In Writing on the Tablet of the Heart: Origins of Scripture and Literature, David M. Carr explores the ancient world of education and textuality as it was shaped by an orally dominant culture. Inspiring Carr’s exploration is the recognition that...
One of the more substantial works that casts tremendous light on adjusting our interpretive focus for OT understanding in light of orality in Ancient Near Eastern culture is Susan Niditch’s Oral World and Written Word: Ancient Israelite Literature...
I recently studied the story of the tower of Babel in Genesis 11:1-9. It is a memorable story due to its marking the start of multiple languages on the face of the earth (which is a bit anachronistic in light of the genealogies and details in Gen...
Living in Haiti has helped me better understand the disparity that exists between literate cultures and oral cultures. “Oral cultures” signifies (1) cultures in which most individuals cannot read or write, (2) cultures in which most individuals can...
The worldview and theology of the Hebrew Bible emerges out of the cultural and intellectual milieu of the ancient Near East. While many have argued that the Hebrew Bible is essentially the same as the sacred writings of its ancient neighbors, this...