Sex and Religion in the Bible
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Calum Carmichael
If we look to the Bible for historical accounts of ancient life, we make a profound error. So contends Calum Carmichael in this original and incisive reading of some of the Hebrew Bible and New Testament’s most famous narratives. Sifting through the imaginative layers of these texts with an uncanny sensitivity and a panoptic critical eye, he unearths patterns connecting disparate passages, providing fascinating insights into how ideas were expressed, received, and transformed in the ancient Near East. Ranging from Jacob’s encounter with Leah to the marriage at Cana to Jesus’ encounter with the woman at the well, these readings demonstrate the remarkable subtlety and sophistication of the biblical views on marriage, sexuality, fertility, impurity, creation, and love.
“Tracing the links between law codes and stories, Calum Carmichael’s fascinating study offers a key to the Bible’s treatment of human sexual life. From the Book of Genesis to the Gospel of John, Carmichael uncovers the patterns of thought that express the biblical authors’ understanding of this central sphere of human existence.”—Ronna Burger, Tulane University
"Combining an intensive reading of the text with insightful connections between narrative and law, Carmichael offers original and convincing interpretations of how people in biblical times thought about issues such as sexuality, marriage, fertility, and love. Highly recommended for anyone interested in new ways of understanding the Bible in its historical and literary context."—Geoffrey Miller, New York University Law School
Publication Date: February 23, 2010