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Personal Assessment of The Bible & Its Influence, Cullen Schippe & Chuck Stetson

By Finn Laursen
Christian Educators Association International, Executive Director

This project is both ambitious and comprehensive as an introduction to the Bible, its context and background.  From reading this textbook a student would be well acquainted with the culture of Bible times.

This ambitious textbook seeks to sensitize readers to the importance and impact of Scripture to our culture and to world history. The Bible is presented for study as literature and is viewed respectfully without evangelizing. The core doctrines of Christianity are dealt with respectfully.

Many historical figures such as Wycliffe, Martin Luther, and Martin Luther King are referred to in this far reaching book that relates the Bible to all of history. In their efforts to tie Scripture into contemporary issues such as labor, women’s rights, and economics, the authors effectively relate those areas to what the Bible teaches.

Students are given creative projects in response to the reading.  Projects such as this interesting one from Unit 11 which deals with the Book of Romans:
          “Use the six part rhetorical outline of the letter to the Romans to write a
          letter of your own to an individual or group.  In the letter, try to be
          compelling and convincing about some cause that you hold dear.”

It is my perception that the textbook validates the importance of the Bible in history, literature, and culture.  Major themes outside of Scripture are addressed such as the Reformation and slavery in the US. These and other diverse issues are addressed and compared to appropriate teachings of the Bible.

It would appear that the overall intent of this ambitious project is to demonstrate how the Bible has influenced language, literature, and culture through the ages and then to further that task through making the Bible available for study in public schools.  This goal is achieved in an impactful way.

One question is the expected reading level of the students who will study this book. My opinion is that the reading level is quite ambitious for high school students.  While the reading is engaging, in vocabulary, accessibility, and breadth of coverage, this project is quite ambitious and requires a major amount of reading time in class and outside of class.

In the epilogue journalist Dave Aikman is quoted recounting a lecture he attended in China in 2002.  A professor from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences spoke about why the US has been so successful.  The professor stated the following: “But in the past twenty years, we have realized that the heart of your culture is your religion: Christianity.”

Powerful.  It is my contention that this book is true to the basics of the power of our civilization: our Christian faith, the Bible, and its moral values.  As such it is a valid, excellent contribution to the on-going battle for our culture!