BondBibleStudy

WELCOME to a new kind of Bible study where faith meets Bond ... James Bond

A personal welcome from BENJAMIN PRATT ...
    Welcome to our website. You're joining readers and small groups around the world.
    To Buy a Copy: Click on the book cover (at right) and you can purchase copies in the Amazon bookstore.

    Today, check out our "NEW" or "UPDATED" resources at left. And, take our Poll (also at left) on your favorite Bond.
    And, please, don't leave without adding a comment! We hope to spark an ongoing discussion of issues raised in this provocative and inspiring new study. Of course, you may not have read the book yet—but, please, take just a moment to click in the upper right and add a comment about our website so that we can keep improving this space for you.

This book is different

   The most important thing to tell you is: This brand-new book is different from most of the "Gospel According to ..." books that are popular with Bible-study groups these days. In most cases, the author shares a biblical interpretation of popular novelists, cartoonists, movies or musicians.
    In this case, I've discovered a great deal of literary evidence that Ian Fleming intentionally wove major spiritual themes into his novels. My new book is a key unlocking secrets Fleming hid in plain sight—but that Bible study groups, until now, would not have dared to discuss. The novels were just too provocative. This new book is a tribute to Fleming's depth and artistry and encourages readers to go out, get copies of his novels and read them with fresh eyes. Among my fondest hopes is that Fleming's literary reputation, discounted for so many years, will be reappraised by new generations of readers.

How did I unlock Fleming's deeper reflections?

My journey in Bond-age has stretched over thirty years. It began as a fluke while I was on vacation ... But, wait! Why not click on the "Samples from the Book" link (at left) and enjoy a little taste of what I have written.
    Unlocking the secrets in the Bond tales has been personally revealing and rewarding in my own life. As you look at the Bond tales through the lens I have focused on them—you, too, will be humbled by revelations.
    Once you have grasped my perspective, I suspect you will never see another Bond movie or read a Bond adventure in the same way. I welcome you to this exploration of yourself and your community through the remarkably enlightening tales of Ian Fleming.
    As you embark on this adventure with us, I wish for you honesty, grace, forgiveness, and a fertile imagination for the journey.

Benjamin

A Prophetic Voice from the South Also Sees Bond as Spiritual Window

HERE is the potential of an effort like the James Bond Bible study.
    Because Ian Fleming cast his novels all around the world, both in terms of their plot lines and their spectacular sales, Bond is a spiritual window into many of the great challenges we face today.
    Through this new Bond Bible study, we're already meeting remarkable people around the world with similar ideas. Here, we want to introduce you to one of those remarkable people: the Rev. Marvia Lawes, a prophetic voice from the Southern Hemisphere, the region of the world that religion scholar Philip Jenkins calls the future of Christianity.
    (PLEASE JOIN THIS EMERGING BIBLE STUDY NETWORK: We have some far-flung Bond Bible study groups forming, including one in New Zealand. And, soon, we're hearing that some of the service men and women in Iraq will be reading along, which will be fascinating because the Bible study book includes voices of real veterans of foreign service.)

TODAY, we want to introduce the Rev. Marvia Lawes, so you can find her online commentaries and so that you'll understand who she is when you read comments from her in coming months. She is planning to organize a Bond Bible study group through her churches in the Republic of Panama and will send us word about how this study unfolds.

We will tell you more about Marvia in a moment,
but here is Marvia's ...
JANUARY 18 UPDATE FROM PANAMA:

Hello Benjamin et al,
    We are now at Week 2 and positively enjoying the book.
    Week 1 was rough for all of us. My one regret is that I didn't have this as a personal retreat before taking it to the Bible Study group. I read it on a trip overseas for the Christmas Holidays and believe it's well suited for a guided Spiritual Retreat/small group study than for a large Bible Study group.
    Before I got the book I thought it would be more appealing to the youth. As it turns out, its the adults who are the most 'disturbed' by it :-) So I want to say thanks!!
    As a pastor, I could identify right away with the issue of Moral Cowardice and the self-examination of my own choices, answering a call, etc has been worth examining in light of Thurman's 3 statements.
    More to come as we go along, but just wanted to say thanks as I haven't been able to visit for a while.
    Blessings!
Marvia

(Learn more about Dr. Pratt's public appearances. He is a veteran teacher and retreat leader.)

WHO IS MARVIA?
    She's ordained in the Jamaica Baptist Union. She's a Missioner and Pastor of the First Isthmian Baptist Church in Colon, Panama, and provides oversight to four Baptist missions in Costa Abajo, Colon. The Jamaican reference may seem unusual, but the Jamaica Baptist Union and the First Isthmian Baptist Church in Colon have strong historical connections that extend back to the construction of the Panama Canal when Jamaicans traveled to that area to find jobs.
    She's a pioneer. She's the first woman to pastor a Baptist church in Panama, finally breaking a 114-year tradition of male-only clergy.

Where can I find her voice?
    She's the chief writer and editor behind two fascinating Web sites.
    First is "GROWING YOUR CHURCH: Effective Ministry Resources for Growing Your Church" in which she encourages other clergy to connect with professional ideas, voices and materials in this field.
    Second is her "MARVIA'S PANAMA JOURNAL," which really represents a whole series of windows into her corner of the world and her observations about the challenges we all face.

How does a pastor in Panama cross spiritual paths with Bond ... James Bond?
    First, a portion of "Quantum of Solace" was filmed in Panama. Back in January, 2008, Marvia wrote a brief post about the film crew's looming visit. You'll get a feel for her wise and sometimes amusing voice in this brief piece she posted about the film crew's plans.
    BUT, the Bond commentary that really raises potent questions is the one she wrote after seeing the final film. Here's a link to read the whole thing. But here's a short excerpt to give you a feel for what she has to say:
    Quantum of Solace, the latest James Bond movie left my mind reeling with the gripping scenes and countless dead bodies scattered across South America and Europe. It also sparked some reflection on the plight of the world’s poor and people who lived in countries like mine who can identify with the issues of global economic powers and the world’s most disenfranchised peoples in the South.

What can I do?
    In this era when traditional news media is crumbling and new connections are forming around the world, seek out and read voices like this important woman's voice coming out of Panama.
    Join a global effort like this Bond Bible study. Click on the cover of the book on the main page of this Web site and order a copy though Amazon. We've heard from countless readers that actually reading the book quickly convinces them that there is real, substantial spiritual reflection here.
    And, as we move forward, let's encourage each other and challenge each other as Marvia Lawes is doing regularly from her home base in the Republic of Panama.

Questions?
    Email us with your questions.
    Or, please, add a comment to this Bond site so other readers will know what you're thinking.