EngineeredTheology

I must confess that I was expecting to have some issues with Mr. Borg’s theology, and of course that is a self fulfilling prophecy. It is interesting that when I read a book that I agree with the arguments are insightful, when I don’t the arguments look contrived and misleading. There is little I can do to hide my own biases.

The book appears to be written to people who already have a predisposition to Mr. Borg’s views. Ideas such as dutero-Isaiah, the inclusion of Q and early dating of of Mark, and authorship of various books are assumed as facts without any discussion that there may be opposing views. Since this is the “Thinking Person’s Guide to the Bible” opposing views must mean that you do not fall into that category (my biases showing through).

I did appreciate his inclusion of opposing views in the section of the Revelation. Of course, this is where it is easiest to concretely contrast one viewpoint from another (and of course where I agree with his exegesis).

While I do not agree with much of Mr. Borg’s analysis on historical accuracy, I can agree with him that we can have further discussion on what these passages mean to us. We have lost the heart of the prophets when we forget their timely social message and indictment of the ruling classes. We must remember that Paul was writing actual letters, focusing on specific problems at hand, not concentrating on developing a manual for Christianity for thousands of generations. We must not lose the historical setting of these books. While they may mean more, it certainly cannot mean less.