For I the Lord your God am a jealous God, punishing children for the iniquity of parents, to the third and fourth generation of those who reject me.” (Deuteronomy 5:9) Instead of looking at this verse as though an angry God is punishing us in some way, by afflicting our children with terrible circumstances or maladies of anger and quick temper, what an author recently revealed was that this is God’s way of saying that the traits I bear – my faults, my sins – will be passed on to my children by way of example. I have the ability to change this, by becoming a better person myself, by controlling my own anger, by being more loving, by giving of myself with a grateful and gracious heart. And the author so well-versed in Scripture that he could shed this new light? A “reverent agnostic” who sometimes attends a Jewish synagogue in New York City. Watch our upcoming “Rules” episode of Word for Word for my interview with A.J. Jacobs, author of Living Biblically: One Man’s Humble Quest to Follow the Bible as Literally as Possible. With an open mind and a serious quest, Jacobs takes a thorough look at the Bible and shares with us the results. We’ll also talk to Dr. Alan Schreck, a professor at Franciscan University in Steubenville, OH, for a look at where we can find the “rules” of the Catholic Church. Watch Word for Word, Friday Nov. 12th at 9pm ET.