Ep. 68: Why Do We Have a Bible? – Jacob L. Wright

About this episode

Jacob L. Wright discusses the origins of the Hebrew Bible and its relevance today.

In this episode, we’re joined by Jacob L. Wright, Professor of Hebrew Bible at the Candler School of Theology, Emory University, and the author of Why the Bible Began: An Alternative History of Scripture and its Origins. Jacob explains how the Old Testament used a mix of history, myth, and poetry to form a “peoplehood” in the absence of state institutions. We explore the arguments in his new book about the secular origins of the Hebrew Bible and how it impacts contemporary issues. We discuss why the Bible is too important to be left to religious people and how its techniques can be similarly used by secularists today. Why the Bible Began: https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/why-the-bible-began/263D2981C0B829268AAC8BB4A0F696FC Beyond Atheism is produced and distributed by Atheists United Studios: https://www.atheistsunited.org/au-studios

People in this episode

Guest: Jacob L. Wright

Topics covered

• Hebrew Bible
• Old Testament
• secular origins
• contemporary issues
• peoplehood
• history and myth

Keywords

• Bible
• Old Testament
• secularism
• history
• myth
• poetry
• peoplehood

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Candler School of Theology, Emory University

Books & works: Why the Bible Began: An Alternative History of Scripture and its Origins

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