This is thinking in public, a program dedicated to intelligent conversation about front-line

theological and cultural issues with the people who are shaping them.

I'm Albert Mowle, your host and president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in

Louisville, Kentucky.

Michael Legaspi teaches at Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts. Previously, he taught as Associate Professor of Theology at of biblical studies, an intriguing title published by Oxford University Press.

Professor Legaspi welcome to Thinking in Public.

Thank you so much for having me.

It's an honor and a pleasure to be part of the program.

Well I'm looking forward to a conversation about your book,

and I have to tell you, I think you win for one of the very best lines

in any academic book I've read.

Here's the line.

Scripture died a quiet death in Western Christendom

sometime in the 16th century, end quote.

I have to tell you there are an awful lot of Christians

who might think of that in precisely the opposite terms.

What did you mean when you wrote these precise words,

scripture died a quiet death in Western civilization

or Western Christendom sometime in the 16th century?

Well, I guess I should say I had been advised by some people that when you write a book, you should try to start bold.

So I took that advice and thought I would formulate my argument in as provocative and catch

your way as I could.

...