The Fantastic in Religious Narrative from Exodus to Elisha argues
that perspectives drawn from literary-critical theories of the
fantastic and fantasy are apt to explore Hebrew Bible religious
narratives. The book focuses on the narratives marvels, monsters,
and magic, rather than whether or not the stories depict historical
events. The Exodus narrative (Ex 1-18) and a selection of
additional Hebrew Bible narratives (Num 11-14, Judg 6-8, 1 Kings
17-19, 2 Kings 4-7) are analysed from a fantasy-theoretical
perspective. The fantasy-theoretical perspective helps to make
sense of elements of these narratives that although prominently
featured in the stories - have previously often been explained by
being explained away. The case studies treated in the book
illuminate Hebrew Bible religion and offer wider perspectives on
religious narrative generally. In light of the fantasy-theoretical
approach, these Hebrew Bible stories with the Exodus narrative at
the centre - read not as foundational stories, affirming
triumphantly and unambiguously the bond between the deity, his
people, and their territory, but rather as texts that harbour and
even actively encourage ambiguity and uncertainty, not necessarily
prompting belief, orientation, and a sense of meaningfulness, but
also open-ended reflection and doubt. The case studies suggest that
other religious narratives, both in and beyond the Judaic
tradition, may also be amenable to interpretation in these terms,
thus questioning a dominant trend in myth studies. The results of
the analyses lead to a discussion of the role of ambiguity,
uncertainty, and transformation in religious narrative in broader
perspective, and to a questioning of the emphasis in the study of
religion on the capacity of religious narrative for founding and
maintaining institutions, orienting identity, and defending order
over disorder. The book suggests the wider importance of
incorporating destabilisation, disorientation, and ambiguity more
strongly into theories of what religious narrative is and does.
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