This book examines the theology and ethics of land use, especially the practices of modern industrialized agriculture, in light of critical biblical exegesis. Nine interrelated essays explore the biblical writers' pervasive concern for the care of arable land against the background of the geography, social structures, and religious thought of ancient Israel. This approach consistently brings out neglected aspects of texts, both poetry and prose, that are central to Jewish and Christian traditions. Rather than seeking solutions from the past, Davis creates a conversation between ancient texts and contemporary agrarian writers; thus she provides a fresh perspective from which to view the destructive practices and assumptions that now dominate the global food economy. The biblical exegesis is wide-ranging and sophisticated; the language is literate and accessible to a broad audience.
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"The biblical writers were familiar with disputes over land use and land care, and the economics of food production were critical to their perspective. Reading the Bible from this perspective opens up dialogue with contemporary agrarians like Wendell Berry, who wrote the foreword for this book. However far from the land we may live, issues of stewardship, care and justice remain crucial. Davis argues that the Bible provides 'vision and principle' for land use in our time." --Christian Century
"Davis writes eloquently about biblical texts on agriculture, looking for insight into 'the material sources of life.' To disregard the environment, food production and treatment of animals in scripture is to miss reflection on essential aspects of life in the presence of God." --Christian Century (Take & Read)
"This is a lucid, wide-ranging, and thought provoking book that should be read by everyone in biblical studies, and should be assigned as a textbook in courses on biblical methods, Torah, prophets, and ecological hermeneutics." --The Biblical & Critical Theory
"Davis writes eloquently about biblical texts on agriculture, looking for insight into 'the material sources of life.' To disregard the environment, food production and treatment of animals in scripture is to miss reflection on essential aspects of life in the presence of God." --Christian Century (Take & Read)
"This is a lucid, wide-ranging, and thought provoking book that should be read by everyone in biblical studies, and should be assigned as a textbook in courses on biblical methods, Torah, prophets, and ecological hermeneutics." --The Biblical & Critical Theory
Book Description
This book examines the theology and ethics of land use through critical biblical exegesis. It explores the biblical writers' pervasive concern for the care of arable land as a central religious obligation. Davis creates a conversation between ancient texts and contemporary agrarian writers, providing a fresh theological perspective on a contemporary problem.
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33 of 34 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Ellen Davis has done with scripture what Barbara Kingsolver and Michael Pollan have done with our current food supply-- she has exposed the ancient roots that support small farms and intimacy with the land as the most secure foundation for a stable society and sustainable earth.
The book, though somewhat technical in its Biblical scholarship, is interspersed with excerpts from modern writers and researchers (primarily Wendell Berry) in ways that illustrate the rich Biblical work, making it accessible for most any reader with a good foundation in Bible study. It would be excellent as a group study, and could be paired with one of the writers above or other current books on the subjects of food security and land use ethics.
Anyone who values religious roots and/or spiritual wisdom related to the use and care of the earth, and the role of the human species in it, will find rich ground to plow here. Davis shows not only that the Bible has a concern for the earth and the well-being of its creatures, but that this concern is central to the Israelites. She even finds this at the heart of the holiness codes in Deuteronomy, which readers often skip over to avoid boredom.
In short, "Scripture, Culture, and Agriculture" makes it clear that the Bible's most ancient wisdom, in terms of food production and land use, was local, sustainable, and organic when local, sustainable, and organic wasn't cool!
The book, though somewhat technical in its Biblical scholarship, is interspersed with excerpts from modern writers and researchers (primarily Wendell Berry) in ways that illustrate the rich Biblical work, making it accessible for most any reader with a good foundation in Bible study. It would be excellent as a group study, and could be paired with one of the writers above or other current books on the subjects of food security and land use ethics.
Anyone who values religious roots and/or spiritual wisdom related to the use and care of the earth, and the role of the human species in it, will find rich ground to plow here. Davis shows not only that the Bible has a concern for the earth and the well-being of its creatures, but that this concern is central to the Israelites. She even finds this at the heart of the holiness codes in Deuteronomy, which readers often skip over to avoid boredom.
In short, "Scripture, Culture, and Agriculture" makes it clear that the Bible's most ancient wisdom, in terms of food production and land use, was local, sustainable, and organic when local, sustainable, and organic wasn't cool!
8 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I'm not aware that this approach has been taken before--and it's so obvious and sensible. I also appreciate the frequent references to Wendell Berry who has so much of great iportance to say about caring for the land.
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
The exegesis on Davis' book is excellent. I bought it because she ties her biblical scholarship to the present-day problem of global warming and that is what my Just Peace Steering Group is focusing on at this time. I am hoping to encourage my other book group to read this because they like challenging topics. She also focuses on how important the land was and is and explains the issues Israel and Palestine have with giving up any of it. Like the book, the middle eastern problems today are equally challenging.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
wonderful
I heard Ms Davis on "On Being" and purchased this book based on that interview. I was not disappointed. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Rob
5.0 out of 5 stars
Really great resource!
I've posted a link to my longer review of Davis' book, but I'll just say here that Davis has given both the Christian agrarian community and the scholarly community a wonderful... Read more
Published 10 months ago by Menno_book lover
5.0 out of 5 stars
A great book exploring themes of ecology, agriculture and community in...
Ellen Davis has given us an informed but readable book that brings biblical scholarship into dialogue with agrarian writers like Wendell Berry, Wes Jackson, etc. Read more
Published 15 months ago by rls
4.0 out of 5 stars
Eye Opening Hermeneutic
One might argue this book is simply an example of a modern reader-response hermeneutic. Rather than read the Bible through a paradigm of power, liberation, patriarchy, feminism,... Read more
Published 15 months ago by Kyle G Anderson
2.0 out of 5 stars
Not simply "An Agrarian Reading of the Bible."
While I would wish that all people would treat the natural resources of our planet with care and with due sacredness, this book is far from simply being an "Agrarian Reading of the... Read more
Published 16 months ago by JJ
