Philosophical Interpretations of the Old Testament

ISBN-13: 9783110340150 / Angielski / Twarda / 2014 / 267 str.

Seizo Sekine

Opis

Western biblical studies have tended to follow either faith-based theological approaches or value-free historical-critical methods. This monograph challenges the two extremes by pursuing the middle path of philosophical hermeneutics. While drawing on Eastern and Western philosophical writings from ancient to modern times, the author proposes original interpretive solutions to a wide range of important biblical texts, including the Akedah, Second Isaiah, the Decalogue, Qohelet, Job, and Jeremiah. Yet, this is not a collection of antiquarian studies. Readers will also gain fresh and stimulating perspectives concerning monotheism, religious faith and identity, suffering and salvation, and modern and postmodern ethics. Finally, in a supplementary essay, the author introduces readers to the history of Old Testament studies in Japan, and he outlines prospects for the future.

This monograph challenges the extremes of faith-based theological approaches and value-free historical-critical methods by pursuing the middle path of philosophical hermeneutics. Drawing on Eastern and Western philosophy, the author proposes original interpretive solutions to the Akedah, Jeremiah and other biblical texts. Readers will also gain fresh insights into problems of monotheism, religious faith and identity, suffering and modern ethics.

O autorze

Seizo Sekine, Universität Tokio, Japan.