Holy Bingo, the Lingo of Eden, Jumpin’ Jehosophat And the Land of Nod

Christianity abounds with fascinating, little-known trivia. Gas station attendants, for example, enjoy their own patron saint. So do stamp collectors, truss makers and sailors in the Bolivian navy. Jesus and Judas were common names in the biblical period, and Jesus of Nazareth had a brother named Judas. The forbidden fruit was more likely an apricot than an apple, and Delilah hired a barber to cut Sampson’s hair. This dictionary of miscellany combs the annals of Christian esoterica, offering the most intriguing facts that are often forgotten, overlooked or ignored. Departing from the standard subject matter, this work serves as an unruly companion to the typical Bible dictionary. Nearly 1500 entries range from Aaron’s beard (a popular name for Saint John’s wort) to zounds (an antiquated Christian swear word). Information is cross-referenced and includes numerous quotations.

Les Harding, a former academic librarian, has written numerous articles and book reviews and more than a dozen books. He lives in St. John’s, Newfoundland, Canada.