The popularity of Steve Allen on the Bible, Religion, and Moralityled the Dean of Intelligent Comedy to continue his skeptical examination of biblical claims. Among the topics discussed in this successor volume are abortion, alcoholism, angels, homosexuality, the Song of Solomon, Leviticus, Peter, and women's liberation.Although the Bible has been referred to, quoted from, and applied to broad social issues and private problems for centuries, Allen asserts that the degree of ignorance as to its contents is vast and deep. Noting that adults rarely read the Bible, Allen is convinced that millions who do read it are not able to understand certain passages at all.Throughout the book, Allen offers direct quotes from biblical scholars - Catholic, Protestant, and Jewish - in addition to generous references to the views of various scholarly specialists. His goal - to make people think about what the Bible really says - is achieved through clear and readable prose. Like Allen's previous volume ( LJ 10/15/90), this one gives us 113 short essays, alphabetically arranged by topic, that range in subject from abortion and alcoholism to ghosts and glossolalia to wisdom literature and women's liberation. This is not meant to be a scholarly study but rather the thoughts of an intelligent person who is well read in the Bible and religious topics. The overall tenor of the work is that of a critique of the literal or fundamentalist approach to the Bible and religion. Allen aims to challenge literal-minded religionists to reconsider their positions. Such people are, however, probably the last who would take up his book. While not an essential purchase, the book is interesting, and the author's fame in the entertainment field will be a drawing card. - John Moryl, Yeshiva Univ. Lib., New York Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. The popularity of Steve Allen on the Bible, Religion, and Morality led him to take another good look at the good book, a further examination of the Scriptures, designed to interest the average reader in reasonable analysis of the most influential document in Western civilization. Like his previous book, More Steve Allen on the Bible, Religion, and Morality is arranged alphabetically with totally new entries. Although the Bible has been referred to, quoted from, and applied to broad social issues and private problems for centuries, Allen asserts that the degree of common ignorance as to its content is vast and deep. Noting that adults rarely read the Bible, Allen is convinced that the millions who do read it are not able to understand certain passages at all. Steve Allen's Bible study began during his travels: he would peruse the Bibles found in any hotel room, marking passages that would strike him as extraordinary, beautiful - or extremely confusing. Spellbound by the mystery of it, he became aware that from the very beginning the text leads not just to scholarly argument, but directly to controversy that has, over the centuries and even today, fostered unaccountable slaughter and atrocity. And, he notes, it is perhaps of greater urgency now than ever before that all Americans become conversant with the Bible, because of those who would use it as a weapon to force their views on the rest of the population. Throughout the book, Allen offers direct quotes from biblical scholars - Catholic, Protestant, Judaic - in addition to generous references to the views of various scholarly specialists. His goal - to make people think reasonably about the Bible - is achieved through clear andreadable prose. Steve Allen (1921-2000) was known as television's renaissance man. He authored more than fifty books and composed over 8,500 songs. Allen was the creator and host of the Tonight Show and the award-winning PBS series Meeting of Minds. You can learn more about this legendary entertainer by visiting his offical Web site at SteveAllenonline.com.