A. J. Jacobs' year of living biblically

[Mike McVey]

I did a search on NazNet and did not this being brought up before.

A. J. Jacobs is a writer for Esquire Magazine who decided to live biblically for a year. This video is some of his findings.

It's sad that I have to even say this, but Jacobs is not a Christian. He says things that I disagree with, and probably Christians as a whole should disagree with. That being said, I don't know many Christians who try to do what he did. Enjoy the video.

http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/a_j_jacobs_year_of_living_biblically.html

The video is just under 18 minutes.

[Thomas Oord]

Mike,

I read Jacobs's book, and I loved it! I think it should be required reading for Christians as they wrestle with the intricate questions of biblical interpretation. And some parts of the book made me laugh so hard that I nearly fell off my chair (e.g., when he attempts to take the Bible literally by stoning an adulterer in Central park! or when he refuses to sit on any chair that has been recently touched by his menstrating wife!).

I'll check your video link...

Tom

[Mike McVey]

Mike,

I read Jacobs's book, and I loved it! I think it should be required reading for Christians as they wrestle with the intricate questions of biblical interpretation. And some parts of the book made me laugh so hard that I nearly fell off my chair (e.g., when he attempts to take the Bible literally by stoning an adulterer in Central park! or when he refuses to sit on any chair that has been recently touched by his menstrating wife!).

I'll check your video link...

Tom

Yeah, I'm planning on reading the book soon. He talks about both of those aforementioned issues in the video. One thing the video might bring to life better than the book is showing the edge of his beard never being shaved to how he normally looks.

[Doug Kitchen]

I did a search on NazNet and did not this being brought up before.

A. J. Jacobs is a writer for Esquire Magazine who decided to live biblically for a year. This video is some of his findings.

It's sad that I have to even say this, but Jacobs is not a Christian. He says things that I disagree with, and probably Christians as a whole should disagree with. That being said, I don't know many Christians who try to do what he did. Enjoy the video.

http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/a_j_jacobs_year_of_living_biblically.html

The video is just under 18 minutes.


Mike,

I enjoyed the video. I think there are some pretty good sermon illustrations in there. I find it interesting that he didn't get so caught up in the regulatory laws that he missed the beauty in scripture. For example, being thankful (e.g. he said something like: why do I focus on the three bad things that happened to me instead of the 100 good things).

Doug

[Mike McVey]

Mike,

I enjoyed the video. I think there are some pretty good sermon illustrations in there. I find it interesting that he didn't get so caught up in the regulatory laws that he missed the beauty in scripture. For example, being thankful (e.g. he said something like: why do I focus on the three bad things that happened to me instead of the 100 good things).

Doug

Doug, I agree completely. This is a breath of fresh air hearing that a non-Christian holds Scripture in such high view. And it's not unheard of that people seem to like Jesus more than the church. So where is our disconnect?

[Doug Kitchen]

Doug, I agree completely. This is a breath of fresh air hearing that a non-Christian holds Scripture in such high view. And it's not unheard of that people seem to like Jesus more than the church. So where is our disconnect?

Maybe because Jesus likes people more than the church does? ;)

I suppose you probably are looking for a more specific answer though.

I think Jacobs allowed himself to pick and choose which verses he took literally so he could hold each verse at a different level.

Also, he had no preconceived doctrine (five point tulip, Article 10 Nazarene) or outcome (e.g. a global church with 20% year on year growth). He was able to see value in scripture without a church or synagogue to guide him.

Churches are very complex in comparison to scripture. It's a lot easier to be happy in Jesus when you don't have to deal with a committee. When people see God through our churches they actually like us! Unfortunately, many times our churches are so caught up in doctrine, polity, marketing, socializing, etc that we make the glass a little darker and translucent and it is very hard to see the kingdom of God unless you squint pretty hard.

Doug

[Meghan Schoonover]

Thanks, I enjoyed that. I have seen his book in the bookstore and wondered about it several times.

[Ryan Scott]

This blog was finished a while ago, but when I found it, I spent several hours reading the whole thing. It's another interesting perspective similar to this experiment.

http://www.slate.com/id/2150150/

[Crystal Lutton]

I read the book and really enjoyed it. It was hysterical and very informative as he went into studies on certain things. Not like a college textbook, but like mini-Wiki articles ;) His mistake was thinking that he could understand the Creator by following the rules--but the rules only make sense "because of Him".

Though he did go from being an atheist to a spiritual agnostic (was, I believe, the phrase he used).

It's a good read.

[Meghan Schoonover]

"Reverent agnostic," in the video. :)

[Kevin Rector]

I saw the book in the bookstore and perused it for a few minutes. I enjoyed what I read, and I was going to buy it, but I didn't have any money. So I think I am going to try and get it from the library.