Bible Caught in Violence (European Studies in Theology, Philosophy and History of Religions)

Description

The presence in the Bible of texts (i.e. Exo 21; Num 25; Deu 7) about violence and pointing to God as its direct agent raises many doubts in the contemporary reader. These texts understood literally can be read as an encouragement to aggression and hatred. A closer study of this type of texts based on modern research methods (i.e. historical criticism) allows a deeper understanding of their meaning and loosens their relation to God. The study of texts points that the Bible or any part of it cannot be a pretext for any kind of aggression or hatred. Cover Copyright information Contents List of contributors Introduction Part I Numbers 25: violence in the Yahvistic faith A different monotheism Violence against the Midianites The disregard of the covenant and the superiority of the Aaronic priesthood YHWH is the God of Midianites: the Kenite hypothesis The Kenites and their zeal The league between Kenites and Judaites The jealousy of YHWH Conclusion: the beginning and the end of the generation of Moses Bibliography Ḥērem – the Curse of God. Specific use of the idea of ḥērem in Deu 7:1–6 and 20:15–18 Introduction Ḥērem – its etymology and meaning Range of ḥērem in the biblical texts Ḥērem in Deuteronomy The meaning of the Deuteronomic ḥērem Conclusion Bibliography Contradiction between the laws “Thou shalt not avenge” and “An eye for an eye” Introduction Revenge forbidden by Torah Is ‘an eye for an eye’ a revenge law? Is ‘an avenger of blood’ taking vengeance? Conclusions Bibliography God of Israel and child sacrifice. From Jephthah to Abraham (Jdg 11:29–40; Gen 22:1–19) Introduction Several important findings The context of the Jephthah story The results of the critical-literary analysis Jdg 11:29–40 The pericope’s structure Jdg 11:29–40 The exegetical-theological analysis The spirit of Yhwh The vow of Jephthah Child sacrifices God’s attitude to Jephthah’s vow The canonical perspective in the interpretation of Jdg 11:29–40 The summation Bibliography I-the strong man in the face of His wrath (cf. Lam 3:1). A man in face of divine violence Introduction I-the strong man: a mocking identification God-warrior: a figure in action I-the strong man: faith as a possible answer Conclusion Bibliography Wis 11:15–12:27: the action of God between violence and mercy The Book of Wisdom and the problem of the face of God Your strength is the foundation of justice (Wis 12:15) A God between violence and mercy (Wis 12:22–27) A message for our time Bibliography Jesus and the law of talion (retaliation). A socio-rhetorical analysis of Matthew 5:38–42 Introduction The source text Inner texture – repetitive-progressive texture Inner texture – beginning-middle-closing texture Inner texture – argumentative texture4 Inner texture – sensory-aesthetic texture Intertexture – oral-scribal intertexture Intertexture – cultural intertexture Intertexture – social intertexture Social and cultural texture Summary Bibliography: “Unless you repent, you will all likewise perish” – Does God use violence? An exegetical-theological analysis of Luk 13:1–9 Introduction Literary genre Literary structure Exegesis of the chosen terminology The meaning of the barren fig tree parable60 Theological conclusion Bibliography Part II Biblical symbols of violence in ancient and medieval Christian interpretation Preamble Passion and death of Christ Eternal struggle of good against evil in the history of mankind Martyrdom and spiritual struggle of the Church and individual Christians The final judgment and eschatological torment Conclusion Bibliography Jihād and crusades: blessed violence in the Divine Comedy Introduction Violent humanity in hell, in purgatory and in paradise Dante’s vision of Islamic Heresy Muhammad in hell Theological reasons of Jihād against Christian Trinitarian blasphemy Heavenly glorification of the Crusade and the influence of San Bernardo’s ‘malicidium’ Dante’s ecumenism and the heavenly salvation of the Muslims Conclusion Bibliography The theme of God’s violence in the Bible in the light of the approach through belles-lettres. An example from Fyodor Dostoyevsky’s literary anthropology Preamble The basic anthropological ideas of Dostoyevsky The violence of God in the light of Dostoyevsky anthropology Conclusion Bibliography Gen 34 in the light of modern international legislation on resolving conflicts between nations The concept of violence Violence in Gen 34 Wars and ethnic conflicts International legislation as promoting peaceful solutions Conclusion Bibliography Biographical notes