Comments on: The Year of Living Biblically (Ask Away)

By: Bob Andelman

Bob Andelman — Sun, 14 Oct 2007 19:17:32 +0000

If you'd like to hear A.J. Jacobs talk about his new book, "The Year of Living Biblically," check out this audio interview link.

By: Richard Wade

Richard Wade — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 23:42:20 +0000

also “assholier than thou.”

By: Polly

Polly — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 22:23:57 +0000

“assholish”
I’m definitely adding that to my lexicon.

“I didn’t call you an ‘asshole’, what I said, Bob, was that your comment was ‘assholish’!”

By: Mriana

Mriana — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 21:57:05 +0000

ROFLMBO! Mike, you’re on a roll! I think I’ll let you do the questioning from now on!

By: Mike C

Mike C — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 20:02:48 +0000

And one more (I hope you don’t mind):

Were there any commands that by following you felt actually turned you into a worse person – i.e. less loving, more angry or intolerant, more assholish, etc.

By: Mike C

Mike C — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 20:01:15 +0000

Were there any biblical commands that you used to think were just absurd and worthless, but after you started living them actually started to make sense?

By: Mriana

Mriana — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 19:36:21 +0000

Well… I sort of like Song of Solomon. Jackie Collins ain’t got nothin’ on Solomon and his lover. SMUT, SMUT, and nothing but the SMUT, Baby!

By: monkeymind

monkeymind — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 19:35:59 +0000

Polly, thats exactly the type of thing I had in mind, thanks. How did he put both of those into action? Also, could he ever just ignore a fool, or does he have to respond in some way to every foolish statement or action he encounters?

I would like to hear about the more creative loopholes he thought up for rules that he found morally objectionable or even illegal at the present time.

Has he received any feedback from Biblical literalists?

By: Karen

Karen — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 18:50:37 +0000

In the NPR interview he mentions that his favorite book was Ecclesiastes (also probably my favorite).

What was his least-favorite book of the bible? What was it in the bible that surprised him the most (he was only superficially familiar with the bible before)?

By: Polly

Polly — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 18:45:42 +0000

@monkeymind:

If he’s treating Proverbs like rules then yes there are two (that are sequential) that are opposites:

(NIV)Proverbs 26:

4 Do not answer a fool according to his folly,
or you will be like him yourself.

5 Answer a fool according to his folly,
or he will be wise in his own eyes.

I think both are appropriate at different times and circumstances. I enjoy Proverbs and Ecclesiastes – except of course for, you know, all that god talk.