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A review by myra_c
What Is the Bible?: How an Ancient Library of Poems, Letters, and Stories Can Transform the Way You Think and Feel About Everything by Rob Bell
5.0
As many before me have said, you love or hate this book. Yes, I acknowledge it is controversial and polarizing. That's what makes it fascinating.
First of all, it is a book that must be listened to, not read, in order to fully appreciate the writing style. Only when listened to (it is narrated by the author), do you get the inflection, humor and meaning that is part of Rob's unique writing style. I laughed out loud many times ("You didn't see that coming did you?"), and enjoyed his references to music throughout. There is so much to learn about the context of many of the passages that we have been taught (with many opposing views and versions). That is what I found most fascinating: what was happening at that time? What is the historical context? All of that leads us to many answers about why Christians take some things literally, other things figuratively, discarding what can't be explained. It's hard to work out if you don't take the time to learn about history.
First of all, it is a book that must be listened to, not read, in order to fully appreciate the writing style. Only when listened to (it is narrated by the author), do you get the inflection, humor and meaning that is part of Rob's unique writing style. I laughed out loud many times ("You didn't see that coming did you?"), and enjoyed his references to music throughout. There is so much to learn about the context of many of the passages that we have been taught (with many opposing views and versions). That is what I found most fascinating: what was happening at that time? What is the historical context? All of that leads us to many answers about why Christians take some things literally, other things figuratively, discarding what can't be explained. It's hard to work out if you don't take the time to learn about history.