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Title: The Cultural Dictionary of the Bible by John J. Pilch ISBN: 0-8146-2527-4 Publisher: Liturgical Press Pub. Date: April, 1999 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $17.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 4 (2 reviews)
Rating: 3
Summary: A useful and interesting book
Comment: There is so much that is good about this book, I am hesitant to give it only three stars. I'll get to the (perceived) flaws below, but first I would like to say what is good about it. First, it is flat-out interesting. It's an entertaining read. It's the kind of book one can pick up, flip to a random page, and learn something interesting and perhaps useful. The book also works as a reference for the non-specialist; its organization lends itself to that.
The flaw is in the general tone of the book, which looks at holy scripture through the eyes of a cultural anthropologist, and ONLY through those eyes. It is a rather uni-dimensional approach to the scriptures. Perhaps the answer to this criticism is "Of course! This book, by its very nature, is intended to look upon scripture from just that one point of view." Well, maybe. But I got the impression in reading it that the author(s) would not admit of any OTHER way of looking at scripture.
A minor quibble as well (and being a non-specialist I am on shaky ground here): The author makes a big point that the Mediterranean Culture uses questions not so much to gain information, but to challenge or belittle. I submit that this is a more universal phenomenon. Every place I've ever been on this planet uses questions in the so-called "Mediterranean" manner.
Minor and major quibbles aside, I have enjoyed this book, and will probably buy a few more copies to give to my friends.
Rating: 5
Summary: Must-read for all ordained and lay Christian church leaders.
Comment: Dr. Pilch strips away the Western worldview baggage we Americans too often take into our interpretation of the Christian scriptures. By examining the Mediterranean culture from an anthropological perspective, he challenges us to understand the Bible in the same way the ancient writers did. Arranged in alphabetical order, each short chapter exposes the true cultural meaning behind key portions of Scripture. For example, Christ's desire for his disciples to be the "salt of the earth" had much more to do with being a catalyst to make fires burn than it ever had to do with enhancing the flavor of food. As important as this resource is, I recommend it only to mature believers who are spiritually ready to have their basic assumptions challenged. Devour this book and be prepared to critique your own pastor's use of Scripture on a weekly basis.
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Title: The Cultural World of Jesus: Sunday by Sunday, Cycle B by John J. Pilch ISBN: 0814622879 Publisher: Liturgical Press Pub. Date: August, 1996 List Price(USD): $11.95 |
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Title: The Cultural World of the Prophets: The First Reading and Responsorial Psalm, Sunday by Sunday: Year B by John J. Pilch ISBN: 0814627870 Publisher: Liturgical Press Pub. Date: September, 2002 List Price(USD): $11.95 |
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Title: The Cultural World of Jesus: Sunday by Sunday, Cycle A by John J. Pilch ISBN: 0814622860 Publisher: Liturgical Press Pub. Date: August, 1995 List Price(USD): $11.95 |
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Title: The Cultural World of the Apostles: The Second Reading, Sunday by Sunday Year B by John J. Pilch ISBN: 0814627811 Publisher: Liturgical Press Pub. Date: August, 2002 List Price(USD): $11.95 |
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Title: Handbook of Biblical Social Values by John J. Pilch, Bruce J. Malina ISBN: 1565633555 Publisher: Hendrickson Publishers, Inc. Pub. Date: 01 June, 1998 List Price(USD): $19.95 |
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