Adam and Eve in The Garden of Eden
It's different reading selections of the Bible in the context of reading literature as opposed to a religious reading. Your focus changes to more of a historical reading. Instead of reading things for moral messages and as parables you read it as an attempt to better understand the historical evolution of the Hebrew people whether it's explicitly told as a history or in poems. It's strange, but it just goes to show you that the context in which the reader operates matters in interpreting the work.
For instance, take the story of Job. I found at least three different possible readings. First, there's the traditional reading of providing an example of faith in God even when an individual experiences tremendous suffering. Then there's the step above that and an attempt to work at the problem of excessive suffering and figure out why a benevelont and omnipotent deity would allow any more suffering than is necessary. But there's also a potential metaphor in the story for Job to serve as a symbol of the Jewish people, they had suffered tremendously, even at that point in history, and even when everyone them is telling them they have sinned against their God, they have and should maintain their faith in him. For if they do, they will be returned to more than their former glory.
Maybe it's just because I'm older and have a bit more experience in doing some deeper reading, but I never would have noticed some of this stuff when I read the Bible when I was younger.
No comments:
Post a Comment