Using a Computer in Biblical and Theological Studies

1. Obtaining Course Notes
2. Introduction
3. Purposes of This Course
4. Computer Basics
5. How a Computer Works
6. Common Types of Personal Computers
7. Selecting a Computer
8. Major Types of Software
9. Computing and the Process of Research and Writing
10. What a Computer Can and Cannot Do
11. Working Efficiently With a Computer
12. Sources of Specialized Software
13. Reading Assignment

You may download the class notes for all lessons in HTML format to use with a World Wide Web browser on your own computer.  

• A computer can organize your research, help you study the Bible, provide access to vast sources of information and help you learn Greek and Hebrew.
• It can reduce tedium and save time by automating tasks such as formatting bibliographies and proofreading spelling in your papers.
• A computer can help in your ministry too: researching and writing sermons, preparing overhead transparencies, cataloging your personal and church library, managing your church finances, organizing information about your congregation and more.

1. Help you understand some ways computers can assist theological studies and ministry.
2. Survey the best software available for biblical and theological computing.
3. Provide guidelines for how to select software.
4. Provide methodological guidelines for using software effectively.
5. Demonstrate programs so you can understand better how these programs can help you.

Definitions of terms:

• Hardware: The physical computer equipment.
• Software or program: Instructions that tell a computer how to do a task, such as adding numbers, editing a document or printing a picture. It is called "soft" because the instructions can be easily changed to make the computer do new tasks. A computer program is like a recipe that tells the computer what to do, step by step. The power of a computer is that it can be easily changed to do almost anything if the proper software instructions are written. One reason why a computer is harder to learn to use than a simple appliance is this power and versatility.
• CPU (Central Processing Unit) or Microprocessor: The basic brains of the computer. The CPU does the calculations and manipulates information. A higher model number by the same manufacturer is usually faster. A 486 is faster than 386 and Pentium is faster than both; a 68040 is faster than a 68020. A higher clock speed is faster, since the CPU requires one or more clock cycles to execute an instruction. Clock speed is measured in MHz, millions of cycles per second. You cannot directly compare processors by different manufacturers.
• Memory: Temporary storage area for information. Information in memory is lost when the computer is turned off. More memory allows the computer to run more complex programs and to run more programs at one time. It also allows programs to run faster.
• Byte: One unit of memory (one character or number). A byte consists of 8 bits. A bit is a single binary number, 0 or 1. The largest number than can be represented by a single byte is 28 - 1, or 255.
• Memory is usually measured in kilobytes (KB = roughly a thousand (1024) bytes), megabytes (MB = roughly a million (1048576) bytes), or gigabytes (GB = roughly a 1000 million bytes)
• To run the latest software, a modern computer should have at least 8 MB, but 32 MB is better with Windows 95 and current programs.
• Disk drive: A permanent storage device. The information is recorded by magnetizing certain areas of the disk. The disk rotates like a record and the information is read with a magnetic head similar to that on a tape recorder.
• Hard disk: A non-removable disk. They are called "hard" because the internal storage material is a rigid metal disk. When buying a new computer, buy at least 2-4 GB. The more the better, since it will fill quickly with both programs and data.
• Floppy disk: A removable disk. They are called "floppy" because the storage material is flexible. Older ones used a flexible case and internally even the hard shelled ones have a flexible internal disk.
• CD-ROM: "Compact disk read-only memory". These use the same medium as an audio compact disk and stores 650 MB of data. The information on the disk cannot be changed. CD-ROM is used to distribute large databases of information, such as online reference books, commentaries, dictionaries and encyclopedias. It is also useful for interactive educational multimedia with videos, pictures and sound, since audiovisuals require a large amount of storage space. Any new computer should include a CD-ROM.
• DVD-ROM: "Digital Video (or Versitile) Disk". This is similar to a CD-ROM, but stores 10-20 times as much information.
• Operating system (OS): Low level software that controls the monitor (screen), keyboard, disk drives, printer and mouse. Application programs (such as word processors) access the hardware by sending commands to the operating system.
• IBM PC: DOS is the original IBM PC operating system and still is used by many computers. Microsoft Windows is the standard today. Some prefer OS/2 from IBM, which is technically advanced than Windows, but not as successful commercially and does not run as many programs.
• Macintosh: includes a standard operating system called Mac OS (also called Finder).
• Unix is often used by Internet Service Providers and mid-sized corporate computers.
• Graphical User Interface (GUI): A way of manipulating software and files by pointing to graphical representations of the objects on the screen with a pointing device. The most common pointing device is called a mouse. The most common examples are Windows and the Macintosh Finder. Most modern GUIs include the functions of an operating system and for practical purposes the distinction between a GUI and an OS is not important.
• Modem ("modulator-demodulator"): A device that can connect a computer to a phone line. It allows a computer to exchange data with another computer and is often used to connect to the Internet. The speed of most current modems is 28,800 to 56,000 bits per second.

