Practicing Biblical Literacy
Case Studies from the Sheffield Conference
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1558/post.v7i2.173Keywords:
Biblical Literacy, Creative Writing, Economics, English Literature, Higher Education, King James Version, Religious Education, Secondary Education, CurriculumAbstract
When and how does the Bible enter the classroom? In May 2011, the department of Biblical Studies at the University of Sheffield hosted a conference on the role of the Bible in secondary and higher education. This paper addresses the notion of biblical literacy, providing an account of the emergent practices discussed, with in-depth treatment of three case studies.The examples are drawn from the fields of English Literature, Economics, and Creative Writing. The different role of the Bible in education in North American and British contexts is also considered, and the article concludes with considerations for future collaboration.
References
Anonymous 1999. The Bible and Public Schools: A First Amendment Guide. Front Royal, VA; Nashville, TN: Bible Literacy Project, and First Amendment Center. http://www.bibleliteracy.org. Accessed 30 April 2012.
BBC News. 2006. “Tea and Alice top ‘English icons’.” British Broadcasting Corporation.http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/4592476.stm. Accessed 30 April 2012.
Bible Literacy Project. 2012. “South Dakota Legislature Passes Bill Urging Academic Study of the Bible: Becomes 6th Legislature to Encourage Public School Bible Courses.” Press Release. http://www.standardnewswire.com/news/460967013.html. Accessed 27 April 2012.
Cardwell, Jerry D. 1971. “Multidimensional Measures of Interfaith Commitment: A Research Note.” The Pacific Sociological Review 14: 79–88. http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/1388254
Carter, Sharon. ed. 2007. Literacies in Context. Southlake, TX: Fountainhead Press.
Clifford, Geraldine Jonçich. 1984. “Buch und Lesen: Historical Perspectives on Literacy and Schooling.” Review of Educational Research 54: 472–500. http://dx.doi.org/10.3102/00346543054004472
Culture Online. 2006. “The King James Bible.” Icons. A portrait of England. (A project from The Department for Culture, Media and Sport.) http://www.icons.org.uk/theicons/collection/king-james-bible. Accessed 29 November 2010.
Department of Biblical Studies. 2010/2011. Telling Tales of King James’ Bible: An Exhibition and Educational Resource, with “The UnAuthorized Version,” a digital companion to the exhibition. Produced in association with Museums Sheffield, Sheffield Cathedral, the Humanities Research Institute (University of Sheffield) and with additional funding from the HEA Subject Centre for Philosophical and Religious Studies. DVD-Rom. Sheffield: The University of Sheffield.
Edwards, Katie. 2012. The Messiah Wears Prada: Functions of Christ-imagery in Contemporary Popular Culture. Sheffield: Sheffield Phoenix Press.
Edwards, Katie. 2012. Ad Men and Eve: The Bible and Contemporary Advertising. Sheffield: Sheffield Phoenix Press.
Foley, J. M. 2002. How to Read an Oral Poem. Chicago: University of Illinois Press.
Francis, Lesley J. 2000. “The Relationship between Bible Reading and Purpose in Life among 13–15-year-olds.” Mental Health, Religion and Culture 3: 27–36. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13674670050002072
Francis, Lesley J. 2002. “The Relationship Between Bible Reading and Attitude Toward Substance Use Among 13–15 Year Olds.” Religious Education 97(1): 44–60. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/003440802753595258
Filback, Robert and Stephen Krashen. 2002. “The Impact of Reading the Bible and Studying the Bible on Biblical Knowledge.” Knowledge Quest 31: 50–51.
Fukuyama, Yoshio. 1960. “The major dimensions of church membership.” Review of Religious Research 2: 154–161. http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/3510955
Glock, Charles Y., and Rodney Stark. 1965. Religion and Society in Tension. New York: Rand McNally.
Gutt, Ernst-August. 2006. “Aspects of ‘cultural literacy’ relevant to Bible translation.” Journal of Translation 2: 1–16.
Hirsch, E.D. 1987. Cultural Literacy: What every American needs to know; with an appendix, What literate Americans know (by) E.D. Hirsch, Jr., Joseph Kett and James Trefil. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin.
Ipgrave, Julia. 2011. “From Story Books to Bullet Points: Comparing the Status of Books in Primary and Secondary R.E. and the implications for the Bible in School.” Paper presented at Biblical Literacy and the Curriculum conference, Sheffield, 27 May 2011.
