April 6, 2006 Mark Noll to Discuss King James Bible in American History April 24

Mark Noll, widely regarded as one of the foremost Christian historians today, will deliver a lecture titled “The King James Version of the Bible in American History” at the Library of Congress at 4 p.m. on Monday, April 24, in Room 119 of the Thomas Jefferson Building, 10 First St. S.E., Washington, D.C.

Noll’s lecture is the latest in the Library’s Bradley Lecture series, which is made possible by a grant from the Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation of Milwaukee to bring eminent scholars to the Library of Congress to discuss texts of great historical importance in social and political thought. The event, sponsored by the John W. Kluge Center at the Library, is free and open to the public; no reservations are required.

According to Noll, the King James version of the Bible has been ubiquitous in American history as the prime source of language for literature, politics and popular culture, as well as for religion. His lecture will sketch the dimensions of that broad presence, while also examining how this version of the Bible has functioned as a force for cohesion and a force for strife.

Although Noll currently holds the McManis Chair of Christian Thought at Wheaton College, he will be moving to the University of Notre Dame in the fall of 2006. In 2004, he was appointed to the Library’s Cary and Ann Maguire Chair in American History and Ethics.

Noll is a prolific author, who has written extensively on Christianity and Evangelicalism. Among his many books are “The Work We Have to Do: A History of Protestants in America” (2002); “America’s God: From Jonathan Edwards to Abraham Lincoln” (2002); and “Adding Cross to Crown: The Political Significance of Christ’s Passion” (1996). His latest book, “The Civil War as a Theological Crisis,” based in part on work he pursued at the Library of Congress, will be published this spring.

Through a generous endowment from John W. Kluge, the Library of Congress established the Kluge Center in 2000. The center brings leading scholars together with Washington policymakers to discuss important world issues, drawing on the Library’s national and international collections. For more information about fellowships, grants and programs offered by the Kluge Center, visit www.loc.gov/kluge.