tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22560219.post8556636549995758896..comments2023-12-07T20:31:28.197-05:00Comments on Islands of Joy: The Bible as [also/only] LiteratureSørina Higginshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10907200327850346539noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22560219.post-32024062006021308252007-07-12T04:52:00.000-05:002007-07-12T04:52:00.000-05:00There is no question in my mind that the Bible is ...There is no question in my mind that the Bible is both a superb literary text and a theological text. Being able to relax about that, not seeing it as a contradiction, has made a huge difference in my ability to derive meaty -- not just milky -- sustenance from Scripture.<BR/><BR/>Coming from the same conservative-fundamentalist evangelical background as you did, Admonit, I was initially quite suspicious of books such as <I>A Complete Literary Guide to the Bible</I> edited by Leland Ryken, which had somehow found its way to my shelves. But that was before I had delved into any such books. I assumed that to read the Bible as literature meant that one was rejecting it as fanciful, false, or fiction -- in other words, irrelevant for faith and life and purpose and relating to God.<BR/><BR/>Now as I understand it, God has chosen to use this most supreme collection of literature -- spanning multiple genres and styles, composed over the course of more than 1000 years by many human hands, but converging together into one Divine Whole -- as a mode of communicating to us the truth and mystery of himself, of his creation (including us), and of the dramatic story we find ourselves in.<BR/><BR/>The largest step on my journey from where I was afraid to take an elective on the Bible as Literature at my high school to where I am now quite at ease with the idea was my introduction to Narrative Theology at Regent College by professors Eugene Peterson and Bruce Waltke, both trustworthy mentors who believe the Bible is truly God's Word.<BR/><BR/>Narrative theology looks at the books of the Bible and takes them seriously as great literature, applying the same sort of analysis of the poetics in them that one would use in approaching any work of literature, but with an eye to understanding the text more for its truth and spiritual enrichment, not just picking it apart and dismissing it. For some recommended books on narrative theology, see my Listmania list "<A HREF="http://www.amazon.com/lm/R36FIE6TH2TE93" REL="nofollow">Narrative Theology</A>" at Amazon.com. It's the first time I've created one of those, so I hope people come visit it and find it useful.Rosie Pererahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09554035581795923555noreply@blogger.com