Who Were the Early Israelites and Where Did They Come From?----William G. Dever
This book addresses one of the most timely and urgent topics in archaeology and biblical studies--the origins of early Israel. For centuries the Western tradition has traced it's beginnings back to ancient Israel, but recently some historians and archaeologists have questioned the reality of Israel as it is described in biblical literature.
The Bible Unearthed---Israel Finkelstein & Neal Asher Silberman
subtitled : Archealogy's new vision of Ancient Israel and the origin of it's sacred texts
Two leading scholars, an archaelogists and a historian, combine an exhilarating tour of the field of biblical archaelogy with a fascinating explanation of how and why the Bible's historical saga differs so dramatically from the archaelogical finds. They explain what the Bible says about ancient Israel and shows how it diverges sharply from archaelogical reality.
Two leading scholars, an archaelogists and a historian, combine an exhilarating tour of the field of biblical archaelogy with a fascinating explanation of how and why the Bible's historical saga differs so dramatically from the archaelogical finds. They explain what the Bible says about ancient Israel and shows how it diverges sharply from archaelogical reality.
What Did The Bible Writers Know & When Did They Know It?---William G. Dever
subtitled : What archaelogy can tell us about the reality of Ancient Israel
For centuries the Hebrew Bible has been the fountain head of the Judo-Christian tradition. Today, however, the entire biblical tradition , including it's historical veracity, is being challenged. Leading this assault is a group of scholars described as " minimalist" or "revisionist" school of biblical studies, which charges that the Hebrew Bible is largely pious fiction and that it's writers and editors invented "ancient Israel" as a piece of late Jewish propaganda.
For centuries the Hebrew Bible has been the fountain head of the Judo-Christian tradition. Today, however, the entire biblical tradition , including it's historical veracity, is being challenged. Leading this assault is a group of scholars described as " minimalist" or "revisionist" school of biblical studies, which charges that the Hebrew Bible is largely pious fiction and that it's writers and editors invented "ancient Israel" as a piece of late Jewish propaganda.
The View From Nebo---Amy Docker Maecus
subtitled : How archaeology is rewriting the Bible and reshaping the Middle East
The Bible has long been our guide to the history of the Middle East--a history that resonates with extraordinary force to this day. Now a new battle has erupted in the region over the realty of the Biblical past, with serious consequences for our times.
The Bible has long been our guide to the history of the Middle East--a history that resonates with extraordinary force to this day. Now a new battle has erupted in the region over the realty of the Biblical past, with serious consequences for our times.
The Quest for the Historical Israel---Israel Finkelsrein & Amihai Mazar
subtitled : Debating archaeology and the history of early Israel
Three decades of dialogue, discussion, and debate within the international disciplines of Syro-Palestinian archaelogy, ancient Israelite history, and Hebrew Bible over the question of the relevance of the biblical account for reconstructing early Israel history have created the need for a balanced articulation of the issues and their perspective resolutions.
Three decades of dialogue, discussion, and debate within the international disciplines of Syro-Palestinian archaelogy, ancient Israelite history, and Hebrew Bible over the question of the relevance of the biblical account for reconstructing early Israel history have created the need for a balanced articulation of the issues and their perspective resolutions.
Jesus, Interrupted--Bart D. Ehrman
subtitled : Revealing the hidden contradictions in the Bible
The book demonstrates that the New Testament is riddled with contradicting views about who Jesus was and the significance of his life. Many of the books were written in the names of the apostles by Christians living decades later, and that central Christian doctrines were the inventions of still later theologians. Although this has been the standard and widespread view of critical scholars for two centuries, most people have never learned of it.
The book demonstrates that the New Testament is riddled with contradicting views about who Jesus was and the significance of his life. Many of the books were written in the names of the apostles by Christians living decades later, and that central Christian doctrines were the inventions of still later theologians. Although this has been the standard and widespread view of critical scholars for two centuries, most people have never learned of it.
Why Christianity Must Change or Die--John Shelby Spong
subtitled : A new reformation of the church's faith and practice
Spong demolishes the stifling dogma of traditional Christianity in search of the inner core of truth. This book is a courageous, passionate attempt to build a credible theology for a skeptical scientific age.
Spong demolishes the stifling dogma of traditional Christianity in search of the inner core of truth. This book is a courageous, passionate attempt to build a credible theology for a skeptical scientific age.
The Bible : A Biography
Karen Armstrong
This new book reconfirms the content in the Film. Armstrong not only describes how, when, and by whom the Bible was written, she also examines some two thousand years of biblical interpretation by rabbis and bishops, scholars and mystics, pietists and critics, thus opening up a myriad of exegetical approaches and dispelling any fundamentalist notion that only one view can be correct.
