What is sin? Is it simply wrongdoing? Why do its effects linger over time? In this sensitive; imaginative; and original work; Gary Anderson shows how changing conceptions of sin and forgiveness lay at the very heart of the biblical tradition. Spanning nearly two thousand years; the book brilliantly demonstrates how sin; once conceived of as a physical burden; becomes; over time; eclipsed by economic metaphors. Transformed from a weight that an individual carried; sin becomes a debt that must be repaid in order to be redeemed in God's eyes. Anderson shows how this ancient Jewish revolution in thought shaped the way the Christian church understood the death and resurrection of Jesus and eventually led to the development of various penitential disciplines; deeds of charity; and even papal indulgences. In so doing it reveals how these changing notions of sin provided a spur for the Protestant Reformation. Broad in scope while still exceptionally attentive to detail; this ambitious and profound book unveils one of the most seismic shifts that occurred in religious belief and practice; deepening our understanding of one of the most fundamental aspects of human experience.
#677281 in Books Arthur Green 2010-03-23Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 8.25 x .50 x 5.50l; .53 #File Name: 0300152329208 pagesRadical Judaism Rethinking God and Tradition
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Clear and PassionateBy Kindle CustomerRabbi Green is a deep thinker who brings his scholarly knowledge to bear in a very personal way. He takes on pretty weighty topics -- God and evolution; the nature of Torah study; the oneness of all creation; and even the two-state solution!I found myself transfixed and transformed by this short volume that speaks volumes -- thank you Rabbi Green!0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. This book articulated for me the understanding of the Holy ...By Audrey SeidmanThis book articulated for me the understanding of the Holy that has been growing inside without words. I thank Rabbi Art Green for sharing a theology that I can understand; that energizes and inspires me. I had originally borrowed the book; and when I could resist no more began to highlight and underline (and yes; I replaced my friend's unmarked copy).2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. I'm a Hillel Director and will be using this as ...By MICHAELI'm a Hillel Director and will be using this as a text to study with my students. Green helps us frame a series of meaningful and relevant questions about theology in this day and age; and gives us a lot to think about.
