Reading Culture: The War of Myths and the Mission of the Church

Speaker(s): Iain Provan
Date: October 22 2013
Length: 79min
Product ID: RGDL4300W

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Description

In this evening public lecture, Iain Provan introduces his new book, Convenient Myths: The Axial Age, Dark Green Religion, and the World that Never Was, in which he argues that the contemporary world has been shaped by two important and potent myths. Karl Jaspers' construct of the 'axial age' envisions a time period when Western society was born and world religions spontaneously and independently appeared out of a seemingly shared value set. Conversely, there is also the myth of the 'dark green golden age': that the axial age ripped society from a previously deep communion with nature. Both myths contend that to maintain balance we must return to the idealized past. In this lecture, Dr. Provan describes how his book illuminates the influence of these two deeply entrenched and questionable myths, warns of their potential dangers, and forebodingly maps the implications of a world founded on such myths.

See All Audio by Iain Provan

Iain W. Provan is the E. Marshall Shepherd Professor of Biblical Studies (Old Testament) at Regent College. He has previously taught at King's College London, the University of Wales, and the University of Edinburgh. He is author of Seriously Dangerous Religion: What the Old Testament Really Says and Why it Matters, Convenient Myths: The Axial Age, Dark Green Religion, and the World that Never Was, commentaries on 1 & 2 Kings, Ecclesiastes & Song of Songs, and Lamentations, and co-author (with V. Phillips Long and Tremper Longman III) of A Biblical History of Israel. He is also a Life Member of Clare Hall, Cambridge.

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