Understanding the Bible: An Introduction for Skeptics, Seekers, and Religious Liberals
A thoughtful, warm, and witty introduction Understanding the Bible is designed to help empower skeptics, seekers, nonbelievers, and those of a liberal and progressive outlook to reclaim the Bible from literalists. In making accessible some of the best contemporary historical, literary, political, and feminist readings of the Hebrew and Christian scriptures, it encourages all who would find in the biblical heritage an ally and not an enemy in the quest for a more just and humane world. Brief...
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A thoughtful, warm, and witty introduction Understanding the Bible is designed to help empower skeptics, seekers, nonbelievers, and those of a liberal and progressive outlook to reclaim the Bible from literalists. In making accessible some of the best contemporary historical, literary, political, and feminist readings of the Hebrew and Christian scriptures, it encourages all who would find in the biblical heritage an ally and not an enemy in the quest for a more just and humane world. Brief and to the point, it can easily be used to stimulate group discussions and personal reading of the biblical texts themselves, and is an excellent introduction to the Judeo-Christian tradition for those of other faiths.Understanding the Bible includes four preliminary chapters on the why, who, which, and how of biblical understanding, followed by eight brief thematic chapters covering the core of the Hebrew Bible and six covering the Christian scriptures, plus chronologies, maps, and helpful suggestions for further reading.
Before We BeginReasons: Why Bother with the Bible?3Traditions: Where Does the Bible Come From?12Versions: Which Bible Should I Read?23Interpretations: Reading the Bible to Challenge Oppression28The Hebrew Bible (Old Testament)Creations: In the Beginning: Genesis 1 to 1143Generations: Matriarchs, Patriarchs, and Children: Genesis 12 to 5054Liberations: The Exodus and the Wandering in the Wilderness62Institutions: Judges to Kings, Priests and Early Prophets72Exaltations: The Book of Psalms84Frustrations: The Wisdom Literature and Job95Redemptions: The Literary Prophets108Expectations: Messianic Hopes and Apocalyptic Visions121Christian Scriptures (New Testament)Proclamations: Messages of the Kingdom and the Gospel According to Mark141Passions: The Teachings and Death of Jesus in Matthew and Luke150Resurrections: The Four Easter Stories160Incarnations: The Birth Legends and the Fourth Gospel169Salvations: Paul and Rabbinic Judaism179Revelations: Women, Gnostics, and the Early Church187Notes197Acknowledgments207Index209
