Freethought & Rationalism Archive

CJD · 04-27-2005, 08:05 AM

Thinking that you meant 'criticism' in much the same way as Celsus thought, I suggest Vanhoozer's Is There a Meaning in This Text?

Why go through life only reading things with which you agree?

[edited to add: This is a must-read for any skeptic, generally speaking. It is as 'definitive' as one can get.]

Best,

CJD

jonatha · 04-27-2005, 10:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Celsus

If you are interested in biblical criticism as applied in the scholarly world, try McKenzie and Graham's To Each His Own Meaning. It is outstanding and primed for the beginner, and also covers both Hebrew Bible and New Testament. It's probably the only book of its sort out there. If you are looking for contradictions etc., someone else will undoubtedly point you to the Skeptic's Annotated Bible.

Joel

I can't find it on Amazon - got an ISBN?

John A. Broussard · 04-27-2005, 11:11 AM

Gibbon's Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire is a great place to start. His chapters on Christianity are very instructive though not directed at the bible, per se. It does deal with the many different interpretations the early Christians gave to that document. If I remember correctly there's even a separate printing of those chapters available.

Amaleq13 · 04-27-2005, 11:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jonatha

I can't find it on Amazon - got an ISBN?

The Skeptic's Annotated Bible is online.

Toto · 04-27-2005, 11:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Celsus

If you are interested in biblical criticism as applied in the scholarly world, try McKenzie and Graham's To Each His Own Meaning. It is outstanding and primed for the beginner, and also covers both Hebrew Bible and New Testament. . . .

Joel

Do you mean S. McKenzie and S. Haynes, To Each Its Own Meaning (Westminster/John Knox, 1999)

Toto · 04-27-2005, 11:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CJD

Thinking that you meant 'criticism' in much the same way as Celsus thought, I suggest Vanhoozer's Is There a Meaning in This Text?

Why go through life only reading things with which you agree?

[edited to add: This is a must-read for any skeptic, generally speaking. It is as 'definitive' as one can get.]

Best,

CJD

From Amazon:

Quote:

Kevin Vanhoozer contends that the postmodern crisis in hermeneutics—"incredulity towards meaning," a deep-set skepticism concerning the possibility of correct interpretation—is fundamentally a crisis in theology provoked by an inadequate view of God and by the announcement of God’s "death.�?

Part 1 examines the ways in which deconstruction and radical reader-response criticism “undo�? the traditional concepts of author, text, and reading. Dr. Vanhoozer engages critically with the work of Derrida, Rorty, and Fish, among others, and demonstrates the detrimental influence of the postmodern “suspicion of hermeneutics�? on biblical studies.

In Part 2, Dr. Vanhoozer defends the concept of the author and the possibility of literary knowledge by drawing on the resources of Christian doctrine and by viewing meaning in terms of communicative action. He argues that there is a meaning in the text, that it can be known with relative adequacy, and that readers have a responsibility to do so by cultivating “interpretive virtues.�?

Successive chapters build on Trinitarian theology and speech act philosophy in order to treat the metaphysics, methodology, and morals of interpretation. From a Christian perspective, meaning and interpretation are ultimately grounded in God’s own communicative action in creation, in the canon, and preeminently in Christ. Prominent features in Part 2 include a new account of the author’s intention and of the literal sense, the reclaiming of the distinction between meaning and significance in terms of Word and Spirit, and the image of the reader as a disciple-martyr, whose vocation is to witness to something other than oneself.

It sounds like many of us would agree with his attack on post modernism, but it is not clear why a skeptic would want to read a text based squarely on Christian doctrine.

CJD · 04-27-2005, 12:06 PM

Because most folks have not read a text of this quality on this subject from a Christian perspective, that's why.

Phishfood · 04-27-2005, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WCH

What's the best work on the subject of biblical criticism? A Christian friend of mine who knows very little of the arguments against Christianity but strikes me as very open to new ideas has asked that I refer a book on the subject to him. I told him to get Carl Sagan's A Demon Haunted World on the subject of skepticism, and to look into Richard Dawkins for biology and the like (although I don't know any specific books), but I couldn't think of any suitable biblical criticism texts.

Any ideas?

sure. tell him to come here. he can get his fill of BC&H, E&C, S&S

and he can actively participate, but that might be a little S&M.

im a laugh riot,
-Pf

freigeister · 04-27-2005, 01:04 PM

The one that started it all: Theologico-political treatise by Spinoza.

JoeNothin · 04-27-2005, 02:21 PM

I recently read "From Jesus to Christianity", by L. Michael White. I thought it was pretty easy to read. The book discusses the development of the New Testament from a historical point of view.

I can't help (perhaps I should say 'hope') but think that if one believes the bible to be the inspired word of god, this book would force her to wonder in what way it's inspired.

04-27-2005, 01:04 PM	#19
freigeister Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Posts: 503	First and best The one that started it all: Theologico-political treatise by Spinoza.

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04-27-2005, 08:05 AM	#11
CJD Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: greater Orlando area Posts: 832	Thinking that you meant 'criticism' in much the same way as Celsus thought, I suggest Vanhoozer's Is There a Meaning in This Text? Why go through life only reading things with which you agree? [edited to add: This is a must-read for any skeptic, generally speaking. It is as 'definitive' as one can get.] Best, CJD

04-27-2005, 11:11 AM	#13
John A. Broussard Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Hawaii Posts: 6,629	Gibbon's Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire is a great place to start. His chapters on Christianity are very instructive though not directed at the bible, per se. It does deal with the many different interpretations the early Christians gave to that document. If I remember correctly there's even a separate printing of those chapters available.

04-27-2005, 12:06 PM	#17
CJD Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: greater Orlando area Posts: 832	Because most folks have not read a text of this quality on this subject from a Christian perspective, that's why.

04-27-2005, 02:21 PM	#20
JoeNothin Regular Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 411	I recently read "From Jesus to Christianity", by L. Michael White. I thought it was pretty easy to read. The book discusses the development of the New Testament from a historical point of view. I can't help (perhaps I should say 'hope') but think that if one believes the bible to be the inspired word of god, this book would force her to wonder in what way it's inspired.

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