The Curse of Cain: The Violent Legacy of Monotheism

by Regina M. Schwartz

The Curse of Cain confronts the inherent ambiguities of biblical stories on many levels and, in the end, offers an alternative, inspiring reading of the Bible that is attentive to visions of plenitude rather than scarcity, and to an ethics based on generosity rather than violence.

"[A] provocative and timely examination of the interrelationship of monotheism and violence. . . . This is a refreshing alternative to criticism-biblical and otherwise-that so often confuses interpretation with closure; it is an invitation to an ethic of possibility, plenitude, and generosity, a welcome antidote to violence, as important for its insights into memory, identity, and place as for its criticism of monotheism's violent legacy."— Booklist

"Brilliant and provocative, this is a work demanding close attention from critics, theologians, and all those interested in the imaginative roots of common life."—Rowan Williams, Bishop of Monmouth

"A stunningly important book."—Walter Brueggemann, Theology Today

"Artfully rendered, endlessly provocative."—Lawrence Weschler, New Yorker

Genres: Religion, Judaism, Nonfiction, History, Christianity, School

228 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1997

About the author

Regina M. Schwartz, Duke University

Reviews

[Jude Connolly]

(4.5) this was at the bottom of the stack of books I hoarded from the library to cover research on the reign of monotheism and yet it turned out to be the one that helped the most. fascinating study and strong, often seething writing

[Amy]

This is an excellent book that performs precisely the type of hermeneutics to which I aspire. Schwartz's overweaning argument is that the scarcity inherent in biblical narratives spawned violence for humanity. It's a powerful, profound, and fascinating examination that draws the reader along with breathless anticipation for the next step in Schwartz's brilliant explanation. She delves into social identity formation based on covenants, land, kinship, the nation-state, and collective memory. In chapter four, on kinship, she also explores the conflation of monotheism-monogamy-land, a nexus of ownership for ancient Israel of things that are owned, possessed, in order for the people to be owned, possessed of Yahweh. She further investigate incest, rape, and homosexuality as functions of scarcity. A fantastic book, well deserving of it's Pulitzer nom.

[Meen]

It often happens that I will have an idea that I think is totally unique and insightful, and then I find that someone else has not only had the same idea but has expressed and examined it much more profoundly and coherently. The tendency of "only One" ideologies to create vehement ingroups/outgroups was one of those ideas, and Regina Schwartz has illustrated it far better than I ever could have dreamed of doing it. The student's question that brought her to this analyis is stark and stunning: "What about the Canaanites?"

[Cassandra Corrigan]

While there are definitely parts of this book that I feel are a bit dated, redundant, or even reductive, overall, I feel like there are many thought-provoking sections that are well worth the read if the subject matter interests you. In a "post-truth" world where Christofascism is on the rise and the us vs them dynamic of politics seems to grow by the day, this book has many applications to the modern day. I particularly felt that Chapter 5 on the process of inscribing memory was telling. I wish I had known about this book when I was writing my undergrad thesis on cultural genocide and antiquity destruction, because I could have used some of these quotes!

[Gage Hoefer]

Fine- a bit too postmodern (and thus, obscurantist) for my taste at times. The most compelling point I think was in reading Biblical scholarship on the formation of Israel as tainted by nascent German nationalism present in their historiography and scholarship. Also, if Schwartz wants to offer a different reading of the Bible based on plenitude, why not analyze the New Testament? This book is entirely concerned about the Old Testament, but I don't think that had to be a given.

[Annalise]

This was a bit wandering in its structure, but the last chapter was particularly compelling. Obviously, some of the ideas are a bit outdated as this book is over 20 years old; I would particularly like a re-investigation of the section on homosexuality and monotheism.

[Harris McClamroch]

The violent legacy of monotheism is, at first thought, a surprising assertion, but the author makes a persuasive case. Arguments are historical rather than religious.

[MaryKate Berg]

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1a...

[Curtis]

Eh. . . .not so great. Lots of critique of other theories with not a whole lot of her own to add. Her basic thesis, that of scarcity/plenitude, isn't even the focus of a lot of the book. Could use a better editor.