Creation, temple and magic. A magico-mythical reading of Genesis 1

 

 

Peet van Dyk

Unisa

Correspondence

 

 

---

ABSTRACT

This is the second article in a series to investigate the interrelationship between myth, magic, ritual, and the sacred within the Old Testament. In this contribution the link between creation and temple, the emphasis on the order of creation and the concept of Imagio Dei are explained in terms of magical linkage. Gadamer's hermeneutics is used to explore the different horizons of reader and text and to illuminate the potential problems contemporary readers may have in recognising magical thinking within the Old Testament.

---

 

 

“Full text available only in PDF format”

 

 

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Albright, W. F. Archaeology and the religion of Israel. Baltimore: John Hopkins Press, 1946.         [ Links ]

Aristotle, "On generation and corruption." Pages 512-554 in The complete works of Aristotle. Volume 1. Edited by J. Barnes. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 1984.         [ Links ]

Bohak, G. Ancient Jewish magic: A history. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2008.         [ Links ]

Bultmann, R. New Testament and mythology and other basic writings. Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1984.         [ Links ]

Clines, D. J. A. "Images of Yahweh: God in the Pentateuch." Pages 79-98 in Studies in Old Testament theology. Edited by R. L. Hubbard, R. K. Johnston, & Meye, R.P. Dallas: Word Publishing, 1992.         [ Links ]

Dawkins, R. The God delusion. London: Bantam Press, 2006.         [ Links ]

Durkheim, E. "Ritual, magic, and the sacred." Pages 188-193 in Readings in ritual studies. Edited by R. L. Grimes. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 1996 [1915].         [ Links ]

Eliade, M. "Ritual and myth." Pages 194-201 in Readings in ritual studies. Edited by R. L. Grimes. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 1996 [1949].         [ Links ]

Eliade, M. Das Heilige und das Profane. Hamburg: Rowohlt Hamburg, 1957.         [ Links ]

Fisher, L. R. "Creation at Ugarit and in the Old Testament." Vetus Testamentum 15(1965): 313-324.         [ Links ]

Frazer, J.G. The golden bough. A study in magic and religion. London: McMillan, 1957.         [ Links ]

Gadamer, H.-G. Truth and Method. 2^nd Edition. Translated by J. Weinsheimer, & D. G. Marshall. London: Sheed & Ward, 1989.         [ Links ]

Gay, P. The Enlightenment: An interpretation. The rise of modern paganism. London: Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 1966.         [ Links ]

Gjesdal, K. "Hermeneutics and philology: A reconsideration of Gadamer's critique of Schleiermacher." British Journal for History and Philosophy 14(2006): 133-156.         [ Links ]

Hawking, S. A brief history of time. From the big bang to black holes. Toronto: Bantam, 1988.         [ Links ]

Kapelrud, A. S. "Temple building, a task for gods and kings." Orientalia 32(1963): 56-68.         [ Links ]

Klutz, T. E. (ed) Magic in the Biblical world. London: T & T Clark, 2003.         [ Links ]

Kuhn, T. S. The structure of scientific revolutions. Chicago: Chicago University Press, 1962.         [ Links ]

Kraus, H.-J. Geschichte der historisch-kritischen Erforschung des Alten Testaments. 2. Auflage. Neukirchen-Vluyn: Neukirchener Verlag, 1982.         [ Links ]

Labahn, M. & Peerbolte B. J. L. (eds) A kind of magic. London: T & T Clark, 2007.         [ Links ]

Laus, T. "Paul and 'magic'." Pages 140-156 in Magic in the Biblical world. Edited by T. E. Klutz. London: T. & T. Clark, 2003.         [ Links ]

Neyman, G. "Biblical interpretation and theology. Creation science and Genesis 1. Answers in creation." http://www.answersincreation.org/genesis1.htm Accessed, November 2008.         [ Links ]

Oosterhoff, B. J. Hoe lezen wij Genesis 2 en 3? Een hermeneutische studie. Kampen: J. H. Kok, 1972.         [ Links ]

Pezzoli-Olgiatti, D. "From to magic: Envisaging a problematic concept in the study of religion." Pages 3-9 in A kind of magic. Edited by M. Labahn, & B. J. L. Peerbolte. London: T & T Clark, 2007.         [ Links ]

Pickering, M. "History as horizon. Gadamer, tradition and critique." Rethinking History 3(1999): 177-195.         [ Links ]

Pinch, G. Magic in Ancient Egypt. London: The British Museum Press, 1994.         [ Links ]

Römer, T. C. "Competing magicians in Exodus 7-9: Interpreting magic in the Priestly theology." Pages 12-22 in Magic in the Biblical world. Edited by T. E. Klutz. London: T. & T. Clark, 2003.         [ Links ]

Tylor, E. B. Primitive culture. 1^st Vol. New York: Brentano's Publishers, 1924.         [ Links ]

Toulmin, S. Cosmopolis. The hidden agenda of modernity. New York: Free Press, 1990.         [ Links ]

Van Dyk, P. J. A brief history of creation. Pretoria: Unisa, 2001.         [ Links ]

_____. "A fuzzy interpretation of the Bible. Going beyond modernism and postmodernism." Religion & Theology 9 (2002.): 163-182.         [ Links ]

_____. "Mythical linkage and mythical frameworks." Old Testament Essays 18 (2005): 863-878.         [ Links ]

Von Rad, G. Genesis. A commentary. London: SCM Press, 1966.         [ Links ]

Westermann, C. Genesis 1-11. 2. Auflage. Neukirchen-Vluyn: Neukirchener Verlag, 1988.         [ Links ]

 

 

Correspondence:
Peet van Dyk
Department of Old Testament
Ancient Near Eastern Studies
P. O. Box 392, University of South Africa, 0003, UNISA
E-mail: vdykpi1@unisa.ac.za