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Playing in the Dust: A Pilgrimage with the Creation Stories
96 pages, Paperback
Published November 29, 2024
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November 26, 2024
This book will be published later this week, but I've been privileged to be able to see some of the chapters as they were being written, and to read a pre-publication copy of the whole book.
There are some translations of the Bible that follow a conventional approach, using familiar words and phrasings, and translating words from the original languages in pretty much the same way they have always been translated. But there are other translations (the New English Bible is an outstanding example) that explore alternative possibilities. The original texts are rich and full of possible translation choices. I'm grateful for the existence of translations that remind us that it's not necessarily all cut and dried. There are other options.
'Playing in the Dust' plays a similar role. The author is well aware of the conventional interpretations of the creation stories, but he has sat with the text for a long time, with the help of some distinguished scholars (Jonathan Sacks, Ellen Davis, and Karen Keen are particular favourites of his), and over and over again he offers us alternative ways of reading these familiar tales. He pays careful attention to the nuances of the original language, and the linguistic connections made by other biblical authors, often centuries later.
Some writers think it's their job to explain the Bible to us. David Runcorn doesn't do that; he explores the Bible with us. And we are the richer for it. I highly recommend this book. Five stars out of five.
There are some translations of the Bible that follow a conventional approach, using familiar words and phrasings, and translating words from the original languages in pretty much the same way they have always been translated. But there are other translations (the New English Bible is an outstanding example) that explore alternative possibilities. The original texts are rich and full of possible translation choices. I'm grateful for the existence of translations that remind us that it's not necessarily all cut and dried. There are other options.
'Playing in the Dust' plays a similar role. The author is well aware of the conventional interpretations of the creation stories, but he has sat with the text for a long time, with the help of some distinguished scholars (Jonathan Sacks, Ellen Davis, and Karen Keen are particular favourites of his), and over and over again he offers us alternative ways of reading these familiar tales. He pays careful attention to the nuances of the original language, and the linguistic connections made by other biblical authors, often centuries later.
Some writers think it's their job to explain the Bible to us. David Runcorn doesn't do that; he explores the Bible with us. And we are the richer for it. I highly recommend this book. Five stars out of five.
Displaying 1 of 1 review