Sex, War, and "Sin": Humanity's Path from the Garden toward the City of a Holy God
Ebook
An examination of the Hebrew Scriptures reveals the ethical situations in ancient Israel as a structural analysis, and exposes a covenantal triangle that features a dynamic of giving and receiving, taking and paying penalties, as a meme for human relationships. This can be applied to groups as well as individuals and is surprisingly applicable to life in the twenty-first century. Two senses of "Law"--natural scientific discoveries and the rules laid down by a divine creator--lead to frames for considering these covenantal relationships, and even the existence of "Sin." Are we bound to obey the rules laid down by God, or may we decide what is best for us?
"My venerable predecessor at Columbia Theological Seminary,
James Gailey, has written a wallop of a book! His sustaining theme
is 'sexuality and sin,' but he ranges broadly with an emancipated
imagination over texts, contemporary critical literature, and most
important, his own vivid memory and experience. Gailey has written
a playful book that exhibits generosity of spirit, but compromises
nothing of his critical capacity to read texts well. Readers will
be led to a deep and fresh awareness of our world."
--Walter Brueggemann, Columbia Theological Seminary
"This book is written with great devotion and care. For many years,
James Gailey, Old Testament scholar and keen observer of the human
condition, has created a dynamic dialog between the ancient
Judeo-Christian Scriptures and present-day concerns. He culls the
scriptures to suggest a model of covenantal relations implied in
the way Israel addressed sex, war, and sin. As people of our age
wrestle with these same issues, the framework of covenant
elucidated here, which includes transcendent presence, is welcome
news."
--John T. Campbell, American Association of Pastoral Counselors
Product Details
- Title : Sex, War, and "Sin": Humanity's Path from the Garden toward the City of a Holy God
- Author: Gailey, James H.
- Publisher: Wipf and Stock
- Publication Date: 2012
- ISBN: 9781630874865
James H. Gailey is an ordained Presbyterian minister (PC USA) and Emeritus Professor of Old Testament Language, Literature, and Exegesis at Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, Georgia. He is author of The Layman's Commentary: Micah, Habakkuk, Nahum, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malach. Retired, he now lives in Cedar Mountain, North Carolina.