Bible Culture and Authority in the Early United States

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By Seth Perry

Published March 7, 2018

Early Americans claimed that the Bible alone was their authority, but Bible Culture and Authority in the Early United States (Princeton University Press) argues differently. In his book, assistant religion professor Seth Perry claims that the Bible was instead used by leaders, preachers, publishers, and others to justify their own authority, and he analyzes the way that the Bible has been cited in American writing and speech since its foundations.

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PAW's July/August 2025 issue cover, featuring a photo of people dressed in orange and black, marching in the P-rade, and the headline: Reunions, Back in Orange & Black.
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July 2025

On the cover: Wilton Virgo ’00 and his classmates celebrate during the P-rade.