The bible; a history.

[Oldandeasilyconfused]

From the "Lost World" series.

A seven part series of very mixed quality. Last week they had that appalling Anne Whitecombe person.

However,last night they had some very learned reform rabbis and my favourite historian,Marina Warner,who has written extensively about historical females. EG Joan D'arc and the cult of the virgin Mary.

The programme was about women in the bible,from Eve,Deborah,and Bathsheba etc etc to Mary mother of Jesus and Mary Magdalene etc etc. I was impressed that they referred to the story of Lilith as the first woman.(she became the red headed demon Ashoroth)

The programme also pointed out that popular views of biblical women are rarely supported by scripture.

Highly recommended (I'd skip the episode with Anne thingy)

PS: there WAS an interesting snippet where Stephen Fry ripped into Anne Witless.

[Justtristo]

I watched the first couple of episodes and stopped, mainly because I thought was not terribly good. Then again I am these days, I am among the most skeptical and minimalist comes to the bible.

[Happy UnBeliever]

The Bible as history. Now theres a joke!

[Justtristo]

The Bible as history. Now theres a joke!

The bible does have a history, however it is not history.

[Happy UnBeliever]

The Bible as history. Now theres a joke!

The bible does have a history, however it is not history.

Well if you put it that way yeah.

[Oldandeasilyconfused]

The Bible as history. Now there's a joke!

No,it's "The Bible A history" IE a history OF the Bible.The series presents different perspectives,from the closed minded absurdity of Anne Whitecome, to real scholars and humanists such as Marina Warner.


Actually parts of the Old Testament are indeed history and as reliable as most sources of the time (about 600-700 bce) That is to say not very reliable at all.

It is worth noting that the discipline we call 'history' simply did not exist before the seventeenth century.Ancient 'historians' were in no way meant to objective recorders in the same way modern historians are meant to be.


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Marina Sarah Warner, CBE, FBA (born 9 November 1946 in London, England) is a British novelist, short story writer, historian and mythographer. She is known for her many non-fiction books relating to feminism and myth. She is currently Professor in the Department of Literature, Film and Theatre Studies at the University of Essex.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marina_Warner

[Minimalist]

It is worth noting that the discipline we call 'history' simply did not exist before the seventeenth century.Ancient 'historians' were in no way meant to objective recorders in the same way modern historians are meant to be.

Indeed. It is generally accepted that ancient "histories" tell us more about the time of the authors than they do about the time they were supposed to be writing about.