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Rating: 
Summary: Queer - and very very good
Review: Here are four papers, of a distinctly dubious nature, that were written by Professor Moore over a number of years (and having gone through a number of versions) that are now presented in conjunction with Moore's interest, no, fixation with the sexual and the aesthetic. These papers are dubious from an academic perspective because although the subjects be biblical, and although Moore be a biblical scholar, the papers are not what you would expect biblical studies papers to be about. Well, that is to say that this formerly would have been the case. Moore is one of a growing band of scholars who are being so bold as to make the Bible an object of culture rather than a straightforwardly "given" text which is interrogated as a theological or, perhaps, historical product. Thus, in this book we find something which might, at first, seem more the product of someone in an English Department or, maybe, a Cultural Studies Department. For here we find Queer Theory, Autobiographical Criticism and a good deal of ideology. This is to say that the book is multi-disciplinary in its approach. The subjects of the four papers, most of them items which have appeared elsewhere before in briefer forms, are "The Song of Songs in the History of Sexuality" (a matter of, amongst other things, cross-dressing and breast pumps), "On the Face and Physique of the Historical Jesus" (why does he always appear so damn beautiful?), "Sex and the Single Apostle" (that is, Paul and homosexuality and Romans) and "Revolting Revelations" (the Revelation to John and Irish mythology and 4 Maccabees). In keeping with Moore's studied and precise style, these are very absorbing pieces, not least for their author's disarming (not to say alarming) penchant for autobiography. Will we ever tire of hearing about his butcher father, his drug-induced introduction to Christianity and his own sexuality (about which he is more engagingly coy)? Not, I suggest, if he writes about it like this. So far this might not seem to be the average book in the biblical studies catalogue. And that would be right. For Moore is an outstanding observer of the biblical field. Who else has even questioned the APPEARANCE of the historical Jesus? It is in approaching topics like this, and in asking questions 99% of biblical scholars not only would not but do not ask, that makes Moore such a breath of fresh air in the biblical academy. Of course, his choice of subjects and his autobiographical turn might turn off readers and prospective readers. But this is where there is a sting in Moore's tail. For Moore is an absolutely brilliant writer and a first grade scholar. If you come to this book with a cynical attitude hoping that Moore's scholarship will be sloppy and so you can easily dispose of him you will go away disappointed. In this book (as in his others) Moore does not give you that option. This book is not conventional in many ways (and yet is conventionally academic). But that should not limit its readership for this book is both fresh and mind-expanding. It engages thoroughly with both contemporary and ancient cultures and, thus, thoroughly contextualises its discussions. I thoroughly recommend it for its insight, its standard of scholarship and its straightforward enjoyment value.
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