A data bus connects the CPU to various devices such as memory, disk drives, keyboard and printer. The CPU manages all operations. It gets data from memory and peripherals such as disks and keyboard, does calculations and sends the results along the bus to memory, monitor, disk or printer. The CPU does its calculations in small temporary internal memory areas called registers and then returns the results to main memory.

At its heart, a computer is a sophisticated adding machine. All the CPU does is add numbers together and move data around in memory. All operations can be reduced down to adding: To subtract, change one number to a negative number and add them. Multiplication is repeated addition. To compare 2 numbers, subtract one from the other. The result is positive or negative depending on which has the higher value in alphabetical order.

Letters and punctuation marks are represented by a numeric encoding system. The most common standard is called ASCII. Letters are assigned a number based on their position in the alphabet. Text is represented by a sequence of numeric values and can be searched by comparing these numeric representations of letters.

Programming languages have been developed that automatically translate more sophisticated commands into these basic addition, comparison and memory move operations that the CPU understands. Programmers build up collections of functions that perform standard procedures, which they can combine together to produce a more sophisticated program.

• IBM PC compatible

The PC ("personal computer") was originally developed by IBM in 1981. It has since been widely copied (cloned) and has improved considerably in performance and features. The IBM PC-compatible computer is now the industry standard and commands 90% of the personal computer market.

The original operating system was MS DOS (Microsoft Disk Operating System, also called PC DOS). It is operated by typing commands with abbreviated words on a command line, (such as "COPY" and "DELETE"). It is still in use on millions of PCs.

In the mid-1980s Microsoft Windows was developed as a Graphical User Interface for the PC, which makes it easier for beginners to use the computer.

Windows 98 is the current mainstream Windows version, which is a minor update of Windows 95. Windows 95/98 is a great improvement over Windows 3.1 in ease of use, performance and flexibility. Windows NT is a more robust version of Windows which is growing more popular with corporations to run critical business functions. The future of Windows will be a derivative of Windows NT called Windows 2000.

• Macintosh

The Macintosh was the first popular personal computer to use a GUI, although it was not the first computer to have one. (The GUI was invented by Xerox 10 years earlier and used in the Star. Apple had an unsuccessful predecessor to the Macintosh called the Lisa, which used a similar GUI.

The Macintosh philosophy emphasizes ease of use for novice users, although with somewhat reduced flexibility and more limited add-on hardware options than IBM compatible computers.

Although it has only 10% of the market, its adherents are usually very enthusiastic about the advantages of the Macintosh way of doing things.

