I started a book recently called The Drama of Scripture. I haven’t worked through much yet, but the first chapter on creation was hitting the mark. However, the second chapter, on the ‘fall’ disappointed me as it implied that the biblical account of the sin of Adam and Eve was an actual event. This might be important for conservatives, but it almost caused me to give up on the book entirely. Nevertheless, after having surrendered my snobbish prejudices, I determined to carry on anyway, sensing that I was going to hear God and learn as I read it. So far, I’m glad I did. Indeed, this historicity issue is admittedly a small blemish on what is turning out to be an inspiring and easy read. Actually, the book is something I would especially recommend for church groups as an introduction to theology and the bible that leaves traditional syllabus issues till later.Anyway, I’m not writing this to review the book, but to point to two helpful webpages that are linked to the book. There are some useful resources on them, so check them out here and here.
I have really finished my chapter on 1 Cor now; it’s already sent off, so I intend to devote a little more time to finishing my Küng series here over the next few days, and perhaps get round to doing another podcast on a theme that has been bouncing around in my brain for a few weeks.
8 comments:
Hi Chris:
You said: "However, the second chapter, on the ‘fall’ disappointed me as it implied that the biblical account of the sin of Adam and Eve was an actual event. This might be important for conservatives, but it almost caused me to give up on the book entirely."
OK I can appreciate that. Strange geography, talking serpents - we are not talking anything we can relate to. BUT given that Judaism and Christianity are historic faiths in the sense that God's self revelation is also grounded in acts of history, how do you see the fall? Is it unreasonable to believe that somewhere, somehow back in space-time, there was an original human couple who was tempted to mistrust God's word and did so, thereby transgressed God's law?
Actually, the book is something I would especially recommend for church groups as an introduction to theology and the bible that leaves traditional syllabus issues till later.
What a great idea! Maybe I'll do that! ;)
I've already copyrighted the idea, Si.
Costs money now.
Pay up.
Hi Anon,
Thanks for your comments.
"BUT given that Judaism and Christianity are historic faiths in the sense that God's self revelation is also grounded in acts of history, how do you see the fall? Is it unreasonable to believe that somewhere, somehow back in space-time, there was an original human couple who was tempted to mistrust God's word and did so, thereby transgressed God's law?"
Lots of questions here!
i) Though Christianity and Judaism are faiths grounded in history, not all in the bible is. The scriptures contain a mixture of literature, and the opening chapters of Genesis function, I think, as an elaborate metaphor to tell us something true about humankind, the origin of reality and our state of affairs. The last chapter of 2 Kings (25), on the other hand, reads like raw history. The opening chapters of Gen are quite different, however.
ii) I would think that if there was ‘an original human couple who was tempted to mistrust God's word’, a statement I would suggest is anyway full of anachronisms, then any relation to the Genesis account is accidental.
iii) As for understanding the relation of sin to humanity, I don’t know who you are and thus what sort of books you may find interesting, but I would refer you to the theologian Moltmann’s treatment in God in Creation. Though it may bore you to tears, depending on what you like, of course!
Does that help you understand where I stand?
(i) duh!
(ii)fair enough - I won't ask the next question because
(iii) tells me more about where you stand (thank you) - even if I have only read some Moltmann, but I think enough
Chris,
You might also try Joel Green, ed., Narrative Reading, Narrative Preaching. The first two chapters are dynamite.
I am amazed how strong the world religion - Evolution - is, even in Christian areas.
To hold to the story that Genesis is not History requires far more faith that is needed to accept it as History.
Just view Wikipedia - Mitochondrial Eve to see a theory in crises.
Eve was alive >85,000 years ago according to Wikipedia and this fly direct in previous believes. See the heading implications.
SO God told us about Eve and 'psuedoscience' stated she didnt exist. It took us 6,000 years to dicover Gods signature. Look at the bottleneck picture onj this site and it would remind you of the flood which you most probably also discard as story telling. However you do not posses all knowledge and God will reveal Himself as He wants.
Sir please stick to what you know and not to things you dont. Remember the Hittites? This is a clasical case. God descirbed them and Man said they didnt exist. All was history.
Would you like to claim that you know everything? What history was or wasnt? Only a fool would claim this or one that is blinded by Satan.
Do you remember the effect of special relativity - it solved many questions, removing fudge factors to make the big bang workable. Now during the last couple of years space itself was dicovered as stretching and a new set of physics was discovered. This new physics reduce the need of 96% of the energy and matter known as black energy and matter to make the things work.
And best of all it gives us after 6,000 years the understanding in what God meant when He stated he stretched out the heavens.
What an awesome God.
Sir be quite on yoiur pet believes. Can you stand before God, please read Job and see who you are.
An uninformed little nothing, who try do change and interpret the Word of the Almighty God.
Sir you should rather be quit and humble, your knowledge is nothing agianst the true God. You can not even start to anticipate what God is still going to reveal and you make deductions already. Come on, be not foolish.
Sir, if faith in creationism is necessary for your faith, please feel free - as far as I am concerned - to carry on. Whatever helps you believe in Jesus. That is the main thing.
God bless you.
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