Reading the Bible from the Margins

Be the first to write a review

Overview

This introduction to reading and understanding the Bible focuses on perspectives that are often ignored. Here, emphasis is placed on how issues involving race, class, and gender influence our understanding of the Bible. The author shows how "standard" readings of the Bible are not always acceptable to people or groups on the "margins." The poor and those who are targets of discrimination because of their ethnic group or gender may have quite different insights and understandings of biblical texts that can be of ...
See more details below
Paperback
$14.66
BN.com price
(Save 33%)$22.00 List Price
Other sellers (Paperback)
  • All (19) from $4.56   
  • New (11) from $11.62   
  • Used (8) from $4.56   
Sending request ...

More About This Book

Overview

This introduction to reading and understanding the Bible focuses on perspectives that are often ignored. Here, emphasis is placed on how issues involving race, class, and gender influence our understanding of the Bible. The author shows how "standard" readings of the Bible are not always acceptable to people or groups on the "margins." The poor and those who are targets of discrimination because of their ethnic group or gender may have quite different insights and understandings of biblical texts that can be of value to all readers.
Read More Show Less

Product Details

  • ISBN-13: 9781570754104
  • Publisher: Orbis Books
  • Publication date: 3/28/2002
  • Pages: 192
  • Sales rank: 542,628
  • Product dimensions: 5.30 (w) x 8.20 (h) x 0.60 (d)

Table of Contents

Preface xi
Introduction 1
Liberating the Bible 5
The Bible in the Real World 8
Reading through Others' Eyes 10
1 Learning to Read: The Importance of Words 14
Defining Terms 15
Imposing Twenty-First-Century Meanings on Ancient Texts 17
Defining Racism 20
The Factor of Language 24
A Han Reading 26
Multiple Consciousness 27
The Center-Margin Dichotomy 31
2 Reading the Bible from the Center 36
A Privileged Reading 38
A Biblical Paradigm for Justifying Privilege 41
Pitfalls in Raising Consciousness 48
Words of Concern 49
Searching for the Abundant Life 51
3 Unmasking the Biblical Justification of Racism and Classism 55
Justifying Racism 56
Beyond the Black-and-White Dichotomy 58
African Americans 59
Amerindians 64
Asians 66
Jews 68
Justifying Classism 70
Classism from the Margins 76
4 Unmasking the Biblical Justification of Sexism 82
Justifying Patriarchy 83
Sexism from the Margins 91
Feminism among Women of Color 92
Justifying Homophobia 96
Homophobia from the Margins 100
The Hermeneutical Circle 102
5 Who Do You Say I Am? 104
The Economically Marginalized Christ 108
A Hispanic Christ 112
An Amerindian Christ 116
An Asian American Christ 119
A Black Christ 121
A Female Christ 123
A Gay Christ 130
Perceiving the Character of Divinity 132
God Sides with Today's Crucified People 133
God Is Victorious 135
6 Jesus Saves 136
The Rich Young Ruler, the Sinning Tax Collector, and the Begging Blind Man 139
More Than Just Climbing Sycamore Trees 142
I Once Was Blind 143
Of Sheep and Goats 144
Communal Essence of Justice 146
Are You Saved? 148
7 Can't We All Just Get Along? 151
The Dysfunctional Family 152
Forgive and Forget? 153
Power to Direct the Discourse 154
Power to Name 155
Power Not to See a Need to Repent 155
Power to Become the "Real" Victim 156
Cheap Forgiveness 158
What the Center Can Learn about the Bible 160
Exodus: God the Liberator 160
Amos: God the Seeker of Justice 161
The Gospels: God the Doer 165
Acts and the Letters from Paul: God the Subverter 167
The Bible in the Twenty-First Century 170
Notes 173
Bibliography 181
General Index 185
Scripture Index 194
Read More Show Less

Customer Reviews

Be the first to write a review
( 0 )
Rating Distribution

5 Star

(0)

4 Star

(0)

3 Star

(0)

2 Star

(0)

1 Star

(0)

Your Rating:

Review Guidelines
Add Recommendations
Your Name: Create a Pen Name or

Barnes & Noble.com Review Rules

Our reader reviews allow you to share your comments on titles you liked, or didn't, with others. By submitting an online review, you are representing to Barnes & Noble.com that all information contained in your review is original and accurate in all respects, and that the submission of such content by you and the posting of such content by Barnes & Noble.com does not and will not violate the rights of any third party. Please follow the rules below to help ensure that your review can be posted.

Reviews by Our Customers Under the Age of 13

We highly value and respect everyone's opinion concerning the titles we offer. However, we cannot allow persons under the age of 13 to have accounts at BN.com or to post customer reviews. Please see our Terms of Use for more details.

What to exclude from your review:

Please do not write about reviews, commentary, or information posted on the product page. If you see any errors in the information on the product page, please send us an email.

Reviews should not contain any of the following:

  • - HTML tags, profanity, obscenities, vulgarities, or comments that defame anyone
  • - Time-sensitive information such as tour dates, signings, lectures, etc.
  • - Single-word reviews. Other people will read your review to discover why you liked or didn't like the title. Be descriptive.
  • - Comments focusing on the author or that may ruin the ending for others
  • - Phone numbers, addresses, URLs
  • - Pricing and availability information or alternative ordering information
  • - Advertisements or commercial solicitation

Reminder:

  • - By submitting a review, you grant to Barnes & Noble.com and its sublicensees the royalty-free, perpetual, irrevocable right and license to use the review in accordance with the Barnes & Noble.com Terms of Use.
  • - Barnes & Noble.com reserves the right not to post any review -- particularly those that do not follow the terms and conditions of these Rules. Barnes & Noble.com also reserves the right to remove any review at any time without notice.
  • - See Terms of Use for other conditions and disclaimers.
Search for Products You'd Like to Recommend

Recommend other products that relate to your review. Just search for them below and share!

Create a Pen Name

Your Pen Name is your unique identity on BN.com. It will appear on the reviews you write and other website activities. Your Pen Name cannot be edited, changed or deleted once submitted.

 
Your Pen Name can be any combination of alphanumeric characters (plus - and _), and must be at least two characters long.

Continue Anonymously
    If you find inappropriate content, please report it to Barnes & Noble
    Why is this product inappropriate?
    Comments (optional)