HOW TO READ THE BIBLE

For centuries devotional readings of the Bible have taken place in churches and congregations as well as in the homes of individuals who search for strength and inspiration in its pages. Simultaneously academics have studied the Bible in an almost scientific way to examine its historical significance and meaning. The gap between these readings has resulted in a schism with far-reaching implications: Without historical context ordinary people are left to interpret the Bible literally while academic readings leave out the deeply personal connections we've established in church pews choir benches and backyard study groups throughout our lives. In How To Read the Bible Harvard Divinity School professor Harvey Cox explores three different lenses through which we look at the bible :- As literary stories of family conflict stirring heroism and moral dilemmas- As historical texts with academic and theological applications- As a source of dialogue and engagement to be shared sang about and applied to our lives By bringing the devotional and academic together Cox shows that the Bible is more than a collection of stories more than a historical document to be analyzed by scholars. His vision of a contemporary activist Bible wrestles with issues of feminism war homosexuality and race relations. In doing so Cox gives readers a living breathing resource always evolving in our understanding from one generation to the next.