The Lost World of Adam and Eve
Ratings2
Average rating5
15
Ratings2
Average rating5
For centuries the story of Adam and Eve has resonated richly through the corridors of art, literature and theology. But for most moderns, taking it at face value is incongruous. And even for many thinking Christians today who want to take seriously the authority of Scripture, insisting on a "literal" understanding of Genesis 2-3 looks painfully like a "tear here" strip between faith and science. How can Christians of good faith move forward? Who were the historical Adam and Eve? What if we've been reading Genesis -- and its claims regarding material origins -- wrong? In what cultural context was this couple, this garden, this tree, this serpent portrayed? Following his groundbreaking Lost World of Genesis One, John Walton explores the ancient Near Eastern context of Genesis 2-3, creating space for a faithful reading of Scripture along with full engagement with science for a new way forward in the human origins debate. As a bonus, an illuminating excursus by N. T. Wright places Adam in the implied narrative of Paul's theology. The Lost World of Adam and Eve will be required reading for anyone seeking to understand this foundational text historically and theologically, and wondering how to view it alongside contemporary understandings of human origins. - Publisher.
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Short Review: An important, but a bit boring sequel to his more important Lost World of Genesis 1. Walton is doing important work, but he is not an exciting writer. His structure is a series of propositions which he defends. They make sense individually, but are not really the same questions that I would like answered and there isn't a narrative structure that really forms the basis for why the propositions that Walton is making are the ones that should be made.
I am giving him four stars here, but four stars for content, not for writing, structure, interest or even the results. I found Genesis 1 a much more important book. But the weakness of Genesis 1 was the missing Genesis 2 and 3. He filled in the weakness here, but didn't really keep my interest or pull me fully along.
My full review is on my blog at http://bookwi.se/lost-world-of-adam-and-eve/
