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stories's review against another edition
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
Really enjoyed this. A historical analysis of the bible from pre-Christian times to close-to present day. Investigates different theological and academic approaches, from the different authors through to philosophies, particularly investigating key Jewish and Christian schools of thought through the ages.
lit_chick's review against another edition
5.0
I listened to this book over the course of a couple months and was impressed with the breadth of it. Armstrong describes the sources and interpretative traditions of the scriptures of both Christians and Jews. She covers the entire history of scripture and it's impact, even describing the current trend of interpreting the bible literally, a fairly modern and puzzling take on scripture, even our predecessors understood that the scriptures were rich in metaphor.
Her writing is academic, but accessible to anyone who wants to learn more about the bible and the rich tradition of exegesis that surrounds it. Surprisingly, I found a lot of insight into the current American political system, and the Christians that wish to define it through their world view shaped by their own biblical interpretations. Really a must for anyone who puzzles why anyone could take the creation story literally, or why people pick and choose which parts of the bible to "believe."
I may have to check out more of her writing. I liked her style, and her books cover a wide variety of world religions, one of my favorite subjects.
Her writing is academic, but accessible to anyone who wants to learn more about the bible and the rich tradition of exegesis that surrounds it. Surprisingly, I found a lot of insight into the current American political system, and the Christians that wish to define it through their world view shaped by their own biblical interpretations. Really a must for anyone who puzzles why anyone could take the creation story literally, or why people pick and choose which parts of the bible to "believe."
I may have to check out more of her writing. I liked her style, and her books cover a wide variety of world religions, one of my favorite subjects.
lory_enterenchanted's review against another edition
informative
reflective
medium-paced
"Scripture was not really a text but an activity, a spiritual process that introduced thousands of people to transcendence." -- from the epilogue
Armstrong weaves together the composition of and response to the Bible as a coherent narrative, which makes for an easy read but creates some problems. It is an interpretation, with a certain amount of purely personal opinion thrown in. I think it would be a mistake to take it as a sole source without others to compare it to, for much is presented that is surely speculation without noting it as such (especially in the earlier periods -- there is no way to tell with certainty when, where, and for whom the Gospels were written, for example, but theories are given as facts).
The overarching thesis is that rather than an immutable object, the Bible has always been a process that reveals much about the soul state of those who engage in interaction with it. The mode has veered from outwardly militant to inward and mystical, with many variations in between. In our time, we've degenerated into a rigid fundamentalism that threatens to destroy the living Word, opposed by a sterile secularism that threatens to destroy the entire world and all that lives upon it. Armstrong pleads for a new hermeneutics that will read the Bible as a gloss on the Golden Rule (an ancient idea), rather than using it as an excuse to perpetuate further inhumanity and cruelty in the world. I agree, but what I think is missing is any sense that there could be actual spiritual experience that is a valid source of insight, and into which the Bible (and other sacred texts) offer a path of knowledge, not just a variety of personal opinions.
I appreciated all the information on the history of Judaism, of which I am woefully ignorant and need to learn more, and the succinct explanation of the origins of Christian fundamentalism. This turned more toxic after it was attacked in the early twentieth century, leading to the current horrible marriage with conservative politics. Also good to have some coverage of the insane, ethically corrupt but popular and dangerous Rapture theology and its literalist interpretations.
Altogether we need to recover from literalism, but a weak pluralism is not the answer. Rather we need to rise to real experience of the true human core, which will be a spiritual experience, because the human being is spirit -- and in which we will find differences overcome, because in our essence we are one, even as we are all different and unique. This is the "reading process" we need to learn and for which sacred texts are meant to prepare us.
The overarching thesis is that rather than an immutable object, the Bible has always been a process that reveals much about the soul state of those who engage in interaction with it. The mode has veered from outwardly militant to inward and mystical, with many variations in between. In our time, we've degenerated into a rigid fundamentalism that threatens to destroy the living Word, opposed by a sterile secularism that threatens to destroy the entire world and all that lives upon it. Armstrong pleads for a new hermeneutics that will read the Bible as a gloss on the Golden Rule (an ancient idea), rather than using it as an excuse to perpetuate further inhumanity and cruelty in the world. I agree, but what I think is missing is any sense that there could be actual spiritual experience that is a valid source of insight, and into which the Bible (and other sacred texts) offer a path of knowledge, not just a variety of personal opinions.