Ipgrave, Julia. 2013. “From Storybooks to Bullet Points: Books and the Bible in Primary and Secondary RE.” British Journal of Religious Education 35: 264–281.
Jaffee, Martin. 2002. “The Hebrew Scriptures.” In How to Read an Oral Poem, edited by J. M. Foley, 72. Chicago: University of Illinois Press.
Jeynes, William H. 2009. “The Relationship Between Biblical Literacy, Academic Achievement, and School Behavior Among Christian- and Public-School Students.” Journal of Research on Christian Education 18: 36–55. Accessed via ProQuest in unpaginated format. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10656210902751826
McKenzie, Steven L. 2005. “Review of ‘The Bible and Its Influence’.” SBL Forum.http://www.sbl-site.org/publications/article.aspx?articleId=465. Accessed 27 April 2012.
Pendell, Thomas R. 1959. “Biblical Literacy Test.” The Christian Century 76: 12–13.
Philips, Sarah. 2011. “Teaching Biblically Rich Texts to Biblically Poor English Students.” Paper presented at Biblical Literacy and the Curriculum conference, Sheffield, 27 May 2011. Unpublished.
Philips, Sarah. 2011. “The Bible and English: The Challenge of Teaching Biblically Rich Texts to Biblically Poor A-level English Students.” Farmington Trust.http://www.farmington.ac.uk/. Accessed 09 May 2012.
R.F.C. 1960. “Editorial.” The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald. http://www.adventistarchives.org. Accessed 26 April 2012.
Saucy, R. L. 1973. “Doing Theology for the Church (The Necessity of Systematic Theology).” Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 16: 1–9.
Skilton-Sylvester, Ellen. 2007. “Literate at Home But Not at School: A Cambodian Girl’s Journey from Playwright to Struggling Writer.” In Literacies in Context, edited by Sharon Carter, 168–198. Southlake, TX: Fountainhead Press. Previously published in School’s Out! Bridging Out-of-School Literacies with Classroom Practices, edited by Glenda Hull and Katherine Schultz, 61–90. New York: Teachers College Press, 2002.
Wachlin, Marie, Byron R. Johnson and the Biblical Literacy Project. 2005. Bible Literacy Report: What Do American Teens Need to Know and what Do They Know? Front Royal, VA: Biblical Literacy Project.
BBC News. 2006. “Tea and Alice top ‘English icons’.” British Broadcasting Corporation.http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/4592476.stm. Accessed 30 April 2012.
Bible Literacy Project. 2012. “South Dakota Legislature Passes Bill Urging Academic Study of the Bible: Becomes 6th Legislature to Encourage Public School Bible Courses.” Press Release. http://www.standardnewswire.com/news/460967013.html. Accessed 27 April 2012.
Cardwell, Jerry D. 1971. “Multidimensional Measures of Interfaith Commitment: A Research Note.” The Pacific Sociological Review 14: 79–88. http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/1388254
Carter, Sharon. ed. 2007. Literacies in Context. Southlake, TX: Fountainhead Press.
Clifford, Geraldine Jonçich. 1984. “Buch und Lesen: Historical Perspectives on Literacy and Schooling.” Review of Educational Research 54: 472–500. http://dx.doi.org/10.3102/00346543054004472
Culture Online. 2006. “The King James Bible.” Icons. A portrait of England. (A project from The Department for Culture, Media and Sport.) http://www.icons.org.uk/theicons/collection/king-james-bible. Accessed 29 November 2010.
Department of Biblical Studies. 2010/2011. Telling Tales of King James’ Bible: An Exhibition and Educational Resource, with “The UnAuthorized Version,” a digital companion to the exhibition. Produced in association with Museums Sheffield, Sheffield Cathedral, the Humanities Research Institute (University of Sheffield) and with additional funding from the HEA Subject Centre for Philosophical and Religious Studies. DVD-Rom. Sheffield: The University of Sheffield.
Edwards, Katie. 2012. The Messiah Wears Prada: Functions of Christ-imagery in Contemporary Popular Culture. Sheffield: Sheffield Phoenix Press.
Edwards, Katie. 2012. Ad Men and Eve: The Bible and Contemporary Advertising. Sheffield: Sheffield Phoenix Press.
