The Ethos of the Cosmos: The Genesis of Moral Imagination in the Bible - Paperback

by William P. Brown (Author)

Recent studies of the biblical story of creation try to uncover its roots in ancient Near Eastern myths or its compatibility with modern science and ecology. In contrast, this work by William Brown investigates how the various pictures of creation found in Scripture helped shape the ancient faith community's moral character. Bridging the fields of biblical studies and ethics, this interdisciplinary work demonstrates how certain creation traditions of the Old and New Testaments were developed from the community's moral imagination for the purpose of forming and preserving both Israel's and the early church's identity in the world. Bringing to light insights largely overlooked by modern treatments of biblical ethics and creation, The Ethos of the Cosmos ends by recommending the formative power of creation for the contemporary church.

Author Biography

William P. Brown is William Marcellus McPheeters Professor of Old Testament at Columbia Theological Seminary, Decatur, Georgia. Other books of his include The Seven Pillars of Creation: The Bible, Science, and the Ecology of Wonder and Seeing the Psalms: A Theology of Metaphor.