I appreciated all the information on the history of Judaism, of which I am woefully ignorant and need to learn more, and the succinct explanation of the origins of Christian fundamentalism. This turned more toxic after it was attacked in the early twentieth century, leading to the current horrible marriage with conservative politics. Also good to have some coverage of the insane, ethically corrupt but popular and dangerous Rapture theology and its literalist interpretations.
Altogether we need to recover from literalism, but a weak pluralism is not the answer. Rather we need to rise to real experience of the true human core, which will be a spiritual experience, because the human being is spirit -- and in which we will find differences overcome, because in our essence we are one, even as we are all different and unique. This is the "reading process" we need to learn and for which sacred texts are meant to prepare us.
bookepler's review against another edition
3.0
No fue lo que esperaba, me refiero al tema y contenido. Probablemente fue el titulo lo que me creo otra expectativa, es por lo mismo que a mi parecer, el titulo, no define muy bien de lo que se va tratar el libro.
beejai's review against another edition
2.0
When you have a book titled The Bible: A Biography, you would expect something like a biography of the Bible. You would think to see the cultural and historical framework within which it was written. You would think to find the cannonization process and how the Bible came to transform from a collection of writings into the unified whole we have to day. You would expect...
But this is Karen Armstrong. Lets face it. The girl is a one trick pony. Yes, early on she does have a little bit of that and she adds her unique flair of unsubstantiated bias subtly disguised as fact. But then the biggest chunk of her work bypasses that so she can play to her money maker. From about a third of the way in to her finish the book would have been better titled. Another Comparitave Religions Survey: Bible Edition.
She pulls out all her favorite cherrypicking of religious past (this time primarily Christian and Jewish rather than her usual Big three) and adds the occasional twist where she will show how they were interpreting various portions of the Bible. She also adds a similar twist to her epilogue when she suggests we should not read the Bible historical/critically, or literally, or allegorically but rather we should cherry pick what we like that will help us to be more loving and kind and unified with all the other faiths and people on the planet.
If you haven't read KA before, this isn't the book I would recommend. She says much of the exact same stuff in at least a half dozen titles and usually does a better job of it. If you were looking for a book on the history and shaping of the Bible again this is not the book I would recommend. So who would I recommend this book to? Well, ummmmm... nobody.
But this is Karen Armstrong. Lets face it. The girl is a one trick pony. Yes, early on she does have a little bit of that and she adds her unique flair of unsubstantiated bias subtly disguised as fact. But then the biggest chunk of her work bypasses that so she can play to her money maker. From about a third of the way in to her finish the book would have been better titled. Another Comparitave Religions Survey: Bible Edition.
She pulls out all her favorite cherrypicking of religious past (this time primarily Christian and Jewish rather than her usual Big three) and adds the occasional twist where she will show how they were interpreting various portions of the Bible. She also adds a similar twist to her epilogue when she suggests we should not read the Bible historical/critically, or literally, or allegorically but rather we should cherry pick what we like that will help us to be more loving and kind and unified with all the other faiths and people on the planet.
If you haven't read KA before, this isn't the book I would recommend. She says much of the exact same stuff in at least a half dozen titles and usually does a better job of it. If you were looking for a book on the history and shaping of the Bible again this is not the book I would recommend. So who would I recommend this book to? Well, ummmmm... nobody.
unionmack's review against another edition
5.0
Really adored this one. Karen Armstrong is a clearheaded, concise, and creative historian. She handles the story of Judeo-Christian scripture's formation and interpretation with a critical mind and charitable heart. There's no doubt this group of documents has been an instrument for as much pain as progress, but Armstrong doesn't flinch from any of it. If you're looking to find a new appreciation for the Bible, beyond or between fundamentalism and outright disavowal, I think you'll find this book a great way to do so. Really excited to read more of her work from here on out.
holtkaren's review against another edition
4.0
worth reading in light of current politics and religious beliefs ( all religions)
eralon's review against another edition
4.0
Armstrong writes about the interpretation and reinterpretation of the Bible, over and over again through the centuries. It has a similar thrust to her book, The Case for God, but it is much shorter because it focuses only on the text of the Bible and not the overall concept of God. It was a little boring in its early history and sped through contemporary history, and it wasn't as strong a thesis as The Case for God, but it was a solid read.