This is a literary-critical analysis of the myth of Cain and Abel, masterfully related in Genesis 4 by the Yahwist, probably the greatest storyteller in the Hebrew Bible. The Yahwist narrates the initial slaughter of one human being by another, and strikingly, it is described as fratricidal. The book explores the anthropological, theological, and psychological dimensions of this universal myth and shows the readers such a vivid and intense story that one feels like will never get to the bottom of it. Thus, after a deep reading, this well known story is much more than what could seem at first sight; it can be said to be the portrait of human that is always torn between the innocence of Eden and its denial; between what is considered 'doing well' and 'not doing well'.
Exile constitutes one of the most central experiences in the Bible, notably in the book of Genesis. The question has rarely been asked however as to why exile plays such an important role in the lives of Biblical characters. Biblical Portraits of Exile proposes a philosophical reading largely inspired by the philosophy of Emmanuel Levinas of the experience of exile in the book of Genesis. Focusing on the 8 central figures of exile Adam, Eve, Cain, the sons of Shem, Abraham, Rebekah, Jacob and the sons of Levy the book draws out the ethical and redemptive implications of exile and thereby paves the way for a renewed description of the human subject, one that situates ethics at its very core.
The Trauma of Doctrine is a theological investigation into the effects of abuse trauma upon the experience of Christian faith, the psychological mechanics of these effects, their resonances with Christian Scripture, and neglected research-informed strategies for cultivating post-traumatic resilience. Paul Maxwell examines the effect that the Calvinist belief can have upon the traumatized Christian who negatively internalizes its superlative doctrines of divine control and human moral corruption, and charts a way toward meaningful spiritual recovery.
What can explain the persistence of gender inequality throughout history? Do narratives such as the Eden story explain that dissymmetry or contribute to it? This book suggests that the Hebrew Bible began and has sustained a rich conversation about sex and gender throughout its life. A literary study of the Garden of Eden story reveals a focus on the human partnership as integral to the divine creation project. Texts from other Hebrew Bible genres build a picture of robust and flexible partnerships within a patriarchal framework. In popular culture, Eve still carries the stench of guilt while Adam, seemingly unscathed by Eden events, remains a positive symbol of manhood. This book helps explain why they have had such different histories. The book also charts the subversive alternate streams of interpretation of women's writings and rabbinic texts. The story of Adam and Eve demonstrates how conceptions of gender in both ancient and modern worlds reflect larger philosophical schemes. Far from existing as timeless verities, female and male relations are constructed according to cultural imperatives of the day. Understanding the different ways that Adam and Eve have been conceived gives us perspective on our own twenty-first century gender architecture.
The Adam and Eve narrative in Genesis 2-3 has gripped not only biblical scholars, but also theologians, artists, philosophers, and almost everyone else. In this engaging study, a master of biblical interpretation provides a close reading of the Yahwist story. As in his other works, LaCocque makes wise use of the Pseudepigrapha and rabbinic interpretations, as well as the full range of modern interpretations. Every reader will be engaged by his insights. ""This book by LaCocque is an important contribution to the numberous studies on the story of paradise. . . . The reading of this book is enriching. The range of material on which L. draws is remarkable. . . . LaCocque's book is original in approach and rich in insights. I highly recommend it to scholars and students alike."" --Catholic Biblical Quarterly ""Andre LaCocque brings a distinctive style of imagination, interpretation, and articulation to his growing corpus of valuable exposition. Here he probes the thickest text of biblical faith. He goes 'back' to common cultural myths, but then shows how Israel has claimed generic myths for its own peculiar lived experience. And then he goes 'forward' to show how the voiced experience of Israel is paradigmatic for all human reality. Along the way he connects with the demanding interpretive tradition that includes Kierkegaard, Ernest Becker, and Ernst Bloch plus the richness of rabbinic work. The outcome is a compelling invitation to think again, afresh, about texts that have too long been settled in conventional, reductionist ways. LaCocque models the courage needed for reading and demanded by the texts."" --Walter Brueggemann Columbia Theological Seminary Andre LaCocque is Professor Emeritus of Old Testament at Chicago Theological Seminary. He is the author of The Feminine Unconventional and Romance, She Wrote, and the coauthor (with Paul Ricoeur) of Thinking Biblically: Exegetical and Hermeneutical Studies.
Can science, psychology, and biology explain miracles? This work explores this subject. It examines "miracles" of body, mind, and spirit, presenting the research and writing on these uncommon events.
At last, the truth behind the political scandal that continues to rock the nation. Who is the real Rod Blagojevich? The charming man with all the right ingredients for a politician? The governor who stopped tax hikes and took on the Chicago political machine only to be impeached for his trouble? Or is he the man prosecutors have made him out to be, eager to cash in on the opportunity to sell Barack Obama's Senate seat to the highest bidder? In this riveting and intensely personal memoir, Rod Blagojevich tells the real story behind his political ascension, downfall and redemption, sharing the drama of political gamesmanship at every level, while exposing the corrupt nature of Illinois politics from the average alderman to the United States Senate...and beyond. What are the secrets that national political figures are desperate to keep quiet? Rod Blagojevich reveals them here.
