During October, November, and December last year, television producer Bill Moyers presented a series of ten hour-long programs on the Bible book of Genesis on public (noncommercial) television in the United States. He explained that among several reasons for tackling this project, titled Genesis: A Living Conversation, was his hope that it would serve to introduce (or reintroduce) many people to the stories in Genesis and the role these stories have played in shaping American culture and consciousness.
Mr. Moyers readily admitted that a television program can introduce ideas, but only people can make things happen. He proposed that people across the nation should enjoy the adventure of forming their own Genesis groups. "As you read and think and talk about these stories, you will learn new things about yourself and the world," he said. "The more each of us knows and understands, the better our chances of living purposeful lives, creating strong families, building solid communities, and forging a more tolerant and vibrant democracy ... together."Talking About Genesis: A Resource Guide (New York: Doubleday, 1996), p. 5.
In the spirit of this call from Mr. Moyers, the Journal invited contributing editor Channing Walker to share his thoughts on the story of Abraham and Isaac.