Tradeoffs Between Macintosh and IBM PC Compatible Computers:

• Macintosh
• The Macintosh is better for precise graphics work and is preferred by graphics artists and desktop publishers.
• Although Windows is much easier to use than it used to be, the Macintosh is still easier to configure and probably easier for novices to use.
• It often costs more to add accessories to a Macintosh. This is partially because there are fewer out there and partially because many Macintoshes were not designed to be expanded internally. The price gap is not as great as it once was, but it is still a factor to consider.
• Macintosh software is harder to find and tends to be more expensive. Fewer stores carry the software.
• IBM PC Compatible Computers
• The PC has a wider selection of software and add-on hardware, such as printers, scanners, modems, video cards, monitors, CD-ROMs, hard disks, backup tapes and musical instrument adaptors.
• The initial cost of a PC is generally lower than a Macintosh with the same level of performance, primarily because there are many low cost "clones" available and because of the economies of scale. Recently, however, the price gap between low end Macintoshes and low end PCs has narrowed considerably.
• Windows 95 and NT have a more advanced ability to work with multiple programs at the same time than the Macintosh.

Pick Your Software First:

For general purpose programs, such as word processors and spread sheets, this is not that important. The most popular general purpose programs are usually available for both systems. There are good programs in every general purpose category for both computers.

Nevertheless there are about 10 times as many programs available for the PC as for the Macintosh. Since the selection is greater you are more likely to find a program that meets your personal needs and preferences.

In specialized software the gap is even greater, since these programs are produced by small companies or individuals who do not have the resources to produce software for more than one platform. You will find more selection in Bible software, church management software and other special categories for the PC and greater likelihood of finding exactly what you want for an IBM compatible computer than any other type.

However, in a few cases there are excellent programs only available for the Macintosh, such as Accordance, the most advanced Bible-search program available for any computer. On the other hand the excellent and well rouinded Logos Bible system is only available for IBM compatible computers.

Laptop Computers:

Conclusions and General Recommendations:

1. For most seminary students and pastors buying a new computer, I usually recommend purchasing a PC compatible with Windows 98, a Celeron or Pentium II (faster) processor, at least 32 MB memory (128 MB if you can afford it), at least 2-4 GB hard drive, a CD-ROM and a 15 inch monitor. A 17 inch monitor is better if you can afford it. (Jan 1999 cost $1000-1500 Cnd).
2. In general more memory will work faster and allow you to do more things at one time.  It is generally better to get more memory than a faster processor if you cannot afford both.
3. Don't underestimate your need for hard disk space. Many modern programs require 100 MB disk space just for the program! Programs of 3-5 years ago only required 5-15 MB, so hard disks could be smaller.
4. On a limited budget a good solution is a used Pentium of any speed.  It will run Windows 95 and all modern programs quite adequately for under $500.
5. On a very limited budget, you can buy a used 386 or 486 computer with either DOS or Windows 3.1. For basic word processing with WordPerfect 5.1, this will be adequate and only requires 4 MB for Windows or 1-2 MB for DOS. A 100-200 MB hard disk would probably get you through school. The whole system would cost $100-200. The drawback of this economy approach, is that you will not be able to run the latest Windows software. However, you can still access the Internet with Windows 3.1 on a 386. This is a temporary solution but will get you started at minimal cost. You will probably be able to get your work done just as well, but the software will not be as "sexy".
6. Many of the newer program features cause the programs to require more disk space and memory and slow them down. Ask yourself whether you really need the latest bells and whistles.
7. In laptop computers, the most important factors are screen quality and battery life. An active (TFT) display will be brighter, sharper and have better contrast than a dual scan (DSTN) display. Not all dual scan displays are equal; some are quite good, while others are hard to read. Compare screens before buying. Be sure you are comfortable with the pointing device on a laptop. They are generally not as easy to use as a mouse. A good laptop computer will cost about $2000-3000, although you may find one at a clearance warehouse for less. Laptops go through a new generation every 6 months, compared to 1 1/2 years for desktop models.

