Student's Life Application Bible Book

I am going to abstain from assigning a number of stars in this review because I don't want to confuse anyone; I would not presume to give stars to a major religious work like the Bible. Obviously the Bible has a lot to offer for a lot of people, and is important to understand if you are seeking to have an understanding of the culture and history of Western Civilization. Nonetheless, if I were assigning stars to this Bible, I would give it one because of the infuriating commentary and notes that are included in this so-called "study Bible".

The vast majority of notes are just conventional right-wing politics barely hiding behind a veil of religious philosophy. Creationism, check; anti-evolution, check; reductionist abortion argument, check. And so on. Also, the authors emphasize over and over again the extreme importance of obedience to all authority, but especially parents, never bothering to come to terms with the fact that rejection of existing religious authority was a major part of Jesus' ministry. This is not a book you should give to someone that you hope comes to have a fully formed understanding of the breadth of religious expression. It is a reactionary's Bible; one that you give to someone in hopes that it will make them never question anything about their own life or society, or to see moral issues with any complexity.

I wish more people would read the Bible, but read it intelligently and critically. I think there is good reason why it still means so much to so many, and that it has moments of great poetry and beauty. But I cannot say strongly enough that this Bible is not the one to give someone you love, and certainly not a student. I'd recommend the Oxford Revised English Bible, but really, anything will do better than this one.