Interfaith understanding and cooperation are now essential to out survival.
Perhaps members of the three Abrahamic Traditions should work together to establish a common hermeneutics. This would consist of a sustained critical , moral and spiritual examination of the problematic texts themselves, the way they have been interpreted throughout history, and an in-depth examination of the exegesis of the people who exploit them today.
This new book reconfirms the content in the Film. Armstrong not only describes how, when, and by whom the Bible was written, she also examines some two thousand years of biblical interpretation by rabbis and bishops, scholars and mystics, pietists and critics, thus opening up a myriad of exegetical approaches and dispelling any fundamentalist notion that only one view can be correct.
Interfaith understanding and cooperation are now essential to out survival.
Perhaps members of the three Abrahamic Traditions should work together to establish a common hermeneutics. This would consist of a sustained critical , moral and spiritual examination of the problematic texts themselves, the way they have been interpreted throughout history, and an in-depth examination of the exegesis of the people who exploit them today.
The Jesus Puzzle
Earl Doherty--subtitled--Did Christianity begin with a mythical Christ?
Once upon a time, someone wrote a story about a man who was God. We don't know who that someone was, or where he wrote his story. We are not even sure when he wrote it, but we do know that several decades had passed since the supposed events he told of. Later generations gave this storyteller the name of "Mark", but if that was his real name, it was only by coincidence.
Other writers followed after, and they enlarged on the first man's tale. They borrowed much of what he had written, reworked it in their own particular ways and put in some additional material. By the time another half century had passed, almost everyone who followed the religion of these storytellers accepted their work as an account of actual historical events and a real historical man. And so did the people who came afterwards, for close to two thousand years.
About two centuries ago, these "Gospels" began to be subjected to some searching examination. Not only were they found to contradict one another on important matters, it was eventually realized that they had been conceived and put together in ways, and with motivations, which suggested that they were not reliable historical accounts. Their fantastic and uncritical dimensions, such as the miracles and the involvement of God and the supernatural, placed them outside the genre of historical writing as we know it. That process of scholarly examination has continued to this day, with results that have undermined the very foundation of the Christian faith.
Once upon a time, someone wrote a story about a man who was God. We don't know who that someone was, or where he wrote his story. We are not even sure when he wrote it, but we do know that several decades had passed since the supposed events he told of. Later generations gave this storyteller the name of "Mark", but if that was his real name, it was only by coincidence.
Other writers followed after, and they enlarged on the first man's tale. They borrowed much of what he had written, reworked it in their own particular ways and put in some additional material. By the time another half century had passed, almost everyone who followed the religion of these storytellers accepted their work as an account of actual historical events and a real historical man. And so did the people who came afterwards, for close to two thousand years.
About two centuries ago, these "Gospels" began to be subjected to some searching examination. Not only were they found to contradict one another on important matters, it was eventually realized that they had been conceived and put together in ways, and with motivations, which suggested that they were not reliable historical accounts. Their fantastic and uncritical dimensions, such as the miracles and the involvement of God and the supernatural, placed them outside the genre of historical writing as we know it. That process of scholarly examination has continued to this day, with results that have undermined the very foundation of the Christian faith.
David & Solomon
Israel Finkelstein and Neil Asher Silbermam--subtitled--In Search of the Roots of the Western Tradition
The earliest folklore and verses about David depict a bandit leader, hiding in the mountains, leading a small gang of traveling raiders( which fits what we know of the ninth century B.C.E.). That bandit may well be the "true" David. In latter periods, authors added images of David as a poet, as the founder of a great dynasty, as a political in-fighter, and (perhaps most famously) as a sinner. All of these images made sense for the authors that created them, and a similar evolution of Solomon from the builder of the Temple, to expander of his empire, to wise sage, to rich trader similarly reflects the successive stages of history up to the time of Jesus.
Ultimately, David and Solomon came to embody a tradition of divinely inspired kings and even messiahs, the forerunners of Jesus and the great kings of Europe throughout the Middle Ages.
The earliest folklore and verses about David depict a bandit leader, hiding in the mountains, leading a small gang of traveling raiders( which fits what we know of the ninth century B.C.E.). That bandit may well be the "true" David. In latter periods, authors added images of David as a poet, as the founder of a great dynasty, as a political in-fighter, and (perhaps most famously) as a sinner. All of these images made sense for the authors that created them, and a similar evolution of Solomon from the builder of the Temple, to expander of his empire, to wise sage, to rich trader similarly reflects the successive stages of history up to the time of Jesus.
Ultimately, David and Solomon came to embody a tradition of divinely inspired kings and even messiahs, the forerunners of Jesus and the great kings of Europe throughout the Middle Ages.
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