Sin of omission

Publishing | When is a Christian encyclopedia “too Christian” for its own good? | Mark Bergin

Handout

George Kurian, editor of the four-volume Encyclopedia of Christian Civilization, is upset. He says executives at Wiley-Blackwell backed out of publishing his project two years in the making because they deemed it "too Christian." Kurian is threatening a class-action lawsuit for breech of contract and has garnered support from 60 of the encyclopedia's 375 contributors.

Wiley-Blackwell admits that its decision to suspend publication came very late in the game—namely, after the encyclopedia's initial printing and November debut at a conference for the American Academy of Religion and the Society of Biblical Literature. But the academic publisher maintains that its sole intent is to ensure the highest standards of scholarship. In a statement sent to WORLD from spokesperson Susan Spilka, the company repudiates what it terms "hurtful and damaging accusations."

ACCESS THIS ARTICLE IMMEDIATELY AND RECEIVE ONE MONTH OF ONLINE ACCESS AND TWO ISSUES OF WORLD'S PRINT EDITION—ALL FOR JUST $5. SEE THE NEW SUBSCRIBER BOX BELOW.

IF YOU ARE ALREADY A PRINT OR ONLINE-ONLY SUBSCRIBER, PLEASE LOG IN BELOW.

The complete article is ~652 words long

Current Subscriber

Magazine
Subscriber

Online-Only
Subscriber

Click here for other subscription options that also will enable you to access this article.

New Subscriber

Secure form

Receive instant access to this article and one-month access to WORLD's subscriber-only online content — plus, enjoy 2 issues of WORLD's print edition — all for just $5*.

Want a different type of subscription? Click the following links for Online-Only Subscription options or Print Subscription options (which include online subscription access).

Payment Information

Name	State	Card Type

Address	Zip	Card Number

City	Email	Expiration Date
		/
	Phone Number

Offer Terms

Subscribers Advantage Automatic Renewal Program You authorize WORLD Magazine to charge your credit/debit card at the price listed above and in time to renew your subscription to WORLD Magazine, without interruption, before the start of the first 6-month term (for $34.95) and then thereafter at 6-month terms at the regular rate then in effect unless you tell us to stop. You may cancel at any time during your subscription and receive a full refund on all unmailed issues. If your credit/debit card cannot be charged, we will bill you directly instead.

*Offer good in the U.S. only for new subscribers.
I agree to the terms above

Outside the US, click here.
Renewing subscribers, click here.
Gift subscriptions, click here.

NEED HELP? Call 800-951-6397, Monday-Friday (except holidays), 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. ET, or send email to customerservice@worldmag.com.

Copyright © 2012 God's World Publications
All rights reserved
Articles may not be reproduced without permission
April 11, 2009, Vol. 24, No. 7

Ready or not, here we go Mar. 28, 2009 View WORLD E-zine	Wealth and poverty Mar. 14, 2009 View WORLD E-zine	New breed of homeless Feb. 28, 2009 View WORLD E-zine
The Obama era Feb. 14, 2009 View WORLD E-zine	Schock factor Jan. 31, 2009 View WORLD E-zine	Millions cut down Jan. 17, 2009 View WORLD E-zine