Winner of the Pulitzer Prize for American Primitive, Mary Oliver has published twelve books of poetry and five books of essays. Her poems are quoted in everything from Web sites to hymn books. Earthlight, a "Magazine of Spiritual Ecology," has declared her an "earth saint." In this engaging study, Mann shows Oliver to have keen eyes and ears for reading the book of nature. Readers will discover that the correspondence between Oliver's poetry and traditional religious language provides a fresh perspective from which to enjoy her work. Here there is a god, but one who at first seems unrecognizable, at least to Judeo-Christian religious tradition. We know of the "God of heaven," and even the "God of heaven and earth," but a god of dirt? Oliver's reading of the Other Book of God invites us into nature's "temple" where we may come into the presence of the holy and from which we may leave rejuvenated and blessed. God of Dirt is an important study of a contemporary poet whose work is as likely to be read by a preacher in a pulpit as by an activist at an environmental rally, and will help us experience a new vision of the beauty of our world.

n this thoughtful and expansive work Thomas W. Mann analyses the early prophets of the Bible corresponding to Joshua through to Kings. The narrative, with its richly diverse cast of great, good, and sinful characters, is unpicked as Mann draws a number of sensitive conclusions from a vital religious and historical source. Mann persuasively asserts that a thorough understanding of the Judeo-Christian narrative can illuminate our own era by comparing events in the Old Testament with a diverse collection of modern material from video games to the war in Iraq. Mann speculates that the Israelites were able to acknowledge culpability as well as success, while the modern West finds similar acknowledgement more challenging, particularly in relation to Vietnam. Mann is also careful to consistently question the motivations, period of writing, and intended audience of the scriptural authors, factors which have influenced our understanding of the text. 'The Book of the Former Prophets' will be of great value to students of theology and those wishing to understand more fully the narrative upon which so much of contemporary western self-understanding is based. Written in an eloquent and anecdotal style, this analysis reveals above all that the biblical scholar must accept the multifaceted nature of the truth, and be able to be aware of the contradictory versions. Thomas W. Mann has taught religious studies at the college, seminary, and doctoral levels and served as a parish minister in the United Church of Christ. He is also the author of "The Book of the Torah" (1988). "Having retold the first part of the Bible's story of ancient Israel in his acclaimed The Book of the Torah, Thomas Mann now presents the second half with critical and theological acumen. The difficult themes and pictures are not glossed over, but Mann's rich interpretive retelling opens up avenues into a contemporary appropriation of this story, on which, for better or for worse, the Christian community is grounded." Patrick D. Miller, Princeton Theological Seminary. "An amazing achievement. Lucidly, with illuminating parallels from modern times, Mann guides us superbly through vast terrain. He keeps the big picture always in view, yet has an unerring eye for the telling detail. . . . We see complexities and ambiguities in narratives fraught with violence and we confront the challenges they present today's reader. . . . In Mann's book, the ancient work has an excellent modern companion." David M. Gunn, Texas Christian University

The first five books of the Bible contain many of its most famous stories, populated by vivid characters altogether human in their triumphs and failings--and an equally complicated deity. Many works of Western art and literature appeal to these stories, from Michelangelo's painting of Adam and Eve to a novel like William Faulkner's Go Down, Moses. The three great Abrahamic religions (Judaism, Christianity, and Islam) are rooted here. So is much of Western political theory and constitutional polity, for a good half of these books contains legislation (torah) of various kinds, as indicated by the ancient title: the book of the Torah. Law and narrative together render the character of the ancient covenant community known as Israel, as well as the God who rules over that community. In this revised and expanded version of his popular book of 1988, Mann engages literary criticism and theology in attending both to the composite nature of the Torah (or Pentateuch) and to its final, canonical shape. Mann's study provides a lucid introduction to the heart of the Hebrew Bible, suitable for students and general readers, but also of interest to biblical scholars. "Mann's study of the foundational texts of biblical faith has long been a reliable staple of pedagogy and interpretation. In it he combines a well-honed capacity for critical judgment with an acute theological sensibility, all of which is presented in an accessible format. For these reasons this new edition is a welcome offer. In it he has . . . added materials that could not have been on the horizon in the first edition. This book will evoke many grateful readers." --Walter Brueggemann Columbia Theological Seminary Praise for the first edition: "I would find this volume extremely useful in introducing my students to this basic part of the Old Testament. I am quite excited about this project." --Patrick D. Miller author of Stewards of the Mysteries of God "A sound piece of work. Its holistic, final-form approach reflects the major trend in biblical criticism. It is perceptive, sensitive, thoughtful, and stimulating." --David Gunn coauthor of Narrative in the Hebrew Bible Thomas W. Mann has taught at Princeton Theological Seminary, Converse College, Salem College, and Wake Forest University. For twenty-three years he was also the minister of Parkway United Church of Christ in Winston Salem, North Carolina. He is the author of The Book of the Former Prophets (Cascade Books, 2011), a sequel to this book; Deuteronomy (1995); and God of Dirt: Mary Oliver and the Other Book of God (2004).

