Description
Book SynopsisThe silence of God is a recurring theme in modern reflection. It is not only addressed in theology, religious studies and philosophy, but also in literary fiction, film and theatre. The authors show that the concept of a silent deity emerged in the ancient Near East (including Greece). What did the Ancients mean when they assumed that under circumstances their deities remained silent? What reasons are discernable for silence between human beings and their gods? For the first time the close interrelation between the divine and the human in the revelatory process is demonstrated here on the basis of a wealth of translated ancient texts. In an intriguing epilogue, the authors explore the theological consequences of what they have found.
Trade ReviewJohn Day, Oxford: "a remarkably wide-ranging and learned book on a highly topical theme" David Clines, Sheffield: "The Silent God is a most unusual and distinctive work, rich and original in its range and in its angle of vision on the sources. It will be an important resource for all those concerned with the contemporary value of the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament."
Table of Contents1. The Silent God in Modernity . 1.1 Introduction 1.2 The Silent God in Modern Literature and Media 1.3 Some Theologians and Philosophers 1.4 The Silent God in Agnosticism and Atheism 1.5 In Defense of a Silent God 1.6 Critical Examination of Current Views 2. Prerequisites for a Fresh Investigation 2.1 De_ning the Scope of This Study 2.2 The Human Nature of Religious Language 2.3 Silence Presupposes Speech 2.4 The Silent God: The Biblical Roots 2.5 The Silent God: The Biblical World 2.6 Why This Approach? 3 Silence between Humans in Antiquity 3.1 Introduction 3.2 Reasons for Silence between Humans 3.3 Conclusions on Silence between Humans 4. How Did Man Address the Deity? 4.1 Introduction 4.2 Songs and Prayers 4.3 Letters to Deities 4.4 Magic and Sorcery 4.5 Silence of Man before the Deity 4.6 Conclusions on Man Addressing the Deity 5. How Did the Deity Address Man? 5.1 Direct Communication between Deity and Man 5.2 Communication through Intermediaries 5.3 Dreams, Visions, Oracles, Omina 5.4 Conclusions on the Deity Addressing Man 6. The Silent God 6.1 The Silence of the Remote God 6.2 Broken Communication between God and Man 6.3 Conclusions on Divine Silence 7. Epilogue 7.1 Faith Talk 7.2 God's Word in Human Guise 7.3 Synergy 7.4 Is Revelation Still Possible? 7.5 Bearing Witness to a Silent God 7.6 The Courage to Become a Witness 7.7 The Integrity of Witnesses 7.8 Theodicy 7.9 Believers and Unbelievers
