Beyond the Written Word Oral Aspects of Scripture in the History of Religion [Paperback]

The concept of 'scripture' as written religious text is re-examined, considering orally distributed sacred writings.Pointing out the central importance of the oral and aural experience of religious texts in Eastern as well as Western cultures, this text asserts the need for a new perspective on the utilization of scripture by the majorities of religious people, most of whom were illiterate.Pointing out the central importance of the oral and aural experience of religious texts in Eastern as well as Western cultures, this text asserts the need for a new perspective on the utilization of scripture by the majorities of religious people, most of whom were illiterate.The concept of scripture as written religious text is reexamined in this close analysis of the traditions of oral use of the sacred writings of religions around the world. Pointing out the central importance of the oral and aural experience of religious texts in the life of religious communities of both Eastern and Western cultures, William Graham asserts the need for a new perspective on how scripture has been appropriated and used by the vast majority of all people who have been religious, most of whom could neither read nor write.Preface; Acknowledgements; Introduction; Part I. Of Written and Spoken Words: 1. Writing and written culture; 2. The print textuality of modern culture; 3. Books, reading and literacy in the premodern west; Part II. Of Written and Spoken Scripture: 4. Scripture in Judeo-Christian perspective; 5. Holy writ and holy word; 6. Scripture as spoken word: the Indian paradigm; Part III. 'An Arabic Reciting': Qur`an as Spoken Book: 7. Revelation and recitation; 8. Muslim scripture as spoken word; 9. Voicing the Qur`an: questions of meaning; Part IV. 'The Lively Oracles of God': Bible as Spoken Word: 10. The spoken word of Christian holy writ; 11. God's word in the desert; 12. Hearing and seeing: the rhetoric of Martin Luther; Conclusion. The implications of this book are extensive...lÃ(