The Patience of Job? No Such Thing...
Cox’s introduction talks about three stages of studying the bible. He gives insight on studying the bible through the narrative or literal stage during his younger years. He seemed to be fascinated with the stories of the bible as most children are. It was intriguing to not only learn of the characters in the the parables but he “also sometimes acted them out”. (Cox 2) The stories we hear as children are colorful, fun and full of life and love. Children are in awe of these stories and songs. He felt it was less of a handbook and more just stories. As he got older he learned that some of the stories had deeper meaning and were not appropriate for younger children in the Sunday school classes. …show more content…
Cox lost interest in the bible study approach in his teenage and college years was still very fascinated with the bible none the less. If you were not raised in a very strict religious home, I think it gives that freedom to find your own faith in what to interpret. He realized the study groups were too “constrained” and felt the “narrative” approach was “a good foundation on which to build a more adult understanding”. (Cox 4) Critical for him was not to “disparage” or turn the bible into a bad argument about biblical study but to make the understanding the bible more conspicuous. (Cox 13) Lastly Cox talks about the spiritual stage of studying the bible. You can really use the literal and historical stages to study the bible. Cox states ”As a “religious” person I still thrive on living in whatever is meant by the “secular age” with its celebration of democracy, human rights, and relishing life in this world rather than the next” (Cox 9). I really like this sentence. It gives insight on how you really have to look deep into what you read and find what it truly means to you. You have to be objective and not so literal. People take things word for word and sometimes miss the true means.
Cox’s introduction talks about three stages of studying the bible. He gives insight on studying the bible through the narrative or literal stage during his younger years. He seemed to be fascinated with the stories of the bible as most children are. It was intriguing to not only learn of the characters in the the parables but he “also sometimes acted them out”. (Cox 2) The stories we hear as children are colorful, fun and full of life and love. Children are in awe of these stories and songs. He felt it was less of a handbook and more just stories. As he got older he learned that some of the stories had deeper meaning and were not appropriate for younger children in the Sunday school classes. …show more content…
Cox lost interest in the bible study approach in his teenage and college years was still very fascinated with the bible none the less. If you were not raised in a very strict religious home, I think it gives that freedom to find your own faith in what to interpret. He realized the study groups were too “constrained” and felt the “narrative” approach was “a good foundation on which to build a more adult understanding”. (Cox 4) Critical for him was not to “disparage” or turn the bible into a bad argument about biblical study but to make the understanding the bible more conspicuous. (Cox 13) Lastly Cox talks about the spiritual stage of studying the bible. You can really use the literal and historical stages to study the bible. Cox states ”As a “religious” person I still thrive on living in whatever is meant by the “secular age” with its celebration of democracy, human rights, and relishing life in this world rather than the next” (Cox 9). I really like this sentence. It gives insight on how you really have to look deep into what you read and find what it truly means to you. You have to be objective and not so literal. People take things word for word and sometimes miss the true means.