The Prostitute in the Family Tree: Discovering Humor and Irony in the Bible

Front Cover
Westminster John Knox Press, Jan 1, 1997 - Religion - 127 pages
The Bible is funny! Very funny, according to this new book from Douglas Adams. But in order to discover this humor, Adams says, readers must take Bible passages in their entirety - not just as selected lines. When looking at the Bible as a whole, readers see not just selected, moralistic passages. Instead they see biblical stories with all their rough edges - the unethical and ambiguous characters, the unsolved problems, and the surprising endings.
Adams's book shows how seeing these faults in biblical figures and events strengthens modern Christians' faith.
In addition to pointing out cleverness in the Bible. Adams offers readers various practical methods and examples of how storytelling and some simple dramatic techniques can recover the biblical humor for today's education, worship, and preaching.
 

Contents

The Prostitute in the Family Tree
1
Fractured Families and Busted Banquets
12
Jesse Helms and Jesse Jackson
25
Injustice in Raising Wages Grades and Whos in Hell?
43
A Sack Lunch and Bathtub Wine 59
59
Love Grandma
78
Role Reversals in Dialogues
100
Notes
117
Index
125
Copyright

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About the author (1997)

Douglas Adams served as Professor of Christianity and the Arts at Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, California until his death in 2007.

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