|
|
Article: Canons of conflict: can sacred books be read as literature? (introductions by non-religious people to individual Biblical texts published causes controversy in Great Britain)(Brief Article)
- Article from:
- The Economist (US)
- Article date:
- October 3, 1998
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1998 Economist Newspaper Ltd. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
|
Can sacred books be read as literature? This is not a question about Salman Rushdie and the Koran but, surprisingly, about the English Bible.
FOR centuries, the interpretation of Christian scripture was a site of dispute, conflict and outright violence. The new "Pocket Canons"-brought out, in the great Scottish Bible-publishing tradition, by an Edinburgh company, Canongate-are no exception. On the face of it, these are 12 standard texts from the King James version of the Old and New Testaments published as handsome mini-paperbacks at K1 ($1.70) each. What makes them stand out is that they have prefaces by a scientist, a bishop and ten writers ranging from A.S. Byatt ...