A Theology of the Old Testament: Cultural Memory, Communication, and Being Human
"The remarkable thing about the Old Testament is the persistence of its visions of a better humanity and a better world." Rather than seek to establish "what people may or may not once have believed in ancient Israel," John W. Rogerson addresses "the human condition in today's world," asking what interpreters are doing today when they invoke the biblical texts. He draws on the insights of modern thinkers, including Benjamin and Bloch, Adorno and Horkheimer, Assmann and Habermas, to explore the dynamics of cultural memory in human communication.
In the texts of ancient Israel, Rogerson distinguishes "hot" cultural situations, alive to the remarkable potential of narratives that describe unfulfilled human aspirations to open up horizons of change, from "cold" cultural situations, where those potentialities are closed down to reinforce the institutional structures of the status quo. Moving throughout narrative, legal, wisdom, and prophetic corpora and offering fresh and compelling insights at every step, A Theology of the Old Testament draws out powerful visions of human nature and of the world's future. Throughout Rogerson poses the challenge: Do these visions require a theological basis to be compelling in today's world, or can they speak as powerfully beyond the confines of religious belief?
In the texts of ancient Israel, Rogerson distinguishes "hot" cultural situations, alive to the remarkable potential of narratives that describe unfulfilled human aspirations to open up horizons of change, from "cold" cultural situations, where those potentialities are closed down to reinforce the institutional structures of the status quo. Moving throughout narrative, legal, wisdom, and prophetic corpora and offering fresh and compelling insights at every step, A Theology of the Old Testament draws out powerful visions of human nature and of the world's future. Throughout Rogerson poses the challenge: Do these visions require a theological basis to be compelling in today's world, or can they speak as powerfully beyond the confines of religious belief?
- Publisher Fortress Press
- Format Paperback
- ISBN 9780800697150
- eBook ISBN 9781451411577
- Dimensions 6 x 9
- Pages 224
- Publication Date March 15, 2010
Samples
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| Introduction; Adobe Acrobat Document | |
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| Preface; Adobe Acrobat Document | |
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| Table of Contents; Adobe Acrobat Document | |
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Endorsements
"A primary aim of the book, beyond the usual suspects in Old Testament theology, is to reach 'members of the general public' to show that 'the more humane humans become...the closer they become to what the Old Testament calls the image of God.' His effort is a daring one, sure to engage both his peers in the field and a broader readership among those who care about the future of the world."
—Walter Brueggemann
Professor Emeritus
Columbia Theological Seminary
"John Rogerson's A Theology of the Old Testament shows how the Old Testament can address modern concerns with theological sophistication. This is no antiquarian study, but a lively modern reading of the biblical text, in the light of a concern for how we can change the world, not merely understand it. It will find many sympathetic readers."
—John Barton
Oriel and Laing Professor of the Interpretation of Holy Scripture
University of Oxford
"Rogerson offers a compelling alternative to biblical theology conceived as Old Testament texts distilled into a collection of divine attributes. Theology in his hands becomes a pursuit to see the God in whose image persons in ideal community are created. This is a brave and mature book that allows contemporary faith and critique to nourish each other as together they discover the Bible's own capacity for self–criticism inspired by its hope of humans treating one another humanely."
—David E. Fredrickson
Professor of New Testament
Luther Seminary, Saint Paul
—Walter Brueggemann
Professor Emeritus
Columbia Theological Seminary
"John Rogerson's A Theology of the Old Testament shows how the Old Testament can address modern concerns with theological sophistication. This is no antiquarian study, but a lively modern reading of the biblical text, in the light of a concern for how we can change the world, not merely understand it. It will find many sympathetic readers."
—John Barton
Oriel and Laing Professor of the Interpretation of Holy Scripture
University of Oxford
"Rogerson offers a compelling alternative to biblical theology conceived as Old Testament texts distilled into a collection of divine attributes. Theology in his hands becomes a pursuit to see the God in whose image persons in ideal community are created. This is a brave and mature book that allows contemporary faith and critique to nourish each other as together they discover the Bible's own capacity for self–criticism inspired by its hope of humans treating one another humanely."
—David E. Fredrickson
Professor of New Testament
Luther Seminary, Saint Paul