by Magius

Created on: February 21, 2008

There are many reasons the Bible is, and has been ever since it was first written over three thousand years ago (the Old Testament, in any case), the most widely read and sold book in the world. I'll note three: the "captive audience", the impact of religion on history and culture, and the profound nature of the Bible.

The Captive Audience: the simplest reason the Bible is so popular, and therefore so long-lived, is because for literally billions of people in the world it is an essential part of their lives. As Christianity is the largest religion in the world, with some two billion members, it is perfectly understandable that its primary text- the Bible- is so stunningly popular. While it is certainly not impossible for a Christian to live without a copy of the bible in his or her house, the Christian audience is so large, and so dependant upon this book, that it makes perfect sense that the Bible remains as popular as it is. Of course, there are also many Christians who keep multiple copies of the Bible in their homes, increasing the number of buyers considerably. Lastly, Christians are not the only ones who believe in the sanctity- at varying degrees- of the Bible. Jews, Baha'is, Muslims and others also believe in at least some portions of the Bible, and appreciate its sanctity. Thus, an audience of billions of individuals is formed, an audience that is very dependant upon the Bible and views it as a fundamental part of the home. No other book has such a captivating element.

The impact of religion: since the Bible is essentially the founding document of monotheism, which dominates the religious world today, it is extremely important from a historical and sociological perspective. One simply cannot exclude religious history from human history, and one cannot understand religious history without the Bible. For this reason, the Bible is a vital document for researchers, thus adding another vast audience of readers. Even complete atheists must read the Bible, or at least parts of it, to udnerstand the world they live in. Today, in an age under attack by terrorism, we appreciate more than ever the importance of understanding religious ideology, including its dangers and threats to society. From religious fundamentalists like Pat Robertson to civil heroes like Reverend Martin Luther King on the other, religion plays an inalienable part of our lives, and since the Bible is the most influential religious document in the world, we need it to comprehend what goes on around us.

The profound element: merely as a work of literature, the Bible is a fascinating text, perhaps the most thought-provoking in the world. It is not only a religious document; its narrative includes some of the most memorable and interesting stories ever written, some of the most profound philosophical segments, and in general portrays a tapestry of human life that is unparalleled in human literature. The allegories and messages of the Bible are unique as founding elements of civilized morals, and due to its enormous size there are always new aspects to be found that were previously hidden. Consider the vast amount of literature written on the pentateuch alone; no other work of literature can boast such extensive and intensive analysis and critique. The Bible is extremely mystical and unclear, making it a fascinating and engrossing work.

These are three major reasons for the longevity of the Bible, the "book of books", but of course there are more. Regardless, I think we can all agree that the Bible is not the property of theists and believers, but of all humanity, and all humans can appreciate this text as one of the most powerful and influential gifts ever bestowed upon the world.

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