Thanks to all those who alerted me in the comments and by email that they were praying for my request. The meeting I alluded to in the earlier post went amazingly well. Really all I could have hoped for. I can’t share specifics, but I can tell you that my “Myth” book will be published and shepherded through the whole process (editorial, PR, marketing, etc.) by a group of people who know what they’re doing and have a long track record of success. My major concern was that all those involved understood the book — why it’s unique and the controversy it will create. I have no doubts that everyone involved “gets it” completely (and they loved the book to boot). It will be a lengthy process with many facets, but it’s officially underway. Stay tuned here and at Twitter in 2014 for details when I can provide them.
Update on Myth That is True Book and Prayer Request
I am excited. I am reading through an earlier draft and can’t wait for it and the debate.
Praise the Lord!
Psalm 100
Congratulations! I’ve been sharing the draft version with close friends and family and have seen a really positive response. Its been great to see people thinking more critically about the evangelical status quo and opening up to the idea that our God is not mundane and that His word and His story can be fascinating. Thank you for graciously sharing your research and passion with us lay-folks.
Yeeha excellent 🙂 Looking forward to it,s release. Been waiting for ages now it seems.
I’m so glad you’re publishing it! I bought the pdf, but have been wishing for a hard copy. Just this week, I priced out how much it would be to print it at Staples. Glad for the update!
That’s most excellent news! I’ve been looking forward to owning the actual physical, finished book. Even more I’ve been looking forward to the accompanying website that will be filled with real scholarly research on the subject. It will be like an ever expanding and evolving appendix.
On a different note: We all know you have a life and are very busy but I would like to say that we appreciate all these blogs and what-nots you provide and I, for one, really miss the podcasts.
I read your draft, I’ll buy the published book for my preacher. I think he’d love it. Sooner the better.
Great news and good luck,
Though, I have to confess that I don’t know what “Myth that is True” is about. Was there another post on this matter earlier that I missed?
It is a non-fiction book on (broadly) the divine council worldview of the biblical writers (how would an ancient Israelite have processed the Bible?) For the divine council, see http://www.thedivinecouncil.com.
Ooops.
Sorry. Ignore my earlier comment. I know now exactly what is being referred to. I just went back to some early posts.
Sorry.
Mike,
A couple of questions:
1) As you go into specifics of OT theology, do you ever discuss differences between what the Israelites believed vs. what actually IS? Meaning, you have often stated that the Israelites did not live in a vacuum. They were influenced by their surroundings. If this is so, then how does one make distinctions between borrowed beliefs and what actually exists. So in your book, you will talk about the family of Yahweh, but is this borrowed theology that is found in the OT or is that what ACTUALLY exists and we are still obliged to believe in it?
2) As you write your book, do you anticipate (or have any concerns) that the un-believers may use your theory as more fodder against Judaism/Christianity? Academic scholarship seems to suggest a lot of Judaism is just something that built itself upon from earlier Canaanite/Uragitic myths. Just like El had his own family, well, Yahweh had his as well. This would be direct evidence of an evolved religion from local myth stories of the time. Sure, there are differences, but the meat and potatoes would be the same.
I’ll be doing some of that (#1), though the emphasis will be on what the biblical writers and original readers would have been thinking.
The other is something I handle in scholarly journal articles or conference papers.
I think the question (#1) is probably one of the most important ones (at least to me). After all, if the bible is the guiding light, how much of that light should WE accept today? Perhaps, over time, that is something you can write a blog post about.
Im looking forward to the book.
Other than Sage Journal, do you have links where your papers appear? It could be a valuable asset.
Anything I’ve published will be found on either ATLA Religion database or the JSTOR database.