The Red Book of the Westmarch

"Crucifixion in the Ancient World and the Folly of the Message of the Cross" by Martin Hengel is a small book (originally in German) at only around 100 pages that packs a large wallop and it wasn't quite was I expected. What I expected from the book was an examination on the social implications of crucifixion and how it relates to an honor-shame dynamic. And while there's some nuggets like this in there, it's actually more of a historical examination of where crucifixion was practiced ...

Updated May 7th 2013 at 04:47 AM by Manwë Súlimo

Tags: anthropology, book review, christianity, crucifixion, martin hengel

Categories

Social World of the Bible , Christianity and Theism , Book Reviews

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***THIS IS A REPOST FROM AWHILE BACK - JUST POSTING HERE FOR THE BLOG'S SAKE***

So I bought this book by recommendation of JP Holding & Friends as a way to better understand the basic foundation of reading the Bible. It was not a waste of money by a long shot, but I can't say it's perfect (what is, besides Mosschelle? And pasta?)

David deSilva (PhD) attempts to explain the most basic context of New Testament culture (hence the book's subtitle: ...

Updated May 7th 2013 at 05:16 AM by Manwë Súlimo

Tags: anthropology, book review, christianity, david desilva, sociology

Categories

Social World of the Bible , Christianity and Theism , Book Reviews

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***THIS IS A REPOST FROM AWHILE BACK - JUST POSTING HERE FOR THE BLOG'S SAKE***

As I said awhile back, understanding the cultural context of the Bible should be the first priority of any Christian or atheists who tries to debate or study the Bible. To this end, I recommended "Honor, Patronage, Kinship, and Ritual Purity" by David DeSilva. HPKRP is a great starter book for the novice as it is an easy read and yet covers the titular cultural ...

Updated May 7th 2013 at 05:15 AM by Manwë Súlimo

Tags: anthropology, book review, bruce malina, christianity, sociology

Categories

Social World of the Bible , Christianity and Theism , Book Reviews

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***THIS IS A REPOST FROM AWHILE BACK - JUST POSTING HERE FOR THE BLOG'S SAKE***

Rodney Stark's, a professor of sociology and comparative religion, book "The Rise of Christianity" takes a social science look at the early church and attempts to explain how it was that an obscure Jewish sect rapidly overturned the dominant pagan religions of its day to become the dominant religious force.

There are many reasons listed by Stark ...

Updated May 7th 2013 at 05:15 AM by Manwë Súlimo

Tags: anthropology, book review, christian history, christianity, rodney stark, sociology

Categories

Social World of the Bible , Christianity and Theism , Book Reviews

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***THIS IS A REPOST FROM AWHILE BACK - JUST POSTING HERE FOR THE BLOG'S SAKE***

A recent book I've finished is "The Making of the New Testament" by Arthur G. Patzia, whose subject matter should be obvious enough. It attempts to answer questions like "How did the Bible come into being? When and how was it done? Does the version we have now accurately reflect the original autographs and manuscripts?" and so on.

Patzia ...

Updated May 7th 2013 at 05:15 AM by Manwë Súlimo

Tags: arthur patzia, book review, christianity, new testament formation, new testament history

Categories

Book Reviews , Social World of the Bible , Christianity and Theism