Scripture Letters in the Public Square
Posted by Barbara Bamberger Scott on Jan 10th 2024

"The daily/public newspapers are a good way to reach the secular world concerning Biblical matters." Writing partners Dan and Ann Pryor cast light on a wide vista of religious issues that are being raised in America, especially controversial subject matter, and display an objective and well-researched exploration for readers who wish to be considered devout members of the Christian faith. The book comprises thought-provoking letters and handouts created mainly by Dan and at times changed and corrected by his spouse and sent to newspaper editors from northeastern cities and a few western venues between January 2017 and the COVID-19 and re-election period of 2020. It is readily apparent from the first conglomeration of topics, “Abortion,” that the authors’ intentions focus on adherence to strongly held Catholic views since the Catholics, they assert, were the first to receive Jesus’ message in his actual lifetime. They offer strong opinions of some other religious sects—notably the Jehovah's Witnesses—that appear to Pryor to have made their distinctive interpretations of the Holy Bible based on what the authors view as a skewed viewpoint that does not recognize, for example, the Holy Trinity. And though Donald Trump, who ran for reelection in the highly disputed political battleground of 2020, is not a Catholic, and Joe Biden is a member of the Catholic faith, the Pryors throughout this collection press for Trump’s return to national leadership. They extol the groups such as Catholics and Christian Evangelicals who voted for him previously and cite policies and actions credited to Trump in support of Catholic groups. In many cases, their letters to various news outlets express their strong conviction that Trump will emerge victorious again. Topics arrayed in the lively narrative’s letters include religious freedom, contra-conception, popes, bishops, priests, homosexuality, a clear conscience, suicide, Bible Interpretation, and martyrs. Upon each of these subjects, the authors have stamped their convictions of religious and socio-political conservatism. Dan Pryor, the book’s principal composer, is a self-described “public orator” who is clearly attached to the facts and opinions he focuses on here. Each of the letters presented by him, with assistance and some noted corrections by his wife, is helpfully arranged by general topic and concludes with the name of the news source and the date of its publication. Included as well is a listing of those news outlets, such as the Philadelphia Inquirer, Arizona Republic, and New Jersey Herald. A few articles at the book’s conclusion are designated as “not printed” or were public handouts, such as one “Opposing Jehovah Witness.” Attention is also given in another such handout to translations of the Bible from the Greek language, about which Pryor has clearly done specific research regarding the word “God” from original ancient sources. His work is well organized, and his writing is thorough and to the point in every case, styled to conform to general newspaper requirements. It also demonstrates his fair-minded approach, as he also can be critical of some Catholic leaders whose expressed opinions are far, he believes, from true church doctrine. The Pryors' collaborative work can make for lively discussion of the kind the author enjoys and encourages among those of like mind as well as those of differing opinions. RECOMMENDED by the US Review

"The daily/public newspapers are a good way to reach the secular world concerning Biblical matters."
Writing partners Dan and Ann Pryor cast light on a wide vista of religious issues that are being raised in America, especially controversial subject matter, and display an objective and well-researched exploration for readers who wish to be considered devout members of the Christian faith. The book comprises thought-provoking letters and handouts created mainly by Dan and at times changed and corrected by his spouse and sent to newspaper editors from northeastern cities and a few western venues between January 2017 and the COVID-19 and re-election period of 2020.

It is readily apparent from the first conglomeration of topics, “Abortion,” that the authors’ intentions focus on adherence to strongly held Catholic views since the Catholics, they assert, were the first to receive Jesus’ message in his actual lifetime. They offer strong opinions of some other religious sects—notably the Jehovah's Witnesses—that appear to Pryor to have made their distinctive interpretations of the Holy Bible based on what the authors view as a skewed viewpoint that does not recognize, for example, the Holy Trinity. And though Donald Trump, who ran for reelection in the highly disputed political battleground of 2020, is not a Catholic, and Joe Biden is a member of the Catholic faith, the Pryors throughout this collection press for Trump’s return to national leadership. They extol the groups such as Catholics and Christian Evangelicals who voted for him previously and cite policies and actions credited to Trump in support of Catholic groups. In many cases, their letters to various news outlets express their strong conviction that Trump will emerge victorious again. Topics arrayed in the lively narrative’s letters include religious freedom, contra-conception, popes, bishops, priests, homosexuality, a clear conscience, suicide, Bible Interpretation, and martyrs. Upon each of these subjects, the authors have stamped their convictions of religious and socio-political conservatism.

Dan Pryor, the book’s principal composer, is a self-described “public orator” who is clearly attached to the facts and opinions he focuses on here. Each of the letters presented by him, with assistance and some noted corrections by his wife, is helpfully arranged by general topic and concludes with the name of the news source and the date of its publication. Included as well is a listing of those news outlets, such as the Philadelphia Inquirer, Arizona Republic, and New Jersey Herald. A few articles at the book’s conclusion are designated as “not printed” or were public handouts, such as one “Opposing Jehovah Witness.” Attention is also given in another such handout to translations of the Bible from the Greek language, about which Pryor has clearly done specific research regarding the word “God” from original ancient sources. His work is well organized, and his writing is thorough and to the point in every case, styled to conform to general newspaper requirements. It also demonstrates his fair-minded approach, as he also can be critical of some Catholic leaders whose expressed opinions are far, he believes, from true church doctrine. The Pryors' collaborative work can make for lively discussion of the kind the author enjoys and encourages among those of like mind as well as those of differing opinions.

RECOMMENDED by the US Review