Death Before the Fall: Biblical Literalism and the Problem of Animal Suffering
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | 4.40 (918 Votes) |
| Asin | : | 083084046X |
| Format Type | : | paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 197 Pages |
| Publish Date | : | 2013-02-26 |
| Language | : | English |
DESCRIPTION:
Considering the topic of animal suffering and predation as a theodicy dilemma, Osborn offers an open-minded exploration of the subject, specifically coming against the fundamentalist and literalist view of the book of Genesis and the creation account. Always acknowledging the traditionalist viewpoint, Osborn demonstrates with a wealth of exegetical and theological insight how orthodox Christianity can embrace evolutionary concepts without contradiction. He challenges one-dimensional reading of Scripture and shines a sobering light on th
Osborn (PhD, University of Southern California) is a wandering philosopher. He was a Mellon postdoctoral fellow in the Peace and Justice Studies program at Wellesley College and a Fulbright Scholar to Burma. Ronald E.
Randal Rauser said You can't judge this book by its cover. This book suffers from a serious identity crisis. On the face (that is, the cover) of it, the book purports to provide an in-depth theological analysis of the problem of natural evil generally and animal suffering in particular. This impression is sustained in the Introduction which begins with a powerful description of animal suffering in the African wilds in which Osborn was raised. At one point he describes witnessing lions eating their kill in a Zimbabwe park:“The lions were feasting on the carcass in the middle of the road, panting heavily as they to. Uses the theme of Death Before the Fall to cover a lot of topics Paul R. Bruggink This book is a scholarly yet personal discussion of the problems resulting from biblical literalism, with a focus on animal suffering. A key question throughout the book is: “Could God have ever looked at a world that included death or pain of any kind and pronounced it ‘very good’?”It should be noted that the author was raised in and continues to find Christian fellowship in the Seventh-day Adventist Church, which shows up in his positive comments on the Sabbath, the amount of space in the book that he devotes to discussing biblical lit. "Hit & Miss on a Fascinating Topic." according to A&J Torrey. Author: Ronald OsbornPublisher: IVPReading Level: ModeratePages: 195Hardly any passage in the Christian Scriptures has stirred up more controversy than the first two chapters of Genesis. These opening chapters of the Bible have caused division on scientific and theological levels; spliting Christian views on science, Biblical genre and proper exegesis. It is within this debate that Death Before the Fall seeks to shed some light on the problem of animal suffering in creation and what it provides for interpretative keys to these chapters.A new thought to some, th
Where literalism once ruled as the only way to honor Scripture, here the deeper dimensions of God's compassion and Sabbath rest come to light. Osborn demonstrates a sensitivity not only to the complexities of the theological concerns but (perhaps more importantly) to the biblical literalists with whom he strongly disagrees." (Kyle R. Gundry Professor of Biblical Studies, Westmont College)"A beautifully written book! Ron Osborn writes not with spite and ire but with wisdom and generosity of spirit. But Ron Osborn shows that big issues and tough challenges can be addressed respectfully, insig