Idolatry : false worship in the Bible, early Judaism and Christianity / edited by Stephen C. Barton.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Barton, Stephen C.

Series:

T & T Clark theology

T&T Clark theology

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Idolatry.

Physical Description:

x, 338 pages ; 24 cm.

Place of Publication:

London ; New York : T & T Clark, 2007.

Summary:

The controversial concept of 'idolatry' holds immense theological, historical and cultural importance. From the Second Commandment onwards, arguably one of the greatest contributions of the Judeo-Christian tradition to human flourishing has been the critique of idolatry and its moral corollary, greed. Significantly, in the modern period, this critique of false religion has led even to the critique of religion itself. It has therefore been a major force in the formation and shaping of intellectual and religious traditions worldwide, especially in the West.

Idolatry is a collection of nineteen authoritative essays on major aspects of this fascinating subject, unduly neglected in recent years. The coverage is varied and comprehensive, ranging across theoretical perspectives, the Old Testament, Early Judaism, the New Testament, Church History and Christian Theology to the present day.

The contributors are all authorities in their respective fields of study. In biblical studies there is John Barclay, Stephen C. Barton, Helen Bond, Mark Bonnington, Crispin Fletcher-Louis, Robert Hayward, David Horrell, Nathan MacDonald, Christopher Rowland, and Stuart Weeks. In Church History and Christian Theology there is David Clough, Andrew Goddard, Carol Harrison, Trevor Hart, Timothy Jenkins, Gerard Loughlin, Paul Murray, Bernd Wannenwetsch and Graham Ward.

Contents:

Part 1 Idolatry in the Bible, Early Judaism and Early Christianity

Chapter 1 Man-Made Gods? Idolatry in the Old Testament / Stuart Weeks 7

Chapter 2 Recasting the Golden Calf: The Imaginative Potential of the Old Testament's Portrayal of Idolatry / Nathan MacDonald 22

Chapter 3 Observations on Idols in Septuagint Pentateuch / Robert Hayward 40

Chapter 4 Humanity and the Idols of the Gods in Pseudo-Philo's / Biblical Antiquities, Crispin H.T. Fletcher-Louis 58

Chapter 5 Snarling Sweetly: Josephus on Images and Idolatry / John M.G. Barclay 73

Chapter 6 Standards, Shields and Coins: Jewish Reactions to Aspects of the Roman Cult in the Time of Pilate / Helen K. Bond 88

Chapter 7 Fleeing Idolatry: Social Embodiment of Anti-Idolatry in the First Century / Mark Bonnington 107

Chapter 8 Idol-Food, Idolatry and Ethics in Paul / David G. Horrell 120

Chapter 9 Food Rules, Sex Rules and the Prohibition of Idolatry. What's the Connection? / Stephen C. Barton 141

Chapter 10 Living with Idols: An Exercise in Biblical Theology / Christopher Rowland 163

Part 2 Idolatry, Christian Tradition and the Modern World

Chapter 11 Taking Creation for the Creator: Use and Enjoyment in Augustine's Theological Aesthetics / Carol Harrison 179

Chapter 12 'Goodly Sights' and 'Unseemly Representations': Transcendence and the Problems of Visual Piety / Trevor Hart 198

Chapter 13 Karl Barth on Religious and Irreligious Idolatry / David Clough 213

Chapter 14 Jacques Ellul on Idolatry / Andrew Goddard 228

Chapter 15 Theology 'Under the Lash': Theology as Idolatry-Critique in the Work of Nicholas Lash / Paul D. Murray 246

Chapter 16 Idol Bodies / Gerard Loughlin 267

Chapter 17 Why Do Things Move People? A Sociological Account of Idolatry / Timothy Jenkins 287

Chapter 18 The Commodification of Religion or the Consummation of Capitalism / Graham Ward 302

Chapter 19 The Desire of Desire: Commandment and Idolatry in Late Capitalist Societies / Bernd Wannenwetsch 315

Suggestions for Further Reading on Idolatry 331.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 331-334) and index.

ISBN:

0567083233

9780567083234

0567083330

9780567083333

OCLC:

64960056