Foley, J. M. 2002. How to Read an Oral Poem. Chicago: University of Illinois Press.
Francis, Lesley J. 2000. “The Relationship between Bible Reading and Purpose in Life among 13–15-year-olds.” Mental Health, Religion and Culture 3: 27–36. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13674670050002072
Francis, Lesley J. 2002. “The Relationship Between Bible Reading and Attitude Toward Substance Use Among 13–15 Year Olds.” Religious Education 97(1): 44–60. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/003440802753595258
Filback, Robert and Stephen Krashen. 2002. “The Impact of Reading the Bible and Studying the Bible on Biblical Knowledge.” Knowledge Quest 31: 50–51.
Fukuyama, Yoshio. 1960. “The major dimensions of church membership.” Review of Religious Research 2: 154–161. http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/3510955
Glock, Charles Y., and Rodney Stark. 1965. Religion and Society in Tension. New York: Rand McNally.
Gutt, Ernst-August. 2006. “Aspects of ‘cultural literacy’ relevant to Bible translation.” Journal of Translation 2: 1–16.
Hirsch, E.D. 1987. Cultural Literacy: What every American needs to know; with an appendix, What literate Americans know (by) E.D. Hirsch, Jr., Joseph Kett and James Trefil. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin.
Ipgrave, Julia. 2011. “From Story Books to Bullet Points: Comparing the Status of Books in Primary and Secondary R.E. and the implications for the Bible in School.” Paper presented at Biblical Literacy and the Curriculum conference, Sheffield, 27 May 2011.
Ipgrave, Julia. 2013. “From Storybooks to Bullet Points: Books and the Bible in Primary and Secondary RE.” British Journal of Religious Education 35: 264–281.
Jaffee, Martin. 2002. “The Hebrew Scriptures.” In How to Read an Oral Poem, edited by J. M. Foley, 72. Chicago: University of Illinois Press.
Jeynes, William H. 2009. “The Relationship Between Biblical Literacy, Academic Achievement, and School Behavior Among Christian- and Public-School Students.” Journal of Research on Christian Education 18: 36–55. Accessed via ProQuest in unpaginated format. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10656210902751826
McKenzie, Steven L. 2005. “Review of ‘The Bible and Its Influence’.” SBL Forum.http://www.sbl-site.org/publications/article.aspx?articleId=465. Accessed 27 April 2012.
Pendell, Thomas R. 1959. “Biblical Literacy Test.” The Christian Century 76: 12–13.
Philips, Sarah. 2011. “Teaching Biblically Rich Texts to Biblically Poor English Students.” Paper presented at Biblical Literacy and the Curriculum conference, Sheffield, 27 May 2011. Unpublished.
Philips, Sarah. 2011. “The Bible and English: The Challenge of Teaching Biblically Rich Texts to Biblically Poor A-level English Students.” Farmington Trust.http://www.farmington.ac.uk/. Accessed 09 May 2012.
R.F.C. 1960. “Editorial.” The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald. http://www.adventistarchives.org. Accessed 26 April 2012.
Saucy, R. L. 1973. “Doing Theology for the Church (The Necessity of Systematic Theology).” Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 16: 1–9.
Skilton-Sylvester, Ellen. 2007. “Literate at Home But Not at School: A Cambodian Girl’s Journey from Playwright to Struggling Writer.” In Literacies in Context, edited by Sharon Carter, 168–198. Southlake, TX: Fountainhead Press. Previously published in School’s Out! Bridging Out-of-School Literacies with Classroom Practices, edited by Glenda Hull and Katherine Schultz, 61–90. New York: Teachers College Press, 2002.
Wachlin, Marie, Byron R. Johnson and the Biblical Literacy Project. 2005. Bible Literacy Report: What Do American Teens Need to Know and what Do They Know? Front Royal, VA: Biblical Literacy Project.
Published
2014-08-20
Issue
Section
Biblical Literacy (co-edited by James Crossley and I.C. Hine)
How to Cite
Hine, I. C., Hallett, N., Tighe, C., & Calle, J. L. L. (2014). Practicing Biblical Literacy: Case Studies from the Sheffield Conference. Postscripts: The Journal of Sacred Texts, Cultural Histories, and Contemporary Contexts, 7(2), 173-196. https://doi.org/10.1558/post.v7i2.173
