⇒ PDF Free Reading the Bible Again For the First Time Taking the Bible Seriously But Not Literally Marcus J Borg 8601406195776 Books

Reading the Bible Again For the First Time Taking the Bible Seriously But Not Literally Marcus J Borg 8601406195776 Books

Download As PDF : Reading the Bible Again For the First Time Taking the Bible Seriously But Not Literally Marcus J Borg 8601406195776 Books

Reading the Bible Again For the First Time Taking the Bible Seriously But Not Literally Marcus J Borg 8601406195776 Books

I'm not finished yet as a friend and I are discussing it via gmail messaging. I'm an ex-believer, serious skeptic. My friend is a practicing liberal Christian. My "ex" status is about the use of scripture (any holy book) as a weapon against people rather than as spiritual tool and a guide as to how to treat each other. With the "weaponizing" of scripture came a closer look at how it is used for science, biology, anthropology; etc. This book was recommended as a possible different way of reading the Bible that could ease my criticism. I'm not sure yet whether my old love of scripture will return; but I'm finding it interesting. For those who do want to be "Christian"; it will be helpful. For me, it isn't changing my status as an apostate; however, it is making me less angry at its positions and how those are used in some circles. I highly recommend it for those who want to remain Christian but reject some of the literal interpretations, or the book as science. JMO


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Reading the Bible Again For the First Time Taking the Bible Seriously But Not Literally Marcus J Borg 8601406195776 Books Reviews

This is a book for people who find that they cannot believe in a literal interpretation of the Bible, but wish to keep their Christian beliefs and remain in the Christian faith. Professor Borg stresses that the Bible is true, but not factual. He goes through the whole scripture, from Genesis to Revelation, pointing out the deeper meanings of each text and treating the whole Bible reverently but not literally.
I found the book to be very inspiring.
Biblical scholarship is finally available for people in the pews. If you are a person who has loved the Bible but has (even once) found yourself asking, "what does that mean?" then this book will be a godsend. Marcus Borg, one of the most noted biblical scholars of our time, provides a very readable explanation of the content that so many of us have heard for years and years and yet have only been able to recognize as being "from" scripture. Borg does a masterful job in laying out the premise for a much deeper understanding of our sacred heritage, beginning with his own fascination with the material as a young child, throughout his conservative seminary training into his role as a preeminent scholar who is determined to bring the beauty of our sacred tradition into the hands of the people for whom it was meant. His style is gracious and he is cognizant that seeing scriptural passages broken down and dissected (and assigned meaning that heretofore has been spoken of only in academic circles) can be a stressful endeavor for the common Christian with little or no training in biblical interpretation. Yet his analysis, while always respectful, is incisive and liberating. His insights bring to light the intentions of the biblical authors in such a way as to make them appear brand new. Reading this book will make you realize how much beauty has remained hidden in scripture because few people have been willing to share these valuable and life affirming insights with Christians outside the seminaries. Understanding the scriptures literally is clearly ONE way to read them, but perhaps the least effective. There is far more depth present than what a literal interpretation renders. Borg sheds light on that beauty within and in an extremely readable way provides us with some of the remarkable power contained in this sacred book. Although he has been dubbed a "liberal scholar" and carelessly dismissed by conservatives because of his association with the Jesus Seminar, he remains steadfast in his faith. He is committed to sharing his love of God and his understanding of Jesus as Messiah and Lord with others who love the Bible as he does. Reading this book will allow you to see scripture anew.......or, "Again, for the First Time."
I am a fan of Marcus Borg--if Borg wrote it, I'll read it! I bought "Reading the Bible Again for the First Time" in 2006 and appreciated Borg's interpretation of the Bible so much that I recommended it to a discussion group I lead; consequently, I bought five more copies for the group. Some of the concepts are new to a few of the group, but they follow the compelling insights of the author and are really into the discussion.

Among the many points made by Borg are that the Bible is a human product reflecting the culture and the historical period in which it was written. It tells us about how the two ancient communities (Hebrew and early Christian) saw things, not how God sees things. Much of the Bible is not written to be understood literally, but to a great extent in metaphors. For example, Borg quotes a Native American storyteller relating his tribe's story of creation "Now I don't know if it happened this way or not, but I know this story is true." This expression could apply equally well to many of the stories in the Bible including not only the early Hebrew scripture, but those written by the Apostles as well.

There is a troublesome passage in the Gospel of John where Jesus is quoted as saying, "I am the way and the truth and the life; no one comes to the Father except through me." Borg explains the metaphor of the "way" or the "path" or the "journey" not as literal entities, nor are they a set of beliefs. Borg says for John the "way" or "path" of Jesus is the metaphor for being born anew (another metaphor) into a new way of being. In short, "The way of Jesus is a universal way, known to millions who have never heard of Jesus."

While many of these interpretations may be troublesome to some readers, it can be refreshing to those who are willing to reconsider traditional, fundamentalist understandings of the Bible and at least hold open the possibility that there are profound truths to be found beneath the literal word.

Ernest G. Barr
I'm not finished yet as a friend and I are discussing it via gmail messaging. I'm an ex-believer, serious skeptic. My friend is a practicing liberal Christian. My "ex" status is about the use of scripture (any holy book) as a weapon against people rather than as spiritual tool and a guide as to how to treat each other. With the "weaponizing" of scripture came a closer look at how it is used for science, biology, anthropology; etc. This book was recommended as a possible different way of reading the Bible that could ease my criticism. I'm not sure yet whether my old love of scripture will return; but I'm finding it interesting. For those who do want to be "Christian"; it will be helpful. For me, it isn't changing my status as an apostate; however, it is making me less angry at its positions and how those are used in some circles. I highly recommend it for those who want to remain Christian but reject some of the literal interpretations, or the book as science. JMO