Etiology. I had never encountered this word before. But this book I have been absorbed in is mostly about the etiology of the events, issues and characters of the early writings which became a part of our Bible. Etiology, if you do not know, means the cause of something. It is most often used, quite often used, in the medical field to explain the causal effect behind a situation being exhibited in a person. For example, if you were to study why a person has a cold, you most likely would eventually work your way back to the fact that this person came in contact with a cold virus of some kind. The virus would be the principle etiological source of the sickness, the cold.
Biblical scholars have postulated that many of the events and characters in the Bible are simply creations, fabrications if you will, that explain a situation currently observed. For instance, to explain why Israel's neighbors were so hostile and a warring nation the early interpreters of the ancient writings created a story of twins born to Issac and Rebeka, Esau and Jacob. Esau, as you may know, was identified as a man of the woods. He hunted, he was coarse, he was uneducated. Jacob, on the other hand, is said to have dwelt in the tents, had schooling, was gentle. In time, they both became great nations (according to ancient interpretations). The Edomites, Esau's offspring, were not nearly as nice as Jacob's offspring. Also, remember this is all being interpreted by the Israelis, or Jews of the time. Many scholars believe that the nations of the Edomites and Israel were made up of a number of different peoples. But because the Israelites were so intent on being God's chosen nation and peoples, the ancient stories were adapted, manipulated and simply restructured to place them in that category.
Thus, Esau and Jacob were etiological characters used to develop a story and a history that in all probability was fabricated long after they were to have lived.
The book goes on to talk about Adam and Eve and the serpent, Abraham and Issac and the command by God to sacrifice Issac. It talks about Babel and a host of other events and characters that needed to be created in order to explain in acceptable terms the position the Israelites were in at each particular point in time.
It's tough for me to convey it all to you here. You would need to read the book, but I am struggling a lot and I have a pretty good grasp of many of the theology terms and much of the concepts of ancient writings. I'm not saying any of you would have as much difficulty, but if your interest doesn't run in this vein I would imagine you would soon be put off by the language. I have come to the conclusion I have a textbook in my hands, rather than a book written for the average person.
I am fully enveloped in the book. I find it fascinating. But for me it is answering questions I have had since about the 8Th grade. And I am amazed that some of the things I had begun to postulate in my own mind were close to what this writer claims. Thrilling, actually.
Where it will leave me I cannot tell yet. My thoughts on what the old testament means to me has changed dramatically already. Whether it will change my core beliefs, I doubt. But I do expect to be changed. I would be disappointed in the book if it didn't. I really have no time to read books that don't change me at this stage in life. Time is too short. I will die with thousands of books not read as it is.
