Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Toto · 09-15-2007, 03:59 PM

How to Read the Bible: A Guide to Scripture, Then and Now (or via: amazon.co.uk) by James L. Kugel

reviewed in today's Times:

Irreconcilable Differences in Bible’s Interpretations

Quote:

...written by James L. Kugel and just published by the Free Press, also propounds a stark and challenging thesis, namely that contemporary Bible readers are confronted with two radically different ways of approaching Scripture and that both approaches are impressive and admirable — and fundamentally incompatible.

...

A decade ago, he published "The Bible as It Was" (or via: amazon.co.uk), a provocative and much-lauded study of early biblical interpretation.

...

Was the story of God’s destruction of the Tower of Babel really an ancient lesson about human hubris? Or, as modern scholarship would have it, was it a critical jab at Babylonian city dwellers by Israelite country folk, plus a kind of "just-so" story to explain the multiplicity of local languages? Modern scholars have questioned the authenticity of many biblical episodes. Pointing to parallel passages in the writings of other Near Eastern peoples, scholars have cast doubt on the Bible’s uniqueness.

Fundamentalists try to discredit this scholarship. Apologists try to mold and squeeze it to fit traditional understandings of the Bible. Professor Kugel does neither. Instead, he explores exactly where those traditional understandings came from. Writing between about 300 B.C. and A.D. 200, these sages, scribes and teachers effectively recast the Bible's meaning in terms that came to dominate the way it was read by both Jews and Christians right up to recent times.

David B · 09-15-2007, 04:11 PM

That looks quite interesting.

Bookmarked so I can see if my local small town library can get it.

David B

Toto · 09-16-2007, 06:24 PM

review in NY Times Book Review

Chapter 1

angelo · 09-17-2007, 05:54 AM

Another John Shelby Spong. These people are trying to interpret the bible to make it more acceptable to the layman, who are starting to question the claimed literal truth of scripture, by removing the miracles and other hard to swallow stories, thereby making the bible more believable. It's still interesting reading as long you realize what the authors are attempting to do.

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

09-15-2007, 04:11 PM	#2
David B Contributor Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Wales Posts: 11,620	That looks quite interesting. Bookmarked so I can see if my local small town library can get it. David B

09-16-2007, 06:24 PM	#3
Toto Contributor Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Los Angeles area Posts: 40,549	review in NY Times Book Review Chapter 1

09-17-2007, 05:54 AM	#4
angelo Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Australia Posts: 5,706	Another John Shelby Spong. These people are trying to interpret the bible to make it more acceptable to the layman, who are starting to question the claimed literal truth of scripture, by removing the miracles and other hard to swallow stories, thereby making the bible more believable. It's still interesting reading as long you realize what the authors are attempting to do.

Freethought & Rationalism Archive

The archives are read only.