REC-Room REsource: Discovering the Bible

			Discovering the Bible

Ages: Youth & Adults
Author: Winston
Publisher: Christian History Institute/Gateway Films
Publisher's Address: EcuFilm, 810 12th St., Nashville TN 37203. 1-800-251-4091.
Web: http://www.ecufilm.org

(These comments are based on a review not actual use.)
"a simple introduction to the Bible, what it is, how we got it,
and how to use it."
Its philosophy stresses an historical approach:
"The Bible came from the experience of specific people, in identifiable
places, at particular times. The Bible deals with the meaning of human
life on this planet from within the stories of people who lived on this planet.
So it is not a 'Holy Book' in the sense of an otherworldly esoteric philosophy.
It is 'holy' in the sense that it represents the interaction of God and people in our world in the midst of everyday life."

The curriculum is an audiovisual kit, consisting of two videos, a Leader's Guide, a set of Student Handouts/Worksheets, and a piece of papyrus from the Nile River. The videos include four programs, each 30 minutes long. I found them, by and large, to be very good. The 4 programs are:
"Getting Acquainted with the Bible,"
"The Hebrew Scriptures or Old Testament"
""The New Testament," and "Survival, Spread, & Influence."

The videos contain fairly lively and interesting footage, including modern-day Middle East, movie clips, artwork and graphics. The narrator is an attractive, young British man who I think would appeal to youth. On a few rare occasions, the videos resort to "talking heads" which unfortunately are all older, white males which I think would be boring to youth. However, they don't take up a lot of the time.
(Another nit-pick: at one point they go through a list of quotes about the Bible -- both pro and con, which I thought was neat -- but all the quotees were DWM [dead white males], yawn).

The Leader's Guide provides a list of discussion questions for each video segment. Thus, the program could be done in 4 sessions, or structured any way you want. I think it could form the basis for an interesting year of R.E. sessions, providing a good introduction to the Bible for kids who by and large aren't familiar with it, then followed with sessions on interesting Bible-related topics using supplementary materials (e.g., the Bible & women; the Bible & homosexuality; anti-semitism;
Bible-inspired art and music; how to deal with classmates who have different beliefs about the Bible, etc.)

We are planning just such a program for our senior high class next year.
I believe this resource could also be used with junior high students.

This curriculum is expensive, ($80) and it's not perfect. (Another of my nit-picks is the fact that it doesn't stress the inherent difficulties in the many translations and versions -- something I'd build into a class session -- e.g., I'd have the kids look up some passages and compare different translations.) However, it's one of the best resources I've seen that would be appropriate for UUs. They'll let you preview it before you buy, if you want.

Kaye McSpadden, DRE, Lafayette, IN <KayeUULSA@aol.com> 1-12-99