• Word Processing: Used to enter and edit text and produce a neatly formatted printed output ("computerized typewriter, dictionary and thesaurus")
• Desktop Publishing: Enables arranging both text and graphics and producing a printed output that rivals that done by a typesetter. ("electronic typesetter")
• Graphics (painting, graphics, drawing (CAD)): Allows drawing and manipulating graphical images, such as drawings, charts, graphs, models, designs. These can then be integrated with text in a desktop publishing or word processing program. Images can be drawn on the computer or read into the computer with a scanner and then manipulated. ("electronic drafting machine")
• Database Manager: Stores, organizes and catalogs large amounts of information (data) in such as way that it can be quickly and easily retrieved and portions of it formatted in any manner desired. ("electronic file cabinet")
• Spreadsheet: Manipulates numerical information with automatic recalculation of results when changes are made to the numbers. It is useful for statistics, accounting, automatic grade calculation, and "what-if" analysis. ("electronic spreadsheet", or "ledger")
• Educational (CAE: Computer Aided Education): Programs used for teaching specific subjects, e.g. vocabulary drill programs for Greek and Hebrew, simulators for teachings chemistry and physics, self-teaching programs. (computerized "programmed learning book")
• Communications: Allows one computer to exchange information with another. You can "download" information from a mainframe to your home computer, find information on the World Wide Web, do bibliographic research with massive databases more quickly and thoroughly than by hand, send electronic mail to colleagues and friends all over the world in seconds, discuss theological issues in online discussion groups and obtain free software. A special subcategory is the World Wide Web Browser, which allows you to access Internet resources in a simple, graphical manner.
• Online reference books: Encyclopedias, commentaries, lexicons, atlases and other reference books can be searched online or on CD-ROM. Articles are often linked so you can click on a highlighted word to jump to the relevant information instantly. ("electronic books")
• Text analysis programs: A broad category of programs that analyze various features of a text, such as the Bible. Many types of textual and linguistic analysis would be very time consuming or impossible without the aid of computer. Some types include:
• Word concordance programs: Bible-search programs allow you to search the Bible by word or phrase. General purpose concordance generating programs can be applied to other texts, such as Church Fathers or classical Greek literature.
• Grammatical analysis programs: Advanced Bible programs allow you to search for grammatical and syntactical features.
• Stylistic, structural, and prosody analysis programs: These specialized tools analyze particular features of a text and are generally written by a researcher for a specific task.
• Utilities: Small programs that do a single task to simplify daily computer operations. Examples include programs to back up a hard disk, file formats converters, macro programs to automate repetitious tasks and multitaskers which allow running several programs at one time (e.g. use word processor while downloading online information).

What a Computer Can Do for You:

• Save time
• To search a printed concordance for all occurrences the phrase "son of man" would be very time consuming since the words occur frequently. It would take seconds with a Bible program.
• You can paste a quotation from a Bible encyclopedia or verse of the Bible into your sermon on handout. NOTE: Beware of moving a whole sections from a reference book into a term paper. This is plagiarism.
• Bibliography formatting software can format your footnotes and bibliographies.
• You can search a bibliographic CD-ROM faster than you can a printed periodical literature index. The desired references can be read into a bibliographic database manager and can then be formatted into the bibliographic style you want for your paper.
• With specialized software on their laptop computers, missionaries with Wycliffe Bible Translator save years in learning a new language and producing the first Bible translation in that language.
• Reduce tedious work
• Bibliography formatting software takes some of the drudgery of writing academic papers.
• It is easier to do revisions of a paper or sermon.
• Help you work more precisely
• Spell checkers, grammar checkers, automatic footnote formatting software ensure greater accuracy.
• Help you produce better quality work
• You can create attractive transparencies for sermons and Sunday School classes.
• Do projects that would be too time consuming by hand
• You could find all occurrences of a certain grammatical construction in the Greek New Testament; e.g. future perfect passive (Mt 18:18 "whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven"). You could search the NT and LXX with a Bible program or all classical Greek literature with the Thesaurus Lingua Graecae CD-ROM. Similar grammatical constructions elsewhere may help you understand the meaning of Mt 18:18 better, just as parallel passages that use the same word help in traditional word studies.
• Strong took about 30 years to create his concordance by writing each word and verse on slips of paper. A computer generated concordance on a PC can be produced in a few hours, including automatically typeset page layout.

