Why do many Christians elevate the practice of "quiet time": isolated, often hurried and brief daily Bible-reading? Jen Wilkin—author, speaker, and leader of many Bible studies—challenges this practice. She believes that, rather than instilling deep Bible literacy, the typical "quiet time" encourages shallow reading and pursuit of instant gratification in the form of cheap satisfaction or vague encouragement at the expense of comprehension.
Reading any book this way would not yield a thorough grasp of its themes, narrative, characters, and worldview, Jen says, so why read the Bible this way? While affirming its inerrancy, Jen cautions against treating Scripture like a magic 8-ball. The practice of quiet time is indeed formative, but not necessarily for the better. She proposes an alternative method of Bible study involving, among other things, extended (if not daily) reading and regular input from other careful Scripture-readers.
Show notes:
Credits for the music used in TBM podcast can be found at: hebraicthought.org/credits.
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Listen to an Article: Scott Harrower on Coping with Trauma through Scripture
Excavating the Biblical World (Cynthia Shafer-Elliott)
Christmas Special: Esau McCaulley on Reading While Black (OnScript)
What Is Civility and How Do We Practice It? A Panel Discussion
Biblical Artist Series: Sandra Bowden Literally Makes the Bible into Art
How Brazilians Understand the Bible Differently (Caio Peres)
Biblical Artist Series: Why John Hendrix Draws in Church
Wandering in the Wilderness: COVID-19 and the Book of Numbers (Dave Beldman)
Not a "White Man's Religion": Church History and Biblical Thought (Vince Bantu)
Biblical Artist Series: Jon Collins from BibleProject
Biblical Literacy for Flourishing in Faith and Work (Luke Bobo)
Re-Thinking Wisdom Literature in the Bible (Will Kynes)
How Old Testament Laws Can Shape Christians Today (Carmen Imes)
Critiquing the Church's Beliefs about Sex and Gender (Aimee Byrd)
Shaping Habits and Imagination for Reading Scripture (Dr. Heath Thomas)
Is Asian Philosophy (including Israel) "Philosophy"? Dr. Bryan Van Norden
Thinking Exodus: Egyptology and the Bible (James K. Hoffmeier)
Biblical Artist Series: Ned Bustard
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