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toniapeckover's review
4.0
Four stars mainly because it's the book I've been waiting for (even though it's two decades old) but didn't know it. Borg offers an alternative to the literal approach of reading the bible and so makes a way for the rest of us (those unable to read the text literally) to engage with scripture in a way that feels intellectually honest. I'd highly recommend it as a starting point for those who feel conflicted about the bible.
jenny101's review against another edition
4.0
You Don't Need to Take the Bible Literally to Take It Seriously
Borg takes a very level approach to examining collected books in the Hebrew and Christian cannon. He suggest that the body of work known as The Bible does not have to be taken literally to still be of value to its readers. Combing literary, historical, and sociopolitical approaches to interpretation, he presents a case that the primary voices we hear in the Bible are calling us to relationship with the Divine here and now. He argues one of the most essential components of that relationship is the call to justice over and against systems of domination and oppression.
Borg takes a very level approach to examining collected books in the Hebrew and Christian cannon. He suggest that the body of work known as The Bible does not have to be taken literally to still be of value to its readers. Combing literary, historical, and sociopolitical approaches to interpretation, he presents a case that the primary voices we hear in the Bible are calling us to relationship with the Divine here and now. He argues one of the most essential components of that relationship is the call to justice over and against systems of domination and oppression.
giantarms's review against another edition
1.0
This book is addressed to the faithful. I didn't finish it because trying to read the next word while the past words hung unresolved over my head was exhausting. I have a new baby and I don't have time for this crap.
Look. This is what it comes down to. If the Bible is something that does not have a finite amount of correct interpretations, then all interpretations are valid. If all interpretations are valid, then no interpretation is authoritative. If no authoritative interpretation exists, then why should I bother using the Bible as my holy-book-and-guide-to-life? What is better about the Bible or Christianity than any other religion? This goes unanswered because the author assumes that that question doesn't bother the reader as the reader is, as I said, one of the faithful. Or maybe it does get answered. I don't know because I have no time to do anything that isn't 100% engaging of what pittance of free time I can scrape together. A book that blithely mentions (IN A FOOTNOTE) that dealing with the world using science and fact is wrong is not engaging.
So much for that.
Look. This is what it comes down to. If the Bible is something that does not have a finite amount of correct interpretations, then all interpretations are valid. If all interpretations are valid, then no interpretation is authoritative. If no authoritative interpretation exists, then why should I bother using the Bible as my holy-book-and-guide-to-life? What is better about the Bible or Christianity than any other religion? This goes unanswered because the author assumes that that question doesn't bother the reader as the reader is, as I said, one of the faithful. Or maybe it does get answered. I don't know because I have no time to do anything that isn't 100% engaging of what pittance of free time I can scrape together. A book that blithely mentions (IN A FOOTNOTE) that dealing with the world using science and fact is wrong is not engaging.
So much for that.
frankydclc's review
3.0
Borg’s writing is easily understood and manages not to sacrifice complexity for the sake of clarity. I heartily disagree with a great number of his foundational assumptions about God and scripture but the baby in this bath water is a precious one. He is passionate about social justice and the very biblical call toward challenging systemic oppression. His writing on this topic in particular is a message the church desperately needs, whether they agree with his views on inspiration/inerrancy or not.
dgwright86's review
5.0
This book summarizes the Biblical arc better than almost any other book I know.
beckyg1016's review
3.0
I can see how this book would be helpful for someone who has never attempted to view the Bible as a piece of literature (or rather, many pieces of literature written over time, in specific historical contexts), but I didn't personally find very much in this that I had not already read elsewhere or deduced on my own. If you are interested in reading the Bible in its historical context, this book may be a place to start - but I wouldn't recommend it as the only book you need to read on the topic.