Fantastic in Religious Narrative from Exodus to Elisha
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A01=Laura Feldt
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ambiguity in biblical narratives
ancient Israelite religion
Author_Laura Feldt
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bible
Category1=Non-Fiction
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Cognitive Guarantees
cognitive religious studies
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Counterintuitive Representations
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Exodus Narrative
Fantastic Effect
Fantastic Elements
Fantastic Excess
Fantastic Literature
Fantastic Manifestations
Fantastic Memory
Fantastic Strategies
fantasy
Fantasy Perspective
Fantasy Theory
Good Life
hebrew
Hebrew Bible
Hebrew Bible Narrative
Language_English
Literary Theoretical Work
Mental Metamorphoses
miracle analysis
myth interpretation
narrative uncertainty
narratives
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Passover Ritual
perspective
Pharaoh's Heart
Plagues Narrative
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religious ambiguity
Religious Narrative
Religious Recipient
softlaunch
strategies
theory
Van Seters
YHWH's Presence
YHWH’s Presence
Product details
- ISBN 9781845539429
- Weight: 600g
- Dimensions: 156 x 234mm
- Publication Date: 01 Nov 2011
- Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd
- Publication City/Country: GB
- Product Form: Hardback
- Language: English
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The Fantastic in Religious Narrative from Exodus to Elisha argues that perspectives drawn from literary-critical theories of the fantastic and fantasy are apt to explore Hebrew Bible religious narratives. The book focuses on the narratives' marvels, monsters, and magic, rather than whether or not the stories depict historical events. The Exodus narrative (Ex 1-18) and a selection of additional Hebrew Bible narratives (Num 11-14, Judg 6-8, 1 Kings 17-19, 2 Kings 4-7) are analysed from a fantasy-theoretical perspective. The 'fantasy perspective' helps to make sense of elements of these narratives that - although prominently featured in the stories - have previously often been explained by being explained away. These case studies can illuminate Hebrew Bible religion and offer wider perspectives on religious narrative generally. In light of the fantasy-theoretical approach, these Hebrew Bible stories - with the Exodus narrative at the centre - read not as foundational stories, affirming triumphantly and unambiguously the bond between the deity, his people, and their territory, but rather as texts that harbour and even actively encourage ambiguity and uncertainty, not necessarily prompting belief, orientation, and a sense of meaningfulness, but also open-ended reflection and doubt. The case studies suggest that other religious narratives, both in and beyond the Judaic tradition, may also be amenable to interpretation in these terms, thus questioning a dominant trend in myth studies. The results of the analyses lead to a discussion of the role of ambiguity, uncertainty, and transformation in religious narrative in broader perspective, and to a questioning of the emphasis in the study of religion on the capacity of religious narrative for founding and maintaining institutions, orienting identity, and defending order over disorder. The book suggests the wider importance of incorporating destabilisation, disorientation, and ambiguity more strongly into theories of what religious narrative is and does.
Laura Feldt is Associate Professor of the History of Religions at the Department of History, University of Southern Denmark.
