Full Description
In the Book of Genesis, the first words God speaks to humanity are "Be fruitful and multiply." From ancient times to today, these words have been understood as a divine command to procreate. Fertility is viewed as a sign of blessedness and moral uprightness, while infertility is associated with sin and moral failing. Reconceiving Infertility explores traditional interpretations such as these, providing a more complete picture of how procreation and childlessness are depicted in the Bible. Closely examining texts and themes from both the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament, Candida Moss and Joel Baden offer vital new perspectives on infertility and the social experiences of the infertile in the biblical tradition. They begin with perhaps the most famous stories of infertility in the Bible--those of the matriarchs Sarah, Rebekah, and Rachel--and show how the divine injunction in Genesis is both a blessing and a curse. Moss and Baden go on to discuss the metaphorical treatments of Israel as a "barren mother," the conception of Jesus, Paul's writings on family and reproduction, and more.
They reveal how biblical views on procreation and infertility, and the ancient contexts from which they emerged, were more diverse than we think. Reconceiving Infertility demonstrates that the Bible speaks in many voices about infertility, and lays a biblical foundation for a more supportive religious environment for those suffering from infertility today.
Contents
Preface ix Acknowledgments xi Introduction 1 Chapter 1: The Matriarchs as Models 21 Chapter 2: The Blessing and the Curse 70 Chapter 3: Mother Zion and the Eschaton 103 Chapter 4: The Son of God and the Conception of the New Age 140 Chapter 5: Chastity, Marriage, and Gender in the Christian Family 171 Chapter 6: Barrenness and the Eschaton 200 Conclusion 229 Notes 239 Bibliography 291 Primary Source Index 313 Subject Index 325
