ------. New York: Ballantine, 2000. ------. The Great Transformation. The Great Transformation. New York: Knopf, 2006. ------. New York: Knopf, 2006. ------. A History of G.o.d. A History of G.o.d. New York: Knopf, 1993. New York: Knopf, 1993.

Ballmer, Randall. Thy Kingdom Come. Thy Kingdom Come. New York: Basic Books, 2006. New York: Basic Books, 2006.

Barton, John, and John Mudiman, eds. The Oxford Bible Commentary. The Oxford Bible Commentary. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2001. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2001.

Beal, Timothy K. Roadside Religion. Roadside Religion. Boston: Beacon Press, 2005. Boston: Beacon Press, 2005.

Bell, James Stuart, and Stan Campbell. The Complete Idiot's Guide to the Bible. The Complete Idiot's Guide to the Bible. New York: Penguin Group, 2005. New York: Penguin Group, 2005.

Blackhouse, Robert. The Kregel Pictorial Guide to the Temple. The Kregel Pictorial Guide to the Temple. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Kregel Publications, 1996. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Kregel Publications, 1996.

Blanton, Brad. Radical Honesty. Radical Honesty. Stanley, Va.: Sparrowhawk Publications, 2005. Stanley, Va.: Sparrowhawk Publications, 2005.

Bloom, Harold. Jesus and Yahweh: The Names Divine. Jesus and Yahweh: The Names Divine. New York: Riverhead Books, 2005. New York: Riverhead Books, 2005.

Bloom, Harold, and David Rosenberg. The Book of J. The Book of J. New York: Grove/Atlantic, 1990. New York: Grove/Atlantic, 1990.

Bock, Darrell. The Missing Gospels: Unearthing the Truth Behind Alternative Christianities. The Missing Gospels: Unearthing the Truth Behind Alternative Christianities. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2006. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2006.

Borg, Marcus J. Reading the Bible Again for the First Time. Reading the Bible Again for the First Time. New York: HarperCollins, 2001. New York: HarperCollins, 2001.

Borowski, Oded. Daily Life in Biblical Times. Daily Life in Biblical Times. Leiden, The Netherlands: Society of Biblical Literature, 2003. Leiden, The Netherlands: Society of Biblical Literature, 2003.

Boyd, Gregory. The Myth of a Christian Nation. The Myth of a Christian Nation. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan, 2005. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan, 2005.

Boyer, Pascal. Religion Explained. Religion Explained. New York: Basic Books, 2001. New York: Basic Books, 2001.

Brettler, Marc Zvi. How to Read the Bible. How to Read the Bible. Philadelphia: Jewish Publication Society, 2005. Philadelphia: Jewish Publication Society, 2005.

Butler, Trent, Chad Brand, and Archie England, eds. Holman's Ill.u.s.trated Bible Dictionary. Holman's Ill.u.s.trated Bible Dictionary. Nashville: B&H Publis.h.i.+ng Group, 2003. Nashville: B&H Publis.h.i.+ng Group, 2003.

Carmichael, Calum. Ideas and the Man: Remembering David Daube. Ideas and the Man: Remembering David Daube. Frankfurt, Germany: Vittorio Klostermann, 2004. Frankfurt, Germany: Vittorio Klostermann, 2004.

Carter, Jimmy. Our Endangered Values. Our Endangered Values. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2005. ------. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2005. ------. Sources of Strength. Sources of Strength. New York: Three Rivers Press, 1997. Chilton, Bruce. New York: Three Rivers Press, 1997. Chilton, Bruce. Rabbi Jesus: An Intimate Biography. Rabbi Jesus: An Intimate Biography. New York: Image, 2002. Coffin, William Sloane. New York: Image, 2002. Coffin, William Sloane. Letters to a Young Doubter. Letters to a Young Doubter. Louisville, Ky.: Westmin- Louisville, Ky.: Westmin- ster John Knox Press, 2005.

Colbert, Don. What Would Jesus Eat? What Would Jesus Eat? Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982. Collins, Francis. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982. Collins, Francis. The Language of G.o.d. The Language of G.o.d. New York: Free Press, 2006. Crabb, Larry. New York: Free Press, 2006. Crabb, Larry. Finding G.o.d. Finding G.o.d. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan, 1993. c.r.a.panzano, Vincent. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan, 1993. c.r.a.panzano, Vincent. Serving the Word: Literalism in America from the Pulpit Serving the Word: Literalism in America from the Pulpit to the Bench. New York: New Press, 2000. New York: New Press, 2000.

