The Creation Of Sacred Literature

"The study of the Bible is at a vital juncture." Thus begins this merger of a stellar group of scholars of both literary and historical perspectives on the Hebrew Bible: Robert Alter, Baruch Halpern, Shemaryahu Talmon, Jacob Milgrom, Nahum Sarna, and Jack Miles, and edited by Richard Elliott Friedman. In this seminal work they raise questions of conception, technique, and audience, treating of both the Bible's authors and editors. At bottom, the question that all are addressing is: in what way(s) is the study of the Bible different from the study of other literature? Their answers, it should come as no surprise, all have to do with the Bible's special life as sacred literature. Book jacket.

Sacrifice is essential to all religions. Could there be a natural, even biological, reason? Why are sacrifice and numerous other religious rituals and concepts shared by so many different cultures? In this extraordinary book, one of the world’s leading authorities on ancient religions explores the possibility of natural religion.

Richard Friedman is well known in the field of biblical studies, not only because of his contributions to the study of the Hebrew Bible (which are many) but also because he has written cogently and clearly for a much wider audience, outside the academy, most notably in his Who Wrote the Bible? (1997). In addition, his influence has crossed the boundaries of a variety of disciplines such as source criticism, archaeology, the ancient Near East, as well as religious studies. The essays in this volume reflect the breadth and depth of Richard Friedman's life and work. Several contributors discuss topics related to the Hebrew Bible: for example, Jacob Milgrom examines the relationship between Ezekiel and the Levites and Carol Meyers discusses the Tabernacle texts in the context of Priestly influence on them; Ronald Hendel, Michael Homan, and Robert Wilson explore the history of source criticism, with detailed source-critical analysis of Genesis 1-11 and the book of Kings. Jeffrey Geoghegan discusses the origins of the Passover in one of several insightful essays under the topic "Israel and the Ancient Near East." Among the contributions specific to archaeology, Baruch Halpern's provides a provocative "Defense of Forgery." Lastly, four contributors (e.g., Alan Cooper) discuss religion and religious studies, along with ramifications for contemporary application. A fine collection of contemporary topics discussed by leading scholars in the field.

In Search of the Sacred Book studies the artistic incorporation of religious concepts such as prophecy, eternity, and the afterlife in the contemporary Latin American novel. It departs from sociopolitical readings by noting the continued relevance of religion in Latin American life and culture, despite modernity's powerful secularizing influence. Analyzing Jorge Luis Borges's secularized "narrative theology" in his essays and short stories, the book follows the development of the Latin American novel from the early twentieth century until today by examining the attempts of major novelists, from María Luisa Bombal, Alejo Carpentier, and Juan Rulfo, to Julio Cortázar, Gabriel García Márquez, and José Lezama Lima, to "sacralize" the novel by incorporating traits present in the sacred texts of many religions. It concludes with a view of the "desacralization" of the novel by more recent authors, from Elena Poniatowska and Fernando Vallejo to Roberto Bolaño.

The Sacred Texts, a set of books created by the archangels of Heaven, have been kept locked away by the Creator since the early times of human history: the Book of Water crafted by Gabriel/Gabrielle, the Book of Fire forged by Michael, the Book of Earth made by Uriel, and the Book of Language created by Azrael. It is said that the last of those books, the one created by the very hands of Death Himself, is one of two keys to deciphering the language of the angels and with it the ability to control God and all in known existence. For the past two hundred years, the Fallen Angel Lucifer has waited for the proper moment to strike, the proper moment to invade Avalon and take control of the Book of Azrael in hopes of defeating the Creator once and for all. Aware of the imminent danger, Azrael tasks a single magic wielding mortal with entering Hell itself and destroying his Sacred Text. After becoming weakened in his determination to complete the task given to him by the Archangel of Death, Raven the Archmage finds that he must pass on the responsibilities of destroying The Book of Azrael to his insecure and often difficult apprentice, Jaguar. Follow Jaguar's arduous journey alongside his best friend Lion, and a mysterious earth wielding mage and his werewolf sister, as they travel through the halls of Perdition in hopes of keeping evil from gaining victory and throwing off the balance of all of Creation.The Sacred Text Series is a coming of age story that seamlessly weaves many ancient archetypes into a cohesive whole. Enter a world where vampires, angels, demons, werewolves, magic, and human myths from a myriad of cultures collide.

'The Sacred History' is an account of the workings of the supernatural in history. It tells the epic story of angels from creation to evolution, through to the operations of the supernatural in the modern world.

More than sixty color pictures by noted photographer Richard Cleave enhance the more than fifty black and white images, maps, and charts."--BOOK JACKET.