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** The Bible’s many impacts
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No matter what we might say about the separation of church and state, here in the US the Bible continues to exert influence over nearly every sector. Yet even within churches, denominations, and seminaries, there are many different takes on just what the Bible is—or what it’s for.

We asked dozens of scholars, faith leaders, and writers to tell us what they think the Bible is for, in seven words or less (with a paragraph of further explanation). All month long we’ll be publishing their responses. Participants range from luminaries like Barbara Brown Taylor ([link removed]) to humble magazine editors like yours truly ([link removed]) . You can read all the published responses here ([link removed]) , or bookmark it to follow along this month. While these short reflections tend to explore intended or good uses of scripture, we also have a new essay from Liz Charlotte Grant about the alarming movement seeking to reshape the US in the Bible’s image ([link removed]) , plus a column from Debie Thomas about why progressive Christians should keep (or start) reading it
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Our video of the week features Swedish student Saga Herdeskold, who chats with me about Voltaire’s surprising entry on religion ([link removed]) in his Philosophical Dictionary. Plus more great new content below!
Jon Mathieu
Email me (mailto:[email protected]?subject=Why%20the%20Bible%20exists&body=Jon%2C%20) : What do you think the Bible is for?
Click to schedule ([link removed]) a Friday lunch chat with Jon
Click to find Jon ([link removed]) on (X/Twitter alternative) Bluesky
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** What is the Bible for? ([link removed])
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We asked dozens of writers to respond to this question in seven words or less, as well as to expand on their response in a few sentences.
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** Trump the savior-king ([link removed])
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“Much of the right-wing Christian culture and theology that we recognize today—the tradwives and theo bros, the New Apostolic Reformation, the Heritage Foundation—finds its roots in Christian Reconstructionism and the thinking of Rousas John Rushdoony and his mentor Cornelius Van Til.”

by Liz Charlotte Grant
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** Progressive Christians should read the Bible ([link removed])
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“Whether we like it or not, the Bible is in the cultural marketplace, and the conversations it generates there have life-and-death consequences. It is incumbent upon us to participate intelligently in those conversations.”

by Debie Thomas
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** In the Lectionary for March 16 (Lent 2C) ([link removed])
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We live with a clear-eyed hope that refuses to squint in the face of suffering.
by Mark Ralls


Lent 2C archives ([link removed])
Get even more lectionary resources with Sunday’s Coming Premium, an email newsletter from the editors of the Christian Century. Learn more ([link removed]) .


** VIDEO: Was Voltaire really the enemy of Christianity? ([link removed])
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Saga Herdeskold chats with Jon about Voltaire’s religion entry in his Philosophical Dictionary. He was anti-greed, but was he anti-Jesus?


** The D.C. church that beat the Proud Boys in court now owns their name ([link removed])
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“I do not believe that anybody who paid a serious price desired to do so. But they could not say no to what the Spirit gave them to do in their age. We could not say no, either.”

Jasmin Pittman interviews William H. Lamar IV
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