"Fortress Press ex libris publication 2005"--Title page verso Includes bibliographical references and index.
Contents:
Introduction: Presenting the issues -- A particular example, to illustrate -- Scripture as form and concept : historical background -- The true meaning of scripture : the Qur'an as an example -- The Bible in Jewish life? -- The Hindu instance -- The Buddhist instance -- The classics : Chinese and Western -- Brief further considerations -- Conclusion: Scripture and the human condition.
Summary:
"'Scripture' is no longer an absolute. In the last two centuries, as Westerners have become more keenly conscious of the historical character of their own biblical documents, they have also realized the normative function of scripture in other traditions. W.C. Smith's vastly erudite work asks how it is that certain texts have so seeped into human life--in a rich, complex and powerful way--as to be deemed sacred. Examining the history and use of scripture in the world's major religious traditions, he shows how and why scripture continues to carry momentous and at times appalling power in human affairs. In the end, Smith's creative proposal is valuable not only for showing what it means to hold a text as sacred, or to treasure another's scripture, but also for the light it sheds in a troubled culture on what it means to be human"-- Back cover
This resource is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by State Library of Iowa.