Biblical Dyslexia [Paperback]

Charles J. Wilhelm (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 15, 2004

Religious assumptions and ignorance of biblical language constitute a virtual learning disability for Bible readers. This book analyzes the phenomenon, offering unconventional perspectives on scripture to stimulate learning and faith.

Biblical Dyslexia-Overcoming the Barriers to Understanding Scripture takes its position in between the liberal and the conservative, traditionalist approaches to scripture. It affirms the inspiration and authority of scripture, while diffusing the unrealistic, false mystique which sometimes shrouds the Bible in pseudo faith. Why and how it gets misunderstood and misused by Christians is the subject of chapters dealing with biblical language, Church tradition and the symbolism and history of the Bible. The examples cited are taken mostly from Anglo-American evangelical tradition, which will surely be controversial in some circles. Iconoclastic and unconventional from its first lines, the author's love and fascination with scripture come through from beginning to end. Far from being merely an attack on tradition, the book challenges ignorance and dependence upon the "Bible interpreters" in every reader's head which keep most people from penetrating the Bible's mystery, power and beauty.

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

Misread, misconstrued and misquoted, our Bible is held up as the foundation of the faith, rule book for service and justification for every religious lunacy in Christendom. But what are the scriptures really? How can we be sure we're reading them properly?

This book explains why we misunderstand the Bible, how bewildering Christianity can be as a result and how we can begin to read the scriptures as they were given. Using many examples from scripture, it introduces the reader to the Bible's language, history, diversity and testimony which are neither popular nor popularly known.

Addressed primarily to evangelical Christians, those in mainline denominations and "home churchers" who are drawn to an earnest encounter with the scriptures will also find this book speaking to them. Anyone wondering why the Bible seems so confusing while invoked so resolutely, should read this book.

Product Details

• Paperback: 196 pages
• Publisher: Xulon Press (January 15, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 159467261X
• ISBN-13: 978-1594672613
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,955,584 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Novel Approach, March 4, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Biblical Dyslexia (Paperback)

This book is about THE BOOK, but with an original challenge to common assumptions. The author's hypothesis is that most of us have a kind of "learning disability" when it comes to reading the Bible which keeps us from truly understanding its message. The book addresses the traditional treatment of scripture which perpetuates biblical illiteracy, but shows that there is a way out as well. The author organizes the book into sections dealing with misleading assumptions about the scriptures, their history, language and translation, and how we can get over the barriers to understanding them. Included are many insightful looks at passages popularly misinterpreted. I particularly liked the discussion and examples about the little interpreters living inside our heads, the New Jerusalem and the lake of fire. The book's strengths are its boldness and analysis of the wording behind the english translations of the Bible. If there is a weakness, it's brevity (I was hungry for more).

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Worth the price!, March 21, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Biblical Dyslexia (Paperback)

As a long-time Bible reader, "Biblical Dyslexia" helped me to read the Bible in a fresh new way. The author takes up various topics having to do with the way we understand the scriptures, and confronts the reader with questions concerning the structure of the Bible (i.e., is the Bible one book or a library?), and its nature, for example, the meaning of "word of God." The helps sensitise us to the cultural impediments we have to overcome as Bible readers, as, for instance in translating figures of speech from ancient texts and how to properly understand biblical symbolism.

The author doesn't spare his readers by leaving certain evangelical presumptions untouched. Rather he forces one to re-think them. The author, as someone who describes himself as having roots in the evangelical tradition, points out the problems that develop as soon as one tries to defend every word, jot and tittle against liberal criticism. I think he hits the mark by asserting that the driving force behind such positions is usually nothing but fear. It seems to me, that if the non-liberals (I count myself in the conservative camp) are the ones who believe in a personal God and creator who cares, express His thoughts and intervenes in man's affairs, then we already have a superior basis for communicating with modern people. In this sense especially, the book encourages one to trust God anew.

I found many vivid examples which make Biblical Dyslexia a straightforward read which provokes the reader to think after putting the book down. The work is annotated well, so as to facilitate re-checking. In a nutshell, this book motivated me not only to think about the way I use the Bible, but also to open it up and read it some more. Worthwhile piece of literature!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A very common disease, May 18, 2004

By 

Manfred R. Haller (Adliswil, Switzerland) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Biblical Dyslexia (Paperback)

The writer has the very rare gift to deal with a complex matter with competence and humor, so that you afterwards know quite qell what he is talking about. Biblical dyslexia reveals a very common disease, especially among those who believe to be very familiar with the Biblical text. He analyses our bad habit of interpreting the Bibel through the glasses of our preconceived ideas about what the Bible would or should say. In following his argument very closely we learn how to read and interpret the Bible according to its own standards and rules, and this cuts quite through many of our cherished concepts of Bible teaching. This book is an excellent remedy against Biblical dyslexia and leads to a sound and humble attidue towards the Bible, the very Word of God. Manfred R. Haller