The issues relating to the possibility of podcasting the Bible has grown more complex for me since my last post. We were having a discussion in my (local) church elders meeting saddened that in a congregation in the Evangelical stream of the church so few people read the Bible regularly.
The older folk (predictably) tended to see the issue as one of promoting Bible reading notes more vigorously. (The internal equivalent of the "shout louder" school of evangelism ;) But it seemed to some of us that the real issue is that many people don't read, it is not that they don't read the Bible, they only read the newspaper and the odd article from a magazine.
In the light of that and discussions with colleagues in our (college, physical) staffroom, I have gone back to the idea of 'casting the Bible, a chapter per day, with two or three questions to provoke thought/prayer. We might also offer the Revised common Lectionary readings as an alternative presentation (again with reflection questions) and after a trial month get users to discuss which was more helpful, and whether the idea is helpful at all...
The idea would be to get several churches involved, so a team from each could do a Bible book, or a month's lectionary twice a year, till the whole cycle is complete...
So, the issue of translation returns. There are two possible ways out. A colleague has a friend who knows someone who may control copyright of a suitable version. Failing that (I believe that) the American Bible Society gives permission to use up to half of any book from one of their translations, perhaps we could get permission if we asked to use some whole books... Or failing all else use two or more translations taking sections of the book from each.... Aaagh, the very idea of copyright seems SO plain wrong when applied to the Bible! ¶ 3:51 PM
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I've found Conrad Gempf's approach reasonably helpful to this. See Starting the "Essential 100".
He starts of in his "Thinking" category before making it a separate "E100" one.
Combination of both an online and local (non-online?) reading of the Bible.
By 
Stephen G, at
May 5, 2005 8:15 PM
_Essential 100_ has been great for us here at London School of Theology. It doesn't provide the text itself, but provides the structure.
In my latest book with Zondervan, _Mealtime Habits of the Messiah_, the problem was neatly solved because Zondervan owns the rights to the translation I worked on, the TNIV. So at the beginning of each of the 40 meditations on Gospel stories, I was allowed to print the TNIV text of the whole story.
By ConradGempf, at
May 12, 2005 7:15 PM
One of the advantages of print, or rather of commercial, publication...
It really goes against my grain that the Bible should be "copyright" - even translations. But I guess I can see why. Actually in this case it is counterproductive, because if the number of people actually rerading the Bible drops sooner or later this will find expression in dropping sales for new translations...
By Tim, at
May 13, 2005 7:21 AM
