Reading Ritual - (Library of Hebrew Bible/Old Testament Studies) by Wesley J Bergen (Hardcover)

About the Book

This book draws on a variety of disciplines to undertake a unique analysis of Leviticus 1-7. Rather than studying the rituals prescribed in Leviticus as arcane historical/theological texts of little interest to the modern reader, or as examples of primitive rituals that have no parallel in Western society, this book provides many points of contact between animal sacrifice rituals and various parts of post-modern society. Modern rituals such as Monday Night Football, eating fast food, sending sons and daughters off to war, and even the rituals of modern academia are contrasted with the text of Leviticus. In addition, responses to Leviticus among modern African Christians and in the early church are used to draw out further understandings of how the language and practice of sacrifice still shapes the lives of people.

Book Synopsis

This book draws on a variety of disciplines to undertake a unique analysis of Leviticus 1-7. Rather than studying the rituals prescribed in Leviticus as arcane historical/theological texts of little interest to the modern reader, or as examples of primitive rituals that have no parallel in Western society, this book provides many points of contact between animal sacrifice rituals and various parts of post-modern society. Modern rituals such as Monday Night Football, eating fast food, sending sons and daughters off to war, and even the rituals of modern academia are contrasted with the text of Leviticus. In addition, responses to Leviticus among modern African Christians and in the early church are used to draw out further understandings of how the language and practice of sacrifice still shapes the lives of people.

This study takes a consciously Christian perspective on Leviticus. Leviticus is assumed to be an ongoing part of the Christian Bible. The usual Christian response to Leviticus is to ignore it or to claim that all sacrifice has now been superseded by the sacrifice of Jesus. This study refutes those simplistic assertions, and attempts to reassert the place of Leviticus as a source for Christian self-understanding.

This is volume 417 of JSOTS and volume 9 of Playing the Texts.

Review Quotes

Review in German in RBL, 04/2006

"Insights abound from the comparative study, shedding light upon the experience of reading ritual in Leviticus and uncovering the relevance of ritual in modern and western practice.               "...an astute work of comparison between the rituals described in Leviticus 1-7 and those of different times and places. Professor Bergen is to be congratulated for his daring effort, which I consider a success, to reveal the use of ritual in the (post)modern world, and the light this sheds upon the function of Leviticus 1-7."- Bernon P. Lee of Grace College and Seminary, Journal of Hebrew Scriptures, Vol. 7, 2007
RBL

Old Testament Abstracts: The Catholic Biblical Quarterly/ Vol. 29, 2006

"Bergen communicates his major points well and usually in nontechnical language that is readily accessible to w wide readership. The chapters on sacrifice in Africa, in American society (especially in its military associations) and in the church are perhaps both the most scholarly and the most interesting... the issues is raises are relevant to a wide audience." - The Mennonite Quarterly Review

About the Author

Wesley J. Bergen is Visiting Assistant Professor, Department of Religion, Wichita State University, Wichita, Kansas.