Synopsis: The Former Prophets of the Hebrew Bible includes the books of Joshua through 2 Kings, a narrative of ancient Israel's history of some seven hundred years from the "conquest" of Canaan to the exile, when Israel lost the land. From a critical perspective the narrative is a composite document incorporating many different literary sources from different times; seen as a whole, the result is a compelling example of ancient historiography as well as an impressive artistic achievement. Included are fascinating (and often horrifying) stories of war, religious fanaticism, terror, and disaster, as well as stories of deep personal loyalty, friendship, and faith. Many characters in the books of The Former Prophets are at once virtuous and villainous, such as King David: slayer of giants, writer of therapeutic songs, and builder of empire, who is also a permissive parent, a rapist, an adulterer, and a murderer. The books of the Former Prophets feature a witch who is far from wicked, and a religious reformer who slaughters the unorthodox. Even God makes an appearance as an evil spirit Not only have such vivid personages inspired works of art and motivated groups, including the Pilgrims, who came to America to found communities like New Canaan. The Former Prophets also present parallels--often uncomfortable ones--to events in our own history from ethnic cleansing to tyrannical oppression. Yet the Former Prophets also picture the dream of a just and peaceful community that has motivated people of goodwill for thousands of years. Through it all the Former Prophets raise perennial questions: What is the relationship between divine sovereignty and human political institutions? How does a culture identify "insiders" and "outsiders"? In what sense are historical events the result of human acts and also of divine Providence? How does a nation come to terms with its failures as well as its triumphs? Endorsements: "Having retold the first part of the Bible's story of ancient Israel in his acclaimed The Book of the Torah, Thomas Mann now presents the second half with critical and theological acumen. The difficult themes and pictures are not glossed over, but Mann's rich interpretive retelling opens up avenues into a contemporary appropriation of this story, on which, for better or for worse, the Christian community is grounded." --Patrick D. Miller Princeton Theological Seminary, Emeritus "An amazing achievement. Lucidly, with illuminating parallels from modern times, Mann guides us superbly through vast terrain. He keeps the big picture always in view, yet has an unerring eye for the telling detail. He concisely explains disparate sources and historical background. But always the story, with its rich cast of characters, takes pride of place. We see complexities and ambiguities in narratives fraught with violence and we confront the challenges they present today's reader. The final chapter, deeply thoughtful, critical, and constructive, lays out paths to better understand this great theological history as a work of theodicy, the struggle to comprehend God's ways in a calamitous world. In Mann's book, the ancient work has an excellent modern companion." --David M. Gunn Texas Christian University Author Biography: Thomas W. Mann has taught religious studies at the college, seminary, and doctoral levels and served as a parish minister in the United Church of Christ. He is the author of The Book of the Torah (1988), to which this book is a sequel.

Synopsis: The following study is a revised version of Thomas Mann's doctoral dissertation submitted to Yale University Graduate School in 1975. Its origins can be traced back to seminar papers written for Professor W. Sibley Towner while Mann was still a student at Yale Divinity School. Further work on the topic was done in a seminar with Professor Brevard S. Childs. The purpose of this study is to investigate the form and function of motifs of divine presence and guidance in the Old Testament. Author Biography: Thomas W. Mann, a widely-published author, is the minister of the Parkway United Church of Christ, Winston-Salem, NC. His other books include God of Dirt: Mary Oliver and the Other Book of God (2004), The Book of the Torah: The Narrative Integrity of the Pentateuch (1988), and Deuteronomy (1995).

Deuteronomy, Thomas Mann notes, is more than a relic of ancient history. It is a living document that deals with issues that have relevance for the modern-day reader, including justice and the vision of the Great Society, individual responsibility versus the importance of community, and the nature of loyalty to God and to the world. By examining these and other issues, readers will draw striking parallels between the world of Israel several millennia ago and today. This absorbing and readable book will stimulate discussion about the Deuteronomistic prescriptions for a healthy society and their applicability to contemporary life and society. Books in the Westminster Bible Companion series assist laity in their study of the Bible as a guide to Christian faith and practice. Each volume explains the biblical book in its original historical context and explores its significance for faithful living today. These books are ideal for individual study and for Bible study classes and groups.