Just Genesis : INDEX

Showing posts with label INDEX. Show all posts

Wednesday, January 17, 2024

My Life as a Blogger

Alice C. Linsley

Recently I was asked about the work that I do as a blogger. To answer that question, I am posting this information about the 7 blogs I manage. I manage two of these for other people. The blogs are listed in the order that they were started.

Just Genesis (Began March 2007)

This blog examines the Book of Genesis through the lens of cultural anthropology, genetics, linguistics, and archaeology. The INDEX of topics considered at this blog is accessed by seminary students, Bible scholars, clergy, and members of the international Facebook group The Bible and Anthropology.

Reflections on the Writing Life (Began March 2007)

Formerly this blog was called "Students, Publish Here!" and it was a platform for my creative writing students, as well as my own thoughts about writing. The INDEX is here: Reflections on the Writing Life: INDEX of Topics (teachgoodwriting.blogspot.com)

Ethics Forum (Began April 2008)

I started this blog to help my Ethics students at Midway University find materials related to the course I taught there. The INDEX is here: Ethics Forum: INDEX of Topics (college-ethics.blogspot.com)

Biblical Anthropology (Began Sept. 2010)

This blog presents the emerging science of biblical anthropology, a data seeking, empirical approach to the 66 canonical books of the Bible. The INDEX is here: BIBLICAL ANTHROPOLOGY: INDEX of Topics at Biblical Anthropology

Distinctive Discipleship (Began July 2013)

I started this for Ed Lundwall, Jr., a retired Army chaplain. I contribute posts, as does my sister Hope Rapson. The INDEX is here: DISTINCTIVE DISCIPLESHIP: INDEX of Topics (edwardlundwall.blogspot.com)

STEM Education (Began August 2013)

I started this blog and I manage it for Christian Women in Science, an affiliate of the American Scientific Affiliation. It is designed to help Christian students find news reports on various sciences that they may be studying. It is accessed largely by homeschooling parents and their students. The INDEX is here: STEM Education: INDEX of Topics (asa-cwis.blogspot.com)

Philosophers' Corner (Began March 2013)

I started this blog to help my Philosophy students at Lexington Christian Academy and Midway University (both in Kentucky). The INDEX is here: Philosophers' Corner: Topics at Philosophers' Corner (justgreatthought.blogspot.com)

Thursday, April 27, 2023

New to Just Genesis?

Dr. Alice C. Linsley

If you are new to Just Genesis you may find this INDEX of Topics helpful.

The articles that appear here reflect an empirical approach to the study of biblical populations. The investigation of the cultural context of these populations is called Biblical Anthropology. This science is not to be confused with theological anthropology which is more speculative.

Archaeology in the Bible lands is called "Biblical Archaeology" and the science of anthropology pertaining to Biblical populations is "Biblical Anthropology". This approach requires thinking empirically about the 66 canonical books from which we draw anthropologically significant data to better understand the social structure and religious beliefs and practices of biblical populations.

In this science assertions must be backed up with data from the biblical texts. Assumptions must be demonstrated to have a basis in the Scriptures. We avoid theological speculation and denominational interpretations.

The 66 canonical books of the Bible are the primary resource used by Biblical anthropologists, but we also look at other books of importance such as the Books of Enoch, Judith, and the Wisdom of Ben Sira (Sirach). These contain valuable anthropological information.

Anthropologists are interested in material culture. We want to know what people made, what materials they used, and what tools they used. We are curious about the things they used in daily life. How did they bury their dead? What did they believe about the creation of the world? What culture traits made their population distinctive? How did they organize for war? Where did the rulers derive their authority?

A central task of Biblical Anthropology is to uncover antecedents. Culture traits, ceremonies, rituals, and religious beliefs do not spring suddenly into existence. They develop organically over time from traditions received from the ancestors. Biblical anthropology provides tested methods and tools to push back the veil of time, to uncover anthropologically significant data that clarifies precedents, etiology, and context. The discoveries made in Biblical Anthropology prove helpful to students, pastors, and academics.

A central task of Biblical Anthropology is to uncover antecedents; something coming before what is described in the text. What events preceded the events recounted? From what earlier context did certain practices develop? What traces of ancient memory can be uncovered? Biblical Anthropology seeks to understand the cultural context of the Bible at the oldest foundations. It is concerned with ancestors and received traditions. Abraham's ancestors lived in the Nile Valley. Abraham was not the first Hebrew. The Hebrew ruler-priest caste from which he received his faith existed at least 2000 years before Abraham's time. That caste believed in God Father and God Son. The faith of Abraham was not Judaism. In Biblical Anthropology a distinction is made between the early Hebrew (4200-2000 B.C.), Jacob's clan of the Exodus called "Israelites" (1500 B.C.), and the Jews whose identity emerged after the Babylonian captivity (597-538 B.C.).

The biblical text always speaks of something older, some prior action that solicits a response from later generations. What Jacques Derrida called the "trace" is always there, and unless one moves toward that presence, the nature of it remains unknown. Even where later sources attempt to efface an earlier account, as happens in Genesis, the trace has a voice. Judaism does not erase the faith of Abraham into which Messiah's followers are grafted. The prior remains evident. There is a subjugated voice or a minority opinion, and those who care about the bigger picture read minority opinions.

David Noel Freedman said: “The Hebrew Bible is the one artifact from antiquity that not only maintained its integrity but continues to have a vital, powerful effect thousands of years later.” Both anthropologists and archaeologists turn to the Bible for clues and data. Very often this has led to wonderful discoveries! Let's use this forum to advance the science of Biblical Anthropology.

Saturday, December 5, 2020

Index of Topics at JUST GENESIS

Just Genesis presents the latest research on the book of Genesis drawing on the disciplines of cultural anthropology, archaeology, linguistics, molecular genetics, migration studies, and climate studies. This INDEX is an archive of most of the research published here.

"The First Lords of the Earth: An Anthropological Study" (Amazon) examines the kinship patterns of the biblical Hebrew and demonstrates that they did not have a patriarchal social structure. The sequel "The First Ladies: An Anthropological Study" will be available after March 2025.

Followers

Wednesday, January 17, 2024

My Life as a Blogger

Thursday, April 27, 2023

New to Just Genesis?

Saturday, December 5, 2020

Index of Topics at JUST GENESIS

Featured Post

Index of Topics at JUST GENESIS

Search This Blog

Popular Posts

News and Good Reading

About Me