Reading the Bible in a Secular Age: The New Testament as Spiritual Ancestry
Ebook
In a secular age which dismisses once-revered matters such as Bible reading, is there still a point to reading and studying Christianity's foundational text? This book will answer an unequivocal "Absolutely[!]." Why? For us located in the West, the Bible is a vital part of our "spiritual ancestry," a dominant idea of the book. Hence, learning how to read and interpret the Bible properly (particularly, the New Testament) is like getting to know our spiritual ancestry better. The main strategy that this work will suggest is to treat the New Testament as a metaphorical textual village where some of our most important spiritual ancestors continue to live. If we learn some good strategies to communicate with them, we will be able, as it were, to visit this village, have meaningful conversations with our spiritual ancestors and, thus, become better grounded in our spiritual ancestry here in the West. With that, we can return to our secular context, better equipped both to embrace and wrestle with that spiritual ancestry. Hopefully, that will also help us to create for ourselves a meaning-system or spirituality that would be appropriate for our present world while being well grounded in our spiritual tradition.
“In this marvelous book, Julius-Kei Kato introduces readers, especially students—both Christians who have no familiarity with the Bible and the ‘nones’—to the Bible as literature and history and helps them discover their ancestors in Jesus and the writers of the New Testament. I most enthusiastically recommend Kato’s book, especially to those who style themselves as atheist and ‘none.’ They may be surprised to find their ancestors in the Bible!”
—Peter C. Phan, Georgetown University
“An original, insightful, and accessible book to help us think about why and how we should read the Bible in an age that has often been characterized as ‘secular’ or ‘secularized.’ With the metaphor of ‘spiritual ancestry,’ Kato opens up a way for us to glimpse how we may yet relate to this ancient ‘religious’ library today—and perhaps even find resonance or relevance in it.”
—Tat-siong Benny Liew, College of the Holy Cross
“Many books on the Bible have been written for Christians. This book is boldly written for secular readers who want to know the spiritual ancestors of the New Testament. Well-written and accessible, this book is a gift and can be used in classrooms, churches, and youth groups. I highly recommend it.”
—Kwok Pui-lan, Candler School of Theology, Emory University
“Julius-Kei Kato invites us on a metaphorical journey to the New Testament village where he presents us to our spiritual ancestors, grand-uncles Mark, Matthew, Luke, John, Paul, and the great founding ancestor Jesus. In a surprisingly compelling way, Kato combines expert biblical scholarship with very accessible storytelling, stirring the attention of professionals as well as students. I highly recommend this inspiring exercise in both decentering biblical studies and challenging our hybrid identities in a multicultural secular age.”
—Lieven Boeve, KU Leuven
“Julius-Kei Kato skillfully weaves together his life story, popular culture, and Asian spirituality in his fascinating exploration of biblical texts. His premise that reading the Bible is an act of conversing with our spiritual ancestors in their metaphorical village offers a fresh lens for reading the texts. Deeply insightful, engaging, and accessible.”
—Raj Nadella, Columbia Theological Seminary
“Addressed to an audience that does not presuppose any religious or faith commitments, Reading the Bible in a Secular Age invites the reader into conversation with the major portions of the Christians Scriptures (the historical Jesus, Paul, and the Gospel authors). Julius-Kei Kato maintains the distinctive message of each, whom he calls ‘spiritual ancestors,’ a term that conveys both the respect due but also the opportunity to disagree with and challenge, rightly putting the responsibility of what to do with this legacy on the reader.”
—Henry W. Morisada Rietz, Grinnell College
- Title: Reading the Bible in a Secular Age: The New Testament as Spiritual Ancestry
- Author: Julius-Kei Kato
- Publisher: Cascade Books
- Print Publication Date: 2023
- Logos Release Date: 2023
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Ebook
- ISBNs: 9781725277748, 9781725277724, 1725277727, 9781725277731, 1725277735, 1725277743
- Resource ID: LLS:9781725277748
- Resource Type: Monograph
- Metadata Last Updated: 2023-08-01T22:01:52Z
Julius-Kei Kato is associate professor of biblical and religious studies at King’s University College-Western University, London, Canada. He is the author of How Immigrant Christians Living in Mixed Cultures Interpret Their Religion and Religious Language and Asian [North] American Hybridity.