The Body in Biblical, Christian and Jewish Texts

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Description

The body is an entity on which religious ideology is printed. Thus it is frequently a subject of interest, anxiety, prescription and regulation in both the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament, as well as in early Christian and Jewish writings. Issues such as the body's age, purity, sickness, ability, gender, sexual actions, marking, clothing, modesty or placement can revolve around what the body is and is not supposed to be or do. The Body in Biblical, Christian and Jewish Texts comprises a range of inter-disciplinary and creative explorations of the body as it is described and defined in religious literature, with chapters largely written by new scholars with fresh perspectives. This is a subject with wide and important repercussions in diverse cultural contexts today.

Reviews

This is a fascinating collection of essays ... The collection of works by these scholars associated with the Kings College in London offers readers a vivid portrait of current approaches to the interpretation of biblical texts and texts rooted in the biblical world. * Journal of Theological Studies *
This is not only an important volume but also a quite enjoyable read with interesting and sometimes surprising insights ... The editor and the authors have produced an important work providing new and significant insights on numerous body-related issues. The work is heartily recommended for anyone interested in biblical studies, ancient Judaism, and early Christianity. It is hoped that the contributors to this volume will continue to enrich the scholarly community with new studies on the body. -- Joshua Schwartz, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, Israel * Review of Biblical Literature *
Not only is its textual scopewide ranging (Leviticus to Josephus and Ezekiel to Thecla), the techniques deployed in the analysis are similarly diverse. Whether it is through discussions of Frankensteins monster or via the application of Foucault philosophy, the reader has much with which to engage. Thus, what emerges is actually a very interdisciplinary volume, and what makes the book succeed is the sheer variety of material consulted. -- David M. Allen, The Queen's Foundation Birmingham * Reviews in Religion and Theology *
The book is nicely balanced and covers depictions of the body from biblical to rabbinical thought ... I was able to use the volume as an accessible reference tool. The book as a whole is original in scope ... Michelle Fletcher in chapter 8 provides an innovative and comparative analysis of the whore of Babylon alongside Frankenstein's monsters ... The volumes provides a wealth of material and it is certain to encourage and renew interest into this fascination and under-researched area of work. -- Jessica Keady, University of Chester, UK * Journal of Semitic Studies *

Author Bio

Joan E. Taylor is the prize-winning author of Christians and the Holy Places, and a leading authority on the Jewish world of Jesus, including women within that world. She is Professor of Christian Origins and Second Temple Judaism at King's College London, UK.