Unexpected News: Reading the Bible with Third World Eyes

Editorial Reviews. About the Author. Robert McAfee Brown was a well-known theologian, writer.
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Books like this--there are others, too--challenge me, which is good. The conclusions I draw from these challenges? That's where things get difficult. May 07, 7jane rated it really liked it Shelves: After reading this I hesitated a little, not being quite sure whether to put it in the "religion" or "politics" category, but this is ultimately about religion, and how religion cannot be separate and neutral about politics, no matter what time we live in. This book is about how third world countries interpret certain Bible texts though continent-wise this one concentrates on Latin America the most.

Its politics-examples and such show clearly when it was written, but just a few changes of names After reading this I hesitated a little, not being quite sure whether to put it in the "religion" or "politics" category, but this is ultimately about religion, and how religion cannot be separate and neutral about politics, no matter what time we live in.

Unexpected news : reading the Bible with Third World eyes

Its politics-examples and such show clearly when it was written, but just a few changes of names and other things can put it quite easily into our times. I felt the author was very insisting, but he clearly and simply drove the point home: We also should look hard on our other values and check how well we do as Christians when it comes to acting as Christians and not just doing the 'basic routines' motions here and there and not necessarily even reading the Bible; or not reading it well enough.

This is clearly left-leaning, but even if you're not, you could still take a look and ponder on your position in this world. It might be 30 years now from when this book was released, but there's still a lot to do, even when doing just our small bit - and thinking what our actions or lack of can do to our afterlife. Mar 03, Daniel rated it liked it Shelves: The title to this book set it up to fail. I was very excited by the idea of looking through scripture with Third World Eyes, but it came up short. But I still think the ideas of the book and the author's general point are worth chewing on.

Unexpected News posits that we, in the west, have developed a skewed reading of scripture, that our individualistic culture misses major themes that our brothers and sisters in the Third World can enlighten for us. This I agree whole-heartedly with and was hap The title to this book set it up to fail.

Unexpected news : reading the Bible with Third World eyes (Book, ) [leondumoulin.nl]

This I agree whole-heartedly with and was happy to see some of that in the book. However, the book also felt like a thinly veiled apologetic for Liberation Theology, of which I have some uncomfortability with. And some of the scriptural exegesis was not very strong. This was frustrating for me because I felt he could have come to his conclusions in a much stronger fashion than he did in the book. Another difficulty was the fact that he was speaking into his context of the Cold War world.

Though I would have been very interested in what it would be like to read this book the year it was published. It might have hit me much stronger. This book tries to do good things with broadening our theological lenses, but I do believe there are better books out there for the same purposes. View all 8 comments. Feb 11, Liz rated it liked it. Unexpected News is ok.

It's prophetically bent and largely a criticism on the Western world read: America 's myopic reading and interpretation of Scripture. It relies heavily on Gutierrez' liberation theology. This used to be in the curriculum for the urban ministry internship I staff, but we've since found it a little outdated its major examples are the Cold War - totally fair, given it was published in !

What is still relevant is that it alludes to the US involvement in a number of Sout Unexpected News is ok. What is still relevant is that it alludes to the US involvement in a number of South American government overthrows, something which should not be glossed over.


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  • Unexpected News: Reading the Bible With Third World Eyes.
  • Unexpected News: Reading the Bible with Third World Eyes.
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I'd recommend Noam Chomsky for more history details. The strength of the book lies in the exegesis of a number of sections of Scripture from 'third world eyes;' the problem therein is that Brown is not from the third world, and though he has studied it a great deal, it still feels weird for him to speak on behalf of it. Jan 16, Dee rated it it was amazing Shelves: A great book written in the early 's. Some of the info is dated of course because the author is talking current events of the time. I don't remember where I got this book, but I've had it a long time, 'meaning to read it'.

Brown gives a good analysis of what the times were like when Jesus and the apostles experienced the things later written about. Many people of Central and South America in t A great book written in the early 's. Many people of Central and South America in the 80's and even today fit these categories.

A good book to read again, now. What can we do to build God's kingdom on earth as Jesus requested? It seems pretty daunting, but if everyone could see their way to contribute, peace on earth would become a reality. Sep 25, Gracie rated it it was amazing. Reading "Unexpected News" took me longer than normal. Your request to send this item has been completed.

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