Book of D: Biblicists are Like a Book Club

In my old age, I've come to realize that people who consider themselves as people (Esp Christians) who "know the bible," whether as students of the bible, theologians, biblicists, or whatever they want to call themselves, they are ordinary people who are mostly interested in insider debate. In other words, they get a kick out of sharing a literary experience with someone who has read the same book—and truly understands its nuances, context, and "canons." It's like belonging to a book club. The semblance of camaraderie born of bibliophilia creates a profound sense of connection and validation. In essence, people who master the bible and love to quote it and talk about it in depth are really no different than those of us who love science fiction.