Scripture, Culture, and Agriculture: An Agrarian Reading of the Bible by Ellen F. DavisCall Number: BS1199.L28 D39 2009
ISBN: 9780521732239
Davis investigates the theology and ethics of land use in the Bible and in contemporary society. Rather than use the Bible to critique modern land use, she creates a dialogue between the ancient agrarian biblical authors and modern agrarians (principally Wendell Berry, who wrote the book's forward). These agrarian voices, together, provide the perspective from which she critiques modern industrialized agriculture. According to Davis, agrarianism emphasizes the primacy of the land and its needs and honors "informed ignorance" (otherwise known in the Bible as the fear of Yhwh) over "a culpable pride, a destructive lack of humility." Davis explores in her book "Israel's Poem of Creation," "the Wilderness Economy," "Leviticus" and its "Wholesome Materiality," "Covenantal Economics," the "Agrarian Prophets" "the Character of Sloth" in the wisdom texts, and "the Faithful City."