The Symbolism of Holiness
Holy Being and Holy Living Interpreted Through Paul Ricoeur's Philosophical Anthropology
1st Edition
Published on 22. January 2026
248 pages
978-1-9787-5966-4 (ISBN)
Description
Through a reading of Paul Ricoeur's hermeneutics, this book explores how Judeo-Christian holiness emerges in both being and doing in the lives of human persons in a postmodern world.
Both the Old and New Testament testify that God requires holiness, yet the topic remains elusive in both understanding and actuality. Ricoeur offers a solution to this dilemma; he believed that experiences of evil and the sacred cannot be communicated directly, but only through symbols and myth. In the same way that Ricoeur interpreted the human experience of evil in relation to the Fall story in Genesis, this book interprets holiness through the symbolism communicated in the Genesis Creation narrative. When interpreted through Ricoeur's hermeneutics, the symbols of holiness in this story offer tools to understand how to be holy and live a holy life. What results is holiness as holy being, holy doing, and holy being-in-the-world in front of the biblical texts. Holiness emerges "like God," a holy identity, ethic, and lifestyle in human beings that reflects the trifold holiness of the Triune God.
Both the Old and New Testament testify that God requires holiness, yet the topic remains elusive in both understanding and actuality. Ricoeur offers a solution to this dilemma; he believed that experiences of evil and the sacred cannot be communicated directly, but only through symbols and myth. In the same way that Ricoeur interpreted the human experience of evil in relation to the Fall story in Genesis, this book interprets holiness through the symbolism communicated in the Genesis Creation narrative. When interpreted through Ricoeur's hermeneutics, the symbols of holiness in this story offer tools to understand how to be holy and live a holy life. What results is holiness as holy being, holy doing, and holy being-in-the-world in front of the biblical texts. Holiness emerges "like God," a holy identity, ethic, and lifestyle in human beings that reflects the trifold holiness of the Triune God.
More details
Series
Edition
1. Auflage
Language
English
Place of publication
United States
Publishing group
Bloomsbury Publishing Plc
Target group
College/higher education
ISBN-13
978-1-9787-5966-4 (9781978759664)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Curtis Lee Jr.
The Symbolism of Holiness
Holy Being and Holy Living Interpreted Through Paul Ricoeur's Philosophical Anthropology
Book
approx. 04/2026
Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
€119.90
Not yet published
Person
Curtis Lee, Jr. is Associate Professor and Dean of the School of Professional Studies at Lindsey Wilson College, Kentucky, USA.
Content
Acknowledgements
Introduction
1. The Symbolism of Holiness in Genesis 1-2
2. A Holy Identity and Ethic before the Symbols of Holiness
3. Surplus of Meanings for Holiness
4. Like God, a Holy Being-in-the-World
5. Questions arising on Capability, Scripture, and Ricoeur
6. Trinitarian Narrative Identity
7. Conclusion
Bibliography
About the Author
Index
Introduction
1. The Symbolism of Holiness in Genesis 1-2
2. A Holy Identity and Ethic before the Symbols of Holiness
3. Surplus of Meanings for Holiness
4. Like God, a Holy Being-in-the-World
5. Questions arising on Capability, Scripture, and Ricoeur
6. Trinitarian Narrative Identity
7. Conclusion
Bibliography
About the Author
Index
