It seems overly reverant to refer to it as “THE BOOK”. Isn’t there a more nuetral term for it?
Scriptures. That’s pretty neutral, especially if you decide to call it “Scriptures of the Christians” if you’re referring to both the Old & New Testaments.
I’m not sure how “neutral” Holy Scripture(s) would be, but, in English, there is no single word other than bible. Jews refer to their Scriptures as Tanakh, using the inititial sounds (in Hebrew) of the three sections of Scripture: Law, Prophets, and Psalms (and other writings).
Unless, of course you’re a Mormon (i.e., a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints), in which case the Bible is only one of various recognized “scriptures” (the others being the Book of Mormon, the Dopctrine & Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price).
And yes, Mormons do consider themselves to be Christians, regardless of what certain other Christian denominations may think.
Barry
(Psssst. Monty is LDS.)
You can use the name of the translation: the King James Version Bible (or KJV), the Revised Standard Version Bible. You can use “the Christian Bible” or “Christian Scriptures” if you like; I would read that as the group of writings common to all Christians-- and remember that different denominations use different versions of the Bible, and some add other books as well.
You can use “The Old and New Testaments” together, or refer to one or the other, or…my personal favorite… simply refer to the book or books that you mean, e.g. Proverbs, the Gospels, the book of Ruth, the books of Moses.
Corr