The structure of this website. The books of the Bible are not listed on this website exactly as you would find them in the real Bible. The books of the real Bible describe events that took place over several millennia but they are not all collected in chronological order; for example, Ezra and Nehemiah, which describe events after the Exile, precede Jeremiah and Lamentations which describe events before the Exile. Some books of the real Bible relate overlapping events; for example, Kings and Chronicles in the Old Testament and Mathew, Mark, Luke and John in the New Testament. I am telling a story on this website, my version of the story that is contained in the real Bible, and putting the books in a more chronological order is helping me tell that story.
The pictures. The photographs and other artwork were produced by Richard Rochester. More of his art can be found at https://www.richardrochester.co.uk
My reason for writing and sharing these poems. They are my way of finding meaning in the Bible and I know that other people enjoy reading and hearing them. I am a Member of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers). The Quakers have always held that the Bible should not be read literally but interpreted according to “the Spirit”. There is much in the Bible that, when read literally, is immoral. It recommends military actions that are war crimes, it is callous in its approach to those who do not meet its very narrow sexual requirements. There is much in the Bible that, when read literally, is ridiculous. It attributes to supernatural beings effects that we know to have natural causes. Some people (including some Quakers) are recommending that we stop reading some or all of the Bible. My response to the Bible is to wrestle with its most unsettling passages (though the fight takes all night and sometimes hurts me) until they speak a meaning that gives me a blessing. That’s what writing many of these poems has been like.
Your response to these poems. These poems are my personal response to the books of the Bible. They have no authority – they are what the Bible could have said.
Other ways of finding out about me and my poems.
- Youtube: @JamesPendle-nv4cj
- Instagram: @JamespendlePoet
- Facebook: @jamespendlepoet
- BlueSky: @jamespendlepoet.bsky.social