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Bible Bookstore closes

March 5, 2005

Today I found out that the largest Bible bookstore in Massachusetts recently closed. Whittemore's was a place I would go once or twice a year, to look at new Bibles and the occasional book. It was always a enjoyable experience. I loved paging through the new Bibles; thinline Bibles, the new study Bibles, the leather bound, gold-leafed Bibles, and even went down memory lane with a Scofield Reference Bible. I usually left with a new Bible - which is always a treat.
Of course I had to make my way past the Thomas Kinkade T shirts and dayplanners, the Left Behind display, and the Veggie-Tale monitors. But instead of being critical right now - I'm sad.
According to National Endowment for the Arts' survey in July, only 57 percent of Americans read a book in 2002. The study "Reading at Risk" found the number of adults reading literary works declined over the last decade.
Another sobering statistic: 97 percent of the books purchased last year were bought by 3 percent of the country.
What does this have to do with the closing of Whittemore's Bible bookstore? Well, I'm only guessing, but I think it is the confluence of a number of issues. 1)The decline in all reading in the United States 2)The dying of the evangelical church in New England 3)The desire for evangelical Christians that do read to read popular, quick answer, formulaic books like 40 Days to this, or 7 Effective Habits to that, or possibly say the Prayer of whatever, or seek Your Best Life .... These books litter the best-seller lists and can be easily found at your local Borders, if not the Super Wal-Mart. Why go to a Bible bookstore?
I guess my occasional trips are over. Now I'll have to buy my Bibles without touching, leafing, smelling and sizing up the print. That is really sad!

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