What a Computer Cannot Do:

• Weigh the significance of information you find. Learning to evaluate the quality of information sources is an important critical skill to learn.
• Interpret the Bible. A Bible program only gathers data more quickly. It cannot evaluate its significance.
• Do the writing for you. A computer can help analyze your grammar, but it is not perfect, since it cannot understand the nuances of human speech.
• Eliminate the need for reading. In fact, you may find you have more information to weigh, since a computer opens up new research doors for you.
• Guarantee that your work will be better quality. A computer may help you produce a poor quality product more quickly. It may lull you into thinking you have done a good job because the layout looks attractive.

Desktop metaphor:

Ideally should have your word processor and a database for notes and bibliographic references running at the same time. It is also useful to have a Bible program open and possibly even a connection to the Internet for research.

A big advantage of a computer is the ability to copy material from one program to another. You should never have to type something more than once. You can copy a research note from your database into your term paper or a Bible verse from your Bible program to your sermon.

Multitasking and task-switching:

This simulates the way we operate in the real world. You do not put away your Bible, open a commentary, read an article, close the commentary, put it on the shelf, get a sheet of paper, write a paragraph, put the paper in a drawer, then open the Bible again. You keep the Bible, commentary and paper all on the desk.

• Multitasking allows you to run several programs at the same time. The background programs write their display to a separate window or an invisible screen, which is displayed when you switch the program to the foreground. You can download email, do a database search, format a bibliography, print out a paper, all while writing in your word processor.

Windows 3.1, 95, 98 and NT all include multitasking, although Windows 95/98/NT are more advanced. DesqView allows you to multitask efficiently on any 386 or higher computer while running DOS. The Macintosh Multifinder or System 7 or later also allow multitasking. You need enough memory to have all programs in memory at the same time, plus a bit extra for the operating system.

• Task-switching allows you to suspend one program, switch to another and return to the same place in the original program. It does not allow the background program to do any processing. It is useful for working with a note database and word processor, but not email, background printing or database searching and sorting. The advantage is that it will work with older computers, such as an old XT or 286 computer or a Macintosh SE with 2 MB.

For DOS, you can use the DOS SHELL program that comes with DOS 4 and later. While it is text based, it resemble Windows and uses a mouse. Another option is the WordPerfect Shell which comes with WordPerfect 6 for DOS.

Copying from One Program to Another:

• Some Bible Software is available at the seminary bookstore and Christian book stores.
• Look for advertisements in specialized magazines such as Christian Computing.
• In most cases you must order direct from the manufacturer. Be sure to ask if they have educational discounts.
• There are mail order catalogs of specialized software. Serious Developments offers discounts on mail order on Christian software. They have a catalog on the Internet (send email to serious@mindspring.com) and a World Wide Web site (http://www.viper.net/clients/serious).
• I can also order many programs for you at a discount. Contact me by email hahne@balboa-software.com or phone (416-730-8980) with your special needs.

Required:

1. Jeffrey Hsu, Computer Bible Study, ch. 1-2.

Recommended:

1. Harry Hahne, "Computer Resources: Exploring the Options for Graduate Students" in The 1996 Seminary and Graduate School Handbook: Spring Edition. Evanston, IL: Berry Publishing Services, 1996.


2. See http://www.cch.chass.utoronto.ca:8080/cch/1001h/calendar.html for a course by Willard McCarty on Computing in the Humanities. In particular read the articles on "Introduction to Computing", "Review of Computing Fundamentals" and "Introduction to Windows".
3. For a discussion of how a computer works, see John Hughes, Bits, Bytes and Biblical Studies, chapter 1.