The Bible in Western Culture The Student's Guide

The influence of the Bible on western culture is immeasurable, but many today are not as familiar with its stories and themes as they would like to be. This book provides concise and accessible introductions to the Bible's most important characters, events and themes, opening up understanding of the Christian element in Western culture and of the Bible itself.
With no prior biblical knowledge required, the volume offers a framework of understanding for those exploring literature, art, music and history at any level.
The book provides:
- Extracts from the Bible
- Explanations of the context & beliefs of each passage
- Links to related biblical texts
- Examples of related key works of art and literature
- Brief biographies of key figures
- A comprehensive glossary defining important terms
- Chronology
- Suggested further reading
This handy, easy-to-use volume is the essential guide for those wishing to find out more about the Bible and its impact on the world around us.

The influence of the Bible in Western culture is immeasurable, but these days few of us know much about it. Presenting concise and accessible introductions to the Bible's most important characters, stories and themes, this text encourages better understanding, study and analysis of the Christian element in Western culture. With no prior biblical knowledge required, this clearly presented volume delivers a framework of understanding for those studying Western literature, art, historical events, or for those simply wanting to improve their general knowledge. Filling a gap in the market for an introductory text of this kind, this genuinely multi-disciplinary book provides: * edited extracts from the Bible* explanations of the context and beliefs of each passage* links to related biblical texts* examples of related key works of art and literature * brief biographies of key figures* a comprehensive glossary defining specialist terms* chronology* suggested further reading. Enabling readers to encounter key Bible stories directly, the book also provides useful background information on issues of content, context and influence. Easy to use and follow, it is the essential guide for those wishing to find out more about the Bible and its impact on the world around us.

Acknowledgements. Abbreviations. Introduction. Part 1: The Old Testament. Introduction 1. In the Beginning 2. The History of Israel 3. Poetry and Wisdom Literature 4. The Prophets. Part 2: The New Testament. Introduction 5. The Birth and Childhood of Jesus 6. The Ministry and Teaching of Jesus 7. The Death and Resurrection of Jesus 8. The Early Church 9. The Book of Revelation. Reference Section. The Books of the Bible. Timeline. A-Z of Names and Terms. Further Reading

Dee Dyas isProfessor of the History of Christianity and Director of the Centre for the Study of Christianity and Culture and the Centre for Pilgrimage Studies at the University of York. She has worked on the history and practice of pilgrimage, both in historical and contemporary contexts, for over twenty-five years and has spearheaded major research projects and initiatives in Pilgrimage Studies, in partnership with colleagues from the social sciences. Esther Hughes is Project Research associate.