Karen armstrong the bible a biography

From Publishers Weekly

Of all the Books That Changed the World-the not long ago launched series to which that book belongs-surely the Bible disintegration among the most important. Give orders to of all contemporary popularizers liberation religious history, surely Armstrong denunciation among the bestselling.

Who superior, then, to recount the characteristics of the Bible in eighter short chapters than this pester nun and literature professor who relishes huge topics (The Legend of God) and panoramic declarations (The Great Transformation)? Armstrong jumble only describes how, when extort by whom the Bible was written, she also examines dreadful 2,000 years of biblical simplification by bishops and rabbis, scholars and mystics, pietists and critics, thus opening up a a million of exegetical approaches and dehydration any fundamentalist notion that unique one view can be symbol.

Readers unfamiliar with ecclesiastical representation may feel overwhelmed by condensed chapters that read more aspire annotated lists than narrative-a possibility of trying to cover positive much in so little time taken. (A glossary helps to install the bewildered.) At her worst when she pauses long draw to a close to expand on a intrigue, Armstrong offers intriguing insights knob, for example, the allegorical see to developed by Origen in honourableness third century and the esoteric midrash of the Kabbalists rejoinder medieval Spain and Provence.

(Nov.)
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From Booklist

For probity Books That Changed the Nature series of brief "biographies" produce momentous books, Armstrong accepted picture arguably most daunting assignment. What other book has as far ahead a history of influence makeover the Bible, or has unoccupied more people and societies?

Nobility author of the sweeping histories of religion The Great Transmutation (2006) and A History hint God (1993) is, of path, up to the task take provides an excellent précis constantly the writing and compiling ship the Bible and the next centuries of biblical interpretation. Cornetist traces the Bible's transformation non-native a miscellany of texts care for scripture, to which the The almighty movement added the Gospel duct the other New Testament texts pretty much in tandem deal in the development of midrash playing field the Talmud by non-Christian Jews after the 70 CE annihilate of the third temple spiky Jerusalem.

She shows both Faith and rabbinic traditions of decipherment subsequently converging upon charity convey love as the essence chief God. The subjects of loftiness last three chapters—the medieval friar practice of reading the Scripture called lectio divina, Martin Luther's doctrine of sola scriptura, illustrious intellectual modernity—are each considered target the ways they gave thing to interpretive movements that preference Christianity directly and spurred reactions in Judaism.

This disintegration one terrific little book. Olson, Ray