Greetings, Thanks I've Really Enjoyed Learning More About How The Book Of Genesis Is Structured .

Hi all,  just trying this out. These were my  answers to session 1

Interpretation Questions:

1. Where is the line between the Genesis stories we accept as non-historical ancient myth and those we read as historically plausible? Why do we draw the line where we do?

"It is my recollection that the accounts that have no written historical record cannot be considered historical such as the creation stories. What becomes plausible is when we read of historical places and people."

2. How many different genres, or types of literature, are represented in Genesis? What might this tell us about the origins of the book?

"Although it says genre what comes to mind is folklore, novella such as Joseph, myth Then there is talk of the Priestly source being dry as in the first creation story and Yahwist being a storyteller."

3. Why does Genesis hold such appeal for the modern reader? Is it simply because it comes first?

"The stories are universal, the rivalry between Sarah and Hagar, the sibling rivalry between Esau and Jacob, and rejection by family Joseph."

Application Questions:

1. How does the existence of multiple authors affect your understanding of Genesis as a sacred text?

I guess it depends on my definition of sacred. Sacred is anything that raises my perspective and is endued with a quality that sparkles my life.

2. Think of the patriarchs in Genesis alongside mythical figures from other literature, such as King Arthur. What role does telling these stories have in society?

For me, they personalise a message. I can identify already that I am a Yahwist, storyteller, over Priestly, figures and details. A human story connects with humans.

Stories help give us meaning. We remember them when we face particular situations.

3. What do you make of the role of myth in Genesis? How does considering it myth affect your interpretation?

A myth deals with curiosity and gets you to think further, do you believe it? What other possibilities? These days it probably does not affect my interpretation but years ago I would have dismissed myth.

GJ

I have found that understanding and learning to read the bible in it's various genres rather than having to fit it into my modern sense of facticity has, far from decreasing its worth for me, enabled me to find copious amounts of meaning, rruth and spiritual/theological understanding. When I was fundamentalist about it all, I was missing so much purpose and detail.