Historical Knowledge and Man's Subjectivity
Why did God decide to reveal himself in history? This is a question that I have been asking over the last few months. There are numerous ways that God could have revealed himself to us: through a subjective experience of the spirit, through propositonal theorems, or he could have even given us an ordained statement of faith. But the reality is that God did not do these things, he gave us a book that is almost completley historical through, and through.
My thoughts on this are as follows, and probably somewhat incoherent, but here goes anyway. I believe that God chose history, because history resonates with each individuals subjectivity, or the part of a man that no one else can know. When we know other people we must work to know their thoughts, feelings, and ideas but as we know ourselves our thoughts, feelings etc. are present to us continously, or they are always before us.
I think that scripture is so powerful because it resontates in the deep structures of our inner lives. When we read the story of David and Bethsheba, we know the feeling because the moment that David is confronted by Nathan we feel that in our own lives, or we have felt it. In that same moment that Nathan tells David, "You're the man!" we are reminded of some sin that we have ignored, and acted like we have not participated in. In this scripture reminds us of our inner anguish, and opens the old wounds of our souls that we choose to ignore. Biblical history is never history for histories sake, but history for man's sake. God uses history, because in every moment of our lives we can experience the whole of history in our subjective lives. What I mean, is that in our subjective lives we are connected with all humans throughout history, because they to have felt the same disappointments, pain, and joys.
My thoughts on this are as follows, and probably somewhat incoherent, but here goes anyway. I believe that God chose history, because history resonates with each individuals subjectivity, or the part of a man that no one else can know. When we know other people we must work to know their thoughts, feelings, and ideas but as we know ourselves our thoughts, feelings etc. are present to us continously, or they are always before us.
I think that scripture is so powerful because it resontates in the deep structures of our inner lives. When we read the story of David and Bethsheba, we know the feeling because the moment that David is confronted by Nathan we feel that in our own lives, or we have felt it. In that same moment that Nathan tells David, "You're the man!" we are reminded of some sin that we have ignored, and acted like we have not participated in. In this scripture reminds us of our inner anguish, and opens the old wounds of our souls that we choose to ignore. Biblical history is never history for histories sake, but history for man's sake. God uses history, because in every moment of our lives we can experience the whole of history in our subjective lives. What I mean, is that in our subjective lives we are connected with all humans throughout history, because they to have felt the same disappointments, pain, and joys.
posted by Blake | 11:24 AM
3 Comments:
Blake,
You may already have read him, but if not, I think you might appreciate Robert Alter's books on the Old Testament.
Some of his books include:
"The Art of Biblical Narrative"
"The David Story: A Translation with Commentary of 1 and 2 Samuel"
He also has a new translation of the Five Books of Moses which has received wide critical acclaim.
He does come at the texts from a secular point of view, but his background in Hebrew and literary studies enables him to provide some insights into the narrative structure of the Old Testament that is sometimes missed in more traditional studies. So I think both believers and non-believers can find him very helpful.
Your comments on Nathan and David reminded me of Alter's work.
ahab,
Thanks for the suggestions! I have Alter's "Art of Biblical Narrative" though I have not got around to reading it yet, I have been on an existential philosophy kick for the last two months now :). I have read Brueggemann's book on David called "David's Truth". So some of these insights come from Brugg, but some come from Bultmann, and other writers that I have read. Ultimately, as all of our thoughts are, these are my thoughts on the bible after reflecting over the Bible, and the thoughts of other writers.
Blake
I have to admit to not having read any of Brueggemann's books. From what I see at amazon, they look very interesting. Will have to try and make time for his David book. Thanks for the tip.
Sounds like you have the typical bookworm problem: too many books and not enough time.:-)
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