Clivedurdle

BBC Radio4 had David Starkey the historian on this morning, and he was asked for the academic backing to a statement he made. He replied that he could give "chapter and verse".

Once upon a time I could do that! I used to carry a Bible, especially on Sundays, and could find things reasonably quickly- now I am not even sure of the order of the books!

What struck me is a question about the history of referencing and quoting sources in academia. Is it from the Puritan reformation when lots of people could quote chapter and verse?

Does it explain the fixation with the Word of God that is so prevalent in certain groups?