Description
Book SynopsisIn light of the escalating violence, military occupations, and global acts of terrorism that have characterized the beginning of the twenty-first century, this book yields both sorrowful and hopeful reflections. It walks the readers through the Scripture, searching for stories of ancestry and origins that can shed a measure of light on dark days.
Trade ReviewOver time we have tried to defeat the odd power of the book of Genesis. With Wellhausen we tried source analysis. With Gunkel we tried genre analysis. Then came creedal reading with von Rad and many of us who are his altar boys and girls. But then came Berrigan right into the middle of Genesis! Daniel Berrigan with his inimitable, whimsical poetic gift here turns Genesis back to his proper voice...holy poetry. Berrigan is evidently incapable of writing a prosaic sentence. He imitates his creatorwith his generative word that calls forth linkages and incongruities and opens spaces that bewilder and dazzle and summon the reader. I have not read anything in a very long time that is so breath-taking and compelling as this meditative poetry on Genesis...and with Genesis we get Paul and John, the woman at the well and brother Philip, all stretched thin and magnificent by this holy poetry. One has to be there! One has to read it! And then one will know...and yield...and give thanks...to Daniel Berrigan...and to his Sabbath-making God. -- Walter Brueggeman, Eminent Old Testement scholar, well-known author, and Professor Emeritus at Columbia Theological Seminary
How is one to categorize a book like this? Is it a biblical commentary? A book of poetry? A critique of today's world? Actually, it is all of the above. Reflecting on the text of Genesis, Daniel Berrigan weaves together biblical insight, social critique, and personal musings. Always attentive to contemporary concerns, he invites us into in the world 'in front of the text,' the meaning derived by the reader. It is there that he works his magic, drawing on other biblical passages and on the thought of writers like Leo Tolstoi, Annie Dillard, Thomas Merton, and Walter Brueggemann to fashion that meaning for today. Among all the themes that he lifts up, he is particularly sensitive to power and control wherever they are found. Though the book is primarily prose, one experiences the urge to read it aloud and slowly, in order to savor the poetic flavor of the words and images. Berrigan has brought this ancient story into the mainstream of today and made it as current as the New York Times. -- Dianne Bergant, Catholic Theological Union in Chicago
In these awful times of global warming, ozone depletion, rain forest destruction, war and even a willingness to destroy the earth with our nuclear arsenal, Daniel Berrigan takes us back to the beginning of creation and the Creator of Peace. He reopens the oldest story of all and makes it new all over again. Genesis is not just an inspired meditation on the classic scripture tale told with Berrigan’s poetic wisdom and Gospel nonviolence, it is a summons to enter the story, reclaim our faith in the God of peace, defend creation and carry on the holy work of creative, nonviolent love. -- John Dear, author of Living Peace, Jesus the Rebel, and The Questions of Jesus.
Over time we have tried to defeat the odd power of the book of Genesis. With Wellhausen we tried "source analysis." With Gunkel we tried "genre analysis." Then came creedal reading with von Rad and many of us who are his altar boys and girls. But then came Berrigan right into the middle of Genesis! Daniel Berrigan with his inimitable, whimsical poetic gift here turns Genesis back to his proper voice...holy poetry. Berrigan is evidently incapable of writing a prosaic sentence. He imitates his creator with his generative word that calls forth linkages and incongruities and opens spaces that bewilder and dazzle and summon the reader. I have not read anything in a very long time that is so breath-taking and compelling as this meditative poetry on Genesis...and with Genesis we get Paul and John, the woman at the well and brother Philip, all stretched thin and magnificent by this holy poetry. One has to be there! One has to read it! And then one will know...and yield...and give thanks...to Daniel Berrigan...and to his Sabbath-making God. -- Walter Brueggeman, Eminent Old Testement scholar, well-known author, and Professor Emeritus at Columbia Theological Seminary
Table of ContentsChapter 1 Foreword Chapter 2 Preface Chapter 3 Acknowledgments Chapter 4 Introduction Chapter 5 "In the beginning…" (1: 1-28) Chapter 6 "In the Divine image…" (1: 27- 4: 24) Chapter 7 "God blessed them and named them 'Humankind'…" (4: 25- 9: 6) Chapter 8 "My covenant with you…" (9: 8- 14: 17) Chapter 9 "A priest of the Most High God…" (14:17- 21:22) Chapter 10 "Take your son, your only son, whom you love so much…" (22: 2- 28: 10) Chapter 11 "A stairway, from Earth to Heaven…" (28: 10- 36: 8) Chapter 12 "Joseph dreams of greatness…" (37:1-42: 5) Chapter 13 "I am your brother Joseph" (42: 5- 50:26)