Cross, Carlene. Fleeing Fundamentalism: A Minister's Wife Examines Faith. Fleeing Fundamentalism: A Minister's Wife Examines Faith.

New York: Algonquin Books, 2006.

Davis, Kenneth C. Don't Know Much About the Bible. Don't Know Much About the Bible. New York: William Morrow, 1998. New York: William Morrow, 1998.

Dawkins, Richard. The G.o.d Delusion. The G.o.d Delusion. New York: Houghton Mifflin, 2006. New York: Houghton Mifflin, 2006.

Dossick, Rabbi Wayne. Living Judaism. Living Judaism. San Francisco: HarperSanFrancisco, 1995. San Francisco: HarperSanFrancisco, 1995.

Dowley, Tim. Everyday Life in Bible Times. Everyday Life in Bible Times. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Kregel Publications, 1998. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Kregel Publications, 1998.

Ehrman, Bart D. Misquoting Jesus. Misquoting Jesus. New York: HarperCollins, 2005. Eisenberg, Ronald L. New York: HarperCollins, 2005. Eisenberg, Ronald L. The JPS Guide to Jewish Traditions. The JPS Guide to Jewish Traditions. Philadelphia: Jewish Philadelphia: Jewish Publication Society of America, 2004.

------. The 613 Mitzvot. The 613 Mitzvot. Rockville, Md.: Schreiber Publis.h.i.+ng, 2005. Englert, Jonathan. Rockville, Md.: Schreiber Publis.h.i.+ng, 2005. Englert, Jonathan. The Collar. The Collar. New York: Houghton Mifflin, 2006. New York: Houghton Mifflin, 2006.

Finkelstein, Israel, and Neil Asher Silberman. The Bible Unearthed. The Bible Unearthed. New York: Free Press, 2002. New York: Free Press, 2002.

Fox, Everett. The Five Books of Moses. The Five Books of Moses. New York: Schocken Books, 1995. New York: Schocken Books, 1995.

Fox, Robin Lane. The Unauthorized Version. The Unauthorized Version. New York: Knopf, 1991. New York: Knopf, 1991.

Freedman, David Noel, ed. The Anchor Bible Dictionary. The Anchor Bible Dictionary. New York: Doubleday, 1992. New York: Doubleday, 1992.

Friedman, Richard Elliott. Commentary on the Torah. Commentary on the Torah. San Francisco: HarperSanFrancisco, 2003. San Francisco: HarperSanFrancisco, 2003.

------. Who Wrote the Bible? Who Wrote the Bible? New York: Summit Books, 1987. New York: Summit Books, 1987.

Galambush, Julie. The Reluctant Parting: How the New Testament's Jewish Writers Created a Christian Book. The Reluctant Parting: How the New Testament's Jewish Writers Created a Christian Book. New York: HarperCollins, 2006. New York: HarperCollins, 2006.

Geoghegan, Jeffrey, and Michael Homan. The Bible for Dummies. The Bible for Dummies. Hoboken, N.J.: Wiley, 2003. Hoboken, N.J.: Wiley, 2003.

Girzone, Joseph. My Struggle with Faith. My Struggle with Faith. New York: Doubleday, 2006. New York: Doubleday, 2006.

Goldberg, Mich.e.l.le. Kingdom Coming. Kingdom Coming. New York: Norton, 2006. New York: Norton, 2006.

Greenberg, Rabbi Steven. Wrestling with G.o.d & Men. Wrestling with G.o.d & Men. Madison, Wisc.: University of Wisconsin Press, 2004. Madison, Wisc.: University of Wisconsin Press, 2004.

Hahn, Scott. Letter and Spirit: From Written Text to Living Word in the Liturgy. Letter and Spirit: From Written Text to Living Word in the Liturgy. New York: Doubleday, 2005. New York: Doubleday, 2005.

Harris, Roberta. The World of the Bible. The World of the Bible. London: Thames & Hudson, 1995. London: Thames & Hudson, 1995.

Harris, Sam. The End of Faith. The End of Faith. New York: Norton, 2004. New York: Norton, 2004.

------. Letter to a Christian Nation. Letter to a Christian Nation. New York: Knopf, 2006. New York: Knopf, 2006.

