Description
Book SynopsisLike Spinoza in his "Theological-Political Treatise", Schweid helps us grasp the potential for seeing radically new messages in this oldest of books, "The Bible." The American Founding Fathers realized that "The Bible" offers strong support for the doctrine of popular sovereignty. Socially, it offers a message of egalitarianism, especially in the provisions of the Jubilee. It is hardly an accident that two modern political movements found mottos ready at hand from the 25th chapter of Leviticus: 'Proclaim liberty throughout the land unto all the inhabitants thereof' (from the Liberty Bell), and 'The land shall not be sold in perpetuity' (motto of the Jewish National Fund). More broadly, Schweid helps us to appreciate the broader message of the narrative of creation and settlement of the land in its ecumenical and planetary dimensions. The world is God's creation whose resources are to be deployed as necessary for the sustenance and needs-fulfilment of all people and all creatures equally - a message very much relevant to the ecological crisis facing us all at the present time.
Table of ContentsPreface. Schweid’s Crossroads and our Own. The Uses of “Culture”. The Bible and Culture—Word of God and Word of Man. Divine Action Frames Human Action. Introduction. Modern Jewish Culture’s Relation to the Bible: Creative Mediating Interpretation Jewish Scholarship as a Factor in Jewish Modernization. Spinoza’s and Mendelssohn’s Contributions to the Modern Approach to the Bible. Vicissitudes of Jewish Culture in the Modern and Post-Modern Eras. There Is No Substitute for Long-Term Cultural Memory. What Makes the Bible Unique? Towards a Contemporary Plain-Sense Interpretation / Is the Bible One Book? Philosophy of the Biblical Narrative Is There Philosophy in the Bible? Prophecy: Speaking and Hearing, Seeing, Fear and Knowledge. Faith and its Basis in the Revelation of the Power of Divine Creativity that Governs Nature. A Dialogue of Sights and Seeings, Utterances and Hearings. Creation, Making, Bringing Forth, Saying, Seeing and Knowing in the Creation Narrative. Is There Science in the Bible? Human Destiny According to the Creation Narrative. The Dimension of Time: Transition from the Coming-into-Being of the World to Historical Time. Crossroads of Human History: From Covenantal Morality to Idolatrous Mores. Vision and Fulfi llment: Pattern of a Second Beginning Canaan and Israel. Personal Development of the Patriarchs, and Development of the People toward the Fulfillment of their Destiny. From Sin to Destiny: Stories of Abram/Abraham and Sarai/Sarah. “They Shall Keep the Way of the Lord, by Doing What Is Just and Right” (Genesis 18:19). “True Kindness” . From the Laughter of Happiness to Fear and Trembling. The Perfect World of the Dream versus the Contradictions of Waking Reality. Punishment of False Justice, and Resourcefulness Converting Injustice to Kindness. The Consciousness of Chosenness for Mission, and the Problem of Unity and Integration in the Family of Nations. Descent for the Sake of Ascent — the Way to Exile and Slavery. The Crossroads of Israel’s History and the Descent into Egypt. Simeon and Levi. Joseph. Judah. Raising History to the Plane of Myth. Moses’ Preparation for His Destiny: From Observer-Seer to Pastor-Overseer. Fear and Lovingkindness in the Crisis of Dedication to Mission: The Idea of Sanctifi cation. The Justice Implanted in Creation Returns to Its Foundation. Index.
