The Death and Resurrection of the Beloved Son: The Transformation of Child Sacrifice in Judaism and Christianity

Rating:
Summary: An facinating topic, poorly presented
Review: Jon Levenson proves once again that he can make up for his lack of scholarly understanding, with meaningless tangental tales, loosly related to the topic at hand. What is truly amazing is that Dr. Levenson has been able to maintain tenure at Harvard while regularly publishing this antisemetic retoric. Personally, I have had the oppurtunity to attend a lecture of Dr. Levenson's, which was a misrible exprience, and was only worsened by his obscene sense of "humor"
If you like dirty jokes about the bible, enjoy lynching black people, and get a kick out of self hating jews, than this book is for you. Those looking for meaningful writings on the bible should look elsewhere.

Rating:
Summary: A Challenging But Rewarding Book
Review: Jon Levenson's 'The Death and Resurrection of the Beloved Son', on one hand, is definitely not easy reading. On the other, it has a great deal of importance to say to anyone who reads the Bible either as a literary or inspirational text, to anyone interested in the parallel developments of what we now know as Judaism and Christianity, or to anyone who wonders just how we got from offering children and animals as sacrifices, to offering prayers instead. It's a big change! The book is divided into three parts. The first, 'A Father's Gift' sets the issue of child sacrifice into historical contexts around the Mediterranean and examines the practice and literature on the topic in Biblical Israel. The second, 'Beloved Sons in Genesis' examines the fates of beloved sons and their brothers: Abel and Cain, Isaac and Ishmael, Esau and Jacob, and Joseph and his siblings. This is the most difficult section, as Levenson minutely dissects the relevant texts, often going beyond what he really needs for his argument. The writing is dense, but ultimately fascinating and something to keep in mind always as you read the Bible. Being a beloved son is a heavy fate. Part III, 'The Beloved Son Between Zion and Golgotha' deals primarily with the sacrifice of Isaac (or not!) as it was retold and rewritten in Hellenistic, Rabbinic and Christian texts, to enlightening effect. Take your time with this one. It's worth it.

Rating:
Summary: Evverywons a Cricket
Review: One reviewer wrote: "What is truly amazing is that Dr. Levenson has been able to maintain tenure at Harvard while regularly publishing this antisemetic (sic) retoric. Personally, I have had the oppurtunity (sic) to attend a lecture of Dr. Levenson's, which was a misrible (sic) exprience (sic), and was only worsened by his obscene sense of "humor" (period) If you like dirty jokes about the bible, enjoy lynching black people, and get a kick out of self(dash) hating jews (capitalize), than this book is for you. Those looking for meaningful writings on the bible (capitalize) should look elsewhere." Those looking for a poor grasp of English, look no further! Maybe he'll understand this: This buke is probbably not as bad as you thinck. Maybee u stoopid. Please learn to read before you review a book.