Hedges, Chris. American Fascists. American Fascists. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2006. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2006.

Hendricks, Howard G., and William D. Hendricks. Living by the Book. Living by the Book. Chicago: Moody Press, 1991. Chicago: Moody Press, 1991.

James, William. The Varieties of Religious Experience. The Varieties of Religious Experience. New York: Modern Library, 2002. New York: Modern Library, 2002.

Kelemen, Lawrence. Permission to Receive. Permission to Receive. Southfield, Mich.: Targum Press, 1996. Kelly, Stuart. Southfield, Mich.: Targum Press, 1996. Kelly, Stuart. The Book of Lost Books. The Book of Lost Books. New York: Random House, 2006. Kennedy, D. James. New York: Random House, 2006. Kennedy, D. James. Why the Ten Commandments Matter. Why the Ten Commandments Matter. New York: Time New York: Time Faith, 2005.

Kierkegaard, Soren. Fear and Trembling. Fear and Trembling. New York: Knopf, 1994. Kolatch, Alfred. New York: Knopf, 1994. Kolatch, Alfred. The Jewish Book of Why. The Jewish Book of Why. Middle Village, N.Y.: Jonathan David Publishers, 1981. Middle Village, N.Y.: Jonathan David Publishers, 1981.

------. The Second Jewish Book of Why. The Second Jewish Book of Why. Middle Village, N.Y.: Jonathan David Publishers, 1985. Middle Village, N.Y.: Jonathan David Publishers, 1985.

Kornbluth, Doron. Jewish Matters. Jewish Matters. Southfield, Mich.: Targum Press, 1999. Southfield, Mich.: Targum Press, 1999.

Kozodoy, Ruth Lurie. The Book of Jewish Holidays. The Book of Jewish Holidays. Springfield, N.J.: Behrman House, 1981. Springfield, N.J.: Behrman House, 1981.

Kugel, James L. The Bible as It Was. The Bible as It Was. Cambridge, Ma.s.s.: Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 1997. Cambridge, Ma.s.s.: Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 1997.

LaHaye, Tim, and Jerry B. Jenkins. Left Behind. Left Behind. Wheaton, Ill.: Tyndale House, 1995. Wheaton, Ill.: Tyndale House, 1995.

Levine, Baruch A. Leviticus: The Traditional Hebrew Text with the New JPS Translation. Leviticus: The Traditional Hebrew Text with the New JPS Translation. Philadelphia: Jewish Publication Society of America, 1989. Philadelphia: Jewish Publication Society of America, 1989.

Lewis, C. S. Mere Christianity. Mere Christianity. New York: HarperSanFrancisco, 2001. New York: HarperSanFrancisco, 2001.

------. The Screwtape Letters. The Screwtape Letters. San Francisco: HarperSanFrancisco, 2001. San Francisco: HarperSanFrancisco, 2001.

Lightfoot, Neil R. How We Got the Bible. How We Got the Bible. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Baker Books, 2003. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Baker Books, 2003.

Locks, Gil. Coming Back to Earth. Coming Back to Earth. New York: L'Chaim Publications, 2004. New York: L'Chaim Publications, 2004.

MacArthur, John. What the Bible Says About Parenting. What the Bible Says About Parenting. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2000. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2000.

Matthews, Victor H. Manners and Customs in the Bible. Manners and Customs in the Bible. Peabody, Ma.s.s.: Hendrickson Publishers, 1991. Peabody, Ma.s.s.: Hendrickson Publishers, 1991.

McBrien, Richard P. Catholicism: New Study Edition. Catholicism: New Study Edition. San Francisco: HarperSanFrancisco, 1994. San Francisco: HarperSanFrancisco, 1994.

------. Lives of the Saints: From Mary and Francis of a.s.sisi to John XXIII and Mother Teresa. Lives of the Saints: From Mary and Francis of a.s.sisi to John XXIII and Mother Teresa. San Francisco: HarperSanFrancisco, 2001. San Francisco: HarperSanFrancisco, 2001.

McClellan, Ruth. An Incredible Journey. An Incredible Journey. Lynchburg, Va.: Liberty University, 2006. Lynchburg, Va.: Liberty University, 2006.

McDowell, Josh. Evidence for Christianity. Evidence for Christianity. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2006. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2006.

McManis, Cliff. Christian Living. Christian Living. The Woodlands, Tex.: Kress Christian Publications, 2006. The Woodlands, Tex.: Kress Christian Publications, 2006.

