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Holy Fable: The Old Testament Undistorted by Faith
In this first of a comprehensive two-volume study of the Old and New Testaments, Dr. Robert M. Price builds a spacious and sturdy ark to carry Bible readers over the floods of mystery that have long perplexed them. Why are there multiple creation stories? Who are the “sons of god” in Genesis? What’s really going on with those Isaiah passages that preachers love to read at Christmas? Putting a lifetime of biblical scholarship hard at work on perhaps his most momentous project yet, Dr. Price explains the mysteries without scorning them. The beloved old Bible is revealed to be indeed a Fable, but still a Holy one in its sprawling and fascinating way.
346 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 15, 2017
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About the author
Robert M. Price
405 books240 followersRobert McNair Price is an American theologian and writer. He teaches philosophy and religion at the Johnnie Colemon Theological Seminary, is professor of biblical criticism at the Center for Inquiry Institute, and the author of a number of books on theology and the historicity of Jesus, asserting the Christ myth theory.
A former Baptist minister, he was the editor of the Journal of Higher Criticism from 1994 until it ceased publication in 2003. He has also written extensively about the Cthulhu Mythos, a "shared universe" created by H.P. Lovecraft.
A former Baptist minister, he was the editor of the Journal of Higher Criticism from 1994 until it ceased publication in 2003. He has also written extensively about the Cthulhu Mythos, a "shared universe" created by H.P. Lovecraft.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
May 12, 2017
Makes a comprehensive and interesting case
Before anyone gets their knickers in a twist, nothing in this book is being presented as incontrovertible truth. It is only a different way of looking at Biblical texts, divorced of all connections to belief and preconceived notions. Quite liberating, actually. Like his book on Moses and the Pentateuch, Robert Price this time surveys the entire Old Testament including the Apocrypha, and provides a case for reading it in a different light. This includes dating the different books much later than a lot of scholars. While not definitive, and he admits as much, it was still compelling in its thoroughness and comprehensiveness. Well-sourced too, I might add. There were long Biblical passages that I didn't always feel like slogging through, but Price's writing was nothing less than gripping and often humorous. Whether or not you come away convinced of everything he says is almost beside the point, as long as you're open-minded enough to consider it and possibly change the way you approach religious texts. Then his work and applause-worthy scholarship will not have been in vain.
Before anyone gets their knickers in a twist, nothing in this book is being presented as incontrovertible truth. It is only a different way of looking at Biblical texts, divorced of all connections to belief and preconceived notions. Quite liberating, actually. Like his book on Moses and the Pentateuch, Robert Price this time surveys the entire Old Testament including the Apocrypha, and provides a case for reading it in a different light. This includes dating the different books much later than a lot of scholars. While not definitive, and he admits as much, it was still compelling in its thoroughness and comprehensiveness. Well-sourced too, I might add. There were long Biblical passages that I didn't always feel like slogging through, but Price's writing was nothing less than gripping and often humorous. Whether or not you come away convinced of everything he says is almost beside the point, as long as you're open-minded enough to consider it and possibly change the way you approach religious texts. Then his work and applause-worthy scholarship will not have been in vain.
March 12, 2018
Fascinating compendium of suggested explanations of the original sources and meanings of the Hebrew myths and legends, based on comparative mythology, etymology and very careful attention to detail. You need to know your Bible stories, and be prepared to check the text for yourself. It isn't particularly original, to judge by the profusion of references, but it is great to have all this in one place, and with the customary Price sense of humour. As you read on, the various theories coalesce around Price's belief that the final form of the Jewish Bible coalesced late on, during a centralising, monolatrous reformation under the Hellenistic-era Hasmoneans.
Of special note is how interestingly Price uses ancient Near Eastern myths to illuminate the context for Jewish myths. Take a look at Psalm 82:5-7. There it is a mere fragment, but in Price's handling it is a shard of the myth of how Yahweh/Baal lorded it over the other gods, all Sons of El, as the victor over the sea-monsters of the original chaos, before casting the gods into the underworld for their misrule of the nations, whereupon they now stomp around causing earthquakes.
Of special note is how interestingly Price uses ancient Near Eastern myths to illuminate the context for Jewish myths. Take a look at Psalm 82:5-7. There it is a mere fragment, but in Price's handling it is a shard of the myth of how Yahweh/Baal lorded it over the other gods, all Sons of El, as the victor over the sea-monsters of the original chaos, before casting the gods into the underworld for their misrule of the nations, whereupon they now stomp around causing earthquakes.
November 2, 2022
First read the Old Testament. Then read this to understand context and the culture that wrote it.
A big mistake among most readers of the Old Testament (the Bible, in genera) is not understanding what they're reading. Most think it's history and yet, the same people could read Homer without the same bias. Robert Price's HOLY FABLE takes the Old Testament book by book and nearly line for line to explain in plain terms what's being communicated. This is a book that should be side by side with the Bible for study.
A big mistake among most readers of the Old Testament (the Bible, in genera) is not understanding what they're reading. Most think it's history and yet, the same people could read Homer without the same bias. Robert Price's HOLY FABLE takes the Old Testament book by book and nearly line for line to explain in plain terms what's being communicated. This is a book that should be side by side with the Bible for study.
September 26, 2017
A fascinating read. I'm no expert, so I cannot comment on the accuracy of Price's scholarship. But a scholar he is. And the background he describes from ancient cultures contemporaneous with the Old Testament texts is amazingly detailed. He writes clearly and brings a perspective to the the ancient texts that is unhindered by a pre-emptive commitment of faith that sees what it wants to see in the documents. A must read if you are interested in the Old Testament.
October 29, 2017
Bible sans faith , way more interesting
Long, full of information , accessible , deserves a slow read, so maybe he insight with delightful comments from the author .
Long, full of information , accessible , deserves a slow read, so maybe he insight with delightful comments from the author .
September 18, 2017
Bob P. at his best! This is the first of a promised 2-volume set exploring the Judeo-christian "sacred" texts. Bob's perspective, as usual, is different and arguably irreverent (and often damn funny - he can't help himself). I always learn so much reading Bob's theses, even when sometimes I end up arguing with some things he says (my disagreements are always minor, as I generally agree with everything he says). My only problem with this one is that I know I will have be very patient in my wait for volume 2. Oh well, at least I have Atheism + Faitheism to tide me over. [come on Bob - write faster! :-) ]
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews