Myth and scripture

"The essays gathered here focus attention on the concept of myth and its place in biblical studies through a variety of multi-and interdisciplinary approaches. They approach the methodological issue of how the categories of myth and scripture can be better incorporated into our understanding and interpretation of biblical literature as both ancient texts and contemporary scripture. Engaging myth as a literary genre and as an ideology, many of the contributors compare and contrast biblical texts--including creation accounts, the role of god(s) in history, and eschatological scenarios--with similar narrative outside of the Jewish and Christian canons. Others analyze the nonbiblical narratives themselves, while still others explore how the constructs of "myth" and "scripture" define interpretive strategies, illumine theological appropriations, and evoke hermeneutical practices with predictable results. This volume offers a valuable new contribution to a historically contentious area of inquiry." --Back cover.