Stranger Within
Why the 'Old Testament' Matters to Western Culture
Hugh S. Pyper(Author)
James Clarke & Co Ltd (Publisher)
Published in 1900
Book
Paperback/Softback
200 pages
978-0-227-17444-9 (ISBN)
Description
'Stranger Within' points out some of the consequences for European culture of the presence of an 'Old Testament' within the Christian scriptural tradition. There are many works that give an account of the contents and origins of the Hebrew Scriptures and the cultural consequences of its narratives and concepts, but here Hugh S. Pyper explores the effects of the fact that at the root of modern Western culture is a translated text, linked specifically to ancient Israel, that has to be 'counter-read' to give it authority in spite of its literal meaning. This issue is significant for broader intellectual history but often overlooked. For instance, Charles Taylor emphasises the centrality of the impulse to reform in the culture of Western Christianity but does not take account of the biblical roots of that impulse and how that works itself out in the disputes over the status of the Old Testament. By focusing on key moments of dispute over the status of the Old Testament, this work shows that these encapsulate dilemmas of power, identity and language that are still unresolved in contemporary culture. Crucially, they are also related to the attitude of the 'stranger within' in Western Culture, epitomized in the relationship between Jews and Christians.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Cambridge
United Kingdom
Target group
College/higher education
ISBN-13
978-0-227-17444-9 (9780227174449)
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Schweitzer Classification
Person
Hugh Pyper is Professor of Biblical Interpretation at the University of Sheffield. He holds degrees in Biological Sciences and in Biblical Studies and has written widely, with particular interests in the cultural appropriation of the Bible and the writings and legacy of Kierkegaard.
Content
Chapter One: Introduction
Chapter Two: The Taming of the Old Testament
Chapter Three: The Rediscovery of the Old Testament
Chapter Four: The Battle for the Old Testament
Chapter Five: The Crisis of the Old Testament
Chapter Six: The Liberation of the Old Testament
Chapter Two: The Taming of the Old Testament
Chapter Three: The Rediscovery of the Old Testament
Chapter Four: The Battle for the Old Testament
Chapter Five: The Crisis of the Old Testament
Chapter Six: The Liberation of the Old Testament