Reply #56: I Think Knowing the Whole Thing Would Help Them

[On the Road]

It's the most important cultural document in Western civilization, but half the population seems to think it's the Sermon on the Mount writ large, and the other half thinks it's a cesspool of fanaticism and evil. The Book of Judges is great for shock value, but the Epistle of James has a kind of sweetness, uprightness, and literacy that is edifying whatever your religious persuasion.

In truth, there are all kinds of elements in there. Some of them are alarming, and some of them are touching. You can't sum it up and imply that the Bible is this, and you don't need to know the details.

For disinterested college students, the best place to start might be R. Crumb's 'Genesis'. I gave one to my daughter for Christmas.