Mennonite Confession of Faith. Crockett, Ky.: Rod and Staff Publishers, 1963. Crockett, Ky.: Rod and Staff Publishers, 1963.

Metzger, Bruce, and Michael D. Coogan, eds. The Oxford Companion to the Bible. The Oxford Companion to the Bible. New York: Oxford University Press, 1993. New York: Oxford University Press, 1993.

Miles, Jack. G.o.d: A Biography. G.o.d: A Biography. New York: Knopf, 1995. New York: Knopf, 1995.

Morrow, Jimmy, with Ralph W. Hood. Handling Serpents. Handling Serpents. Macon, Ga.: Mercer University Press, 2005. Macon, Ga.: Mercer University Press, 2005.

Nicholi, Armand M. The Question of G.o.d: C. S. Lewis and Sigmund Freud Debate G.o.d, Love, s.e.x, and the Meaning of Life. The Question of G.o.d: C. S. Lewis and Sigmund Freud Debate G.o.d, Love, s.e.x, and the Meaning of Life. New York: Free Press, 2003. New York: Free Press, 2003.

Nicolson, Adam. G.o.d's Secretaries. G.o.d's Secretaries. New York: HarperCollins, 2003. New York: HarperCollins, 2003.

Omartian, Stormie. A Book of Prayer. A Book of Prayer. Eugene, Oreg.: Harvest House Publishers, 2006. Eugene, Oreg.: Harvest House Publishers, 2006.

Oppenheimer, Mark. Thirteen and a Day. Thirteen and a Day. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2005. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2005.

Pagels, Elaine. Adam, Eve and the Serpent. Adam, Eve and the Serpent. New York: Vintage, 1989. Pakkala, Lorraine. New York: Vintage, 1989. Pakkala, Lorraine. Yea G.o.d! Yea G.o.d! Trumansburg, N.Y.: Crossing Press, 1980. Perkins, Bill. Trumansburg, N.Y.: Crossing Press, 1980. Perkins, Bill. When Good Men Are Tempted. When Good Men Are Tempted. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan, Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan, 1997.

Phillips, Kevin. American Theocracy. American Theocracy. New York: Viking Penguin, 2006. Priolo, Lou. New York: Viking Penguin, 2006. Priolo, Lou. Teach Them Diligently. Teach Them Diligently. Woodruff, S.C.: Timeless Texts, 1977. Woodruff, S.C.: Timeless Texts, 1977.

Rousas, John Rushdoony. The Inst.i.tutes of Biblical Law. The Inst.i.tutes of Biblical Law. Nutley, N.J.: Craig Press, 1973. Nutley, N.J.: Craig Press, 1973.

Rubin, Jordan S. The Maker's Diet. The Maker's Diet. New York: Penguin Group, 2004. New York: Penguin Group, 2004.

Russell, Bertrand. Why I Am Not a Christian. Why I Am Not a Christian. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1957. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1957.

Ruthven, Malise. Fundamentalism: The Search for Meaning. Fundamentalism: The Search for Meaning. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2004. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2004.

Sarna, Jonathan D. American Judaism. American Judaism. New Haven, Conn.: Yale University Press, 2004. New Haven, Conn.: Yale University Press, 2004.

Sarna, Nahum M., ed. The JPS Torah Commentary: Genesis. The JPS Torah Commentary: Genesis. Philadelphia: Jewish Publication Society, 1989. Philadelphia: Jewish Publication Society, 1989.

Shulevitz, Judith. "Bring Back the Sabbath." New York Times, New York Times, March 2, 2003. March 2, 2003.

------. "What Do Orthodox Jews Think of Abortion, and Why?" Slate, Slate, August 25, 2000. August 25, 2000.

Simon, Ethelyn, and Joseph Anderson. Teach Yourself to Read Hebrew. Teach Yourself to Read Hebrew. Albany, Calif.: EKS Publis.h.i.+ng, 2002. Albany, Calif.: EKS Publis.h.i.+ng, 2002.

Skolnik, Fred, ed. Encyclopedia Judaica. Encyclopedia Judaica. New York: Macmillan, 2006. New York: Macmillan, 2006.

Smith, Huston. The World's Religions. The World's Religions. San Francisco: HarperSanFrancisco, 1991. San Francisco: HarperSanFrancisco, 1991.