I apologize for the dearth of good, solid posts recently. As we have been preparing for our move to Scotland, I haven’t had much time for blogging. I’ll be spending some time in Utah for the next few weeks and then we are off to the UK, so I probably won’t be very settled until the end of September (if then).
However, I did want to share with you a review I just read covering Margaret Barker’s excellent work, The Hidden Tradition of the Kingdom of God. The review, by Benedict Thomas Viviano, O.P., was done for the Society of Biblical Literature’s Review of Biblical Literature. The review is well done, but I heartily disagree with most of what Fr. Viviano has to say.
It’s been a little while now since I had the pleasure of reading Mrs. Barker’s brilliant treatment of the Kingdom of Heaven. However, I remember it being one of her most powerful works — inspirational and enlightening — and I could accept and agree with most everything she said. She had some amazing insights into what happened to the ancient temple tradition and priesthood, including some great ideas concerning the Melchizedek Priesthood. The Kingdom of Heaven that Christ so often mentioned was, according to Barker, a reference to the Holy of Holies of the ancient temple.
I think most of this, however, is lost on Fr. Viviano, who sees all of this as fanciful and certainly inaccurate. He attributes Barker’s conclusions not to a brilliant mind and ability to see the big picture, but to her “eccentricity.” If I had more time, I would love to pick apart his review for you, but I’ll just give you the link and see what you think. If any of you have read this book, please let me know how you feel about the review. In Viviano’s defense, he comes from a completely different school of scriptural exegesis — I really wouldn’t expect him to understand someone as innovative (some might say “radical”) as Margaret Barker — she goes against everything he has ever learned.
You can read the review here: http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=6764
If you haven’t read The Hidden Tradition of the Kingdom of God, I couldn’t recommend it more highly, despite this review.
9 Comments
I’ve already read both the book and the review, and I appreciate your response. However, I had more of a mixed reaction to Fr. Viviano’s criticism. While I also disagreed with much of what he wrote, I realized that it was because I had been a sympathizer of Barker’s from the beginning. I liked Barker’s book because I already agreed with her. I can definitely see how someone like Fr. Viviano would find Barker’s conclusions unsubstantiated and her methodology a little quixotic.
On the other hand, in both Barker’s and Viviano’s defense, the reviewed book was merely a summary of a larger corpus. One might rightly wonder if the review may have been different were Viviano to explore some of Barker’s more detailed exposition.
Jon,
Thanks for your comment. I was in a bit of a hurry last night when I made my remarks, so I’m afraid it wasn’t very complete or nuanced, but I certainly agree with you. If Fr. Viviano has never read another book of Barker’s, her conclusions would seem a bit far-fetched. She is playing on a completely different field and working with lines of reasoning that are far from mainstream. Perhaps if he had read some of her previous titles, such as “The Older Testament”, “The Gate of Heaven” or “The Great High Priest”, he would have a better idea of how she arrives at some of those conclusions. The lack of generous footnotes in this book only augments the difficulty for those new to her way of thinking.
I just get frustrated sometimes because I do agree with her and I follow her reasoning and I guess I’m somewhat impatient with those who criticize her without really investigating her sources and the connections she is making.
In Fr Viviano’s case, I think he had a real problem with her concept of the “hidden” nature of the Kingdom of God. I think most Christians take issue when people start talking about any part of the Gospel being “hidden” or “secret” — I was personally criticized more than once in my theology classes for suggesting that the apostles had a “secret tradition” that was never written but passed on orally. It’s hard for many to accept such an idea because it suggests that there was some important teaching that is not now contained in the Bible.
Anyways, thanks for your comments.
I’m reading through this book now, actually. I love Barker. I’ve already read Gate of Heaven, Great Angel, On Earth as it is in Heaven, and Temple Theology. I just really wish it was possible to get copies of The Revelation of Jesus Christ, The Risen Lord, and the Great High Priest for reasonable prices…
Hi David,
It’s not a real review, but a simplified summary larded with dismissal. I wouldn’t worry about it. I agree that it makes a huge difference with Margaret if you come in from the beginning, following through The Older Testament, Lost Prophet, The Gate of Heaven, On Earth as It Is in Heaven, The Great Angel, The Risen Lord, and The Revelation of Jesus Christ and The Great High Priest.
That said, I love the essays in the the Hidden Tradition.
Congratulations on the forthcoming move to Scotland. It sounds like a wonderful adventure. Or rather, further adventures for you and your family.
Best,
Kevin Christensen
Bethel Park, PA
Thanks, David and Kevin, for your helpful comments. You know, there are still a few of Margaret’s books that I have not been able to get my hands on yet either — e.g. On Earth as It Is in Heaven, The Risen Lord, and the Revelation of Jesus Christ — I’m sure there’s much in those books that I would benefit from.
Thanks!
On Earth as It Is In Heaven was just re-printed and is available on amazon much cheaper than the other elusive two (“Risen” and “Revelation”). Definitely got some insights from it. It’s a nice follow-up to Gate of Heaven. And while ‘Temple theology’ and ‘Kingdom’ are mainly summary books, they have placed additional things in context for me, and have thus blown my mind. I already had a love affair with the Old Testament before I read Barker. Now it’s out of control
I never had a chance to read much of Barker, but would like to.
Wasn’t she kind of a pioneer in reclaiming the “Divine Feminine” in the Old Testament? That sounds like it could be some risky stuff for Mormons, no matter how much we like her stuff about Old Testament temple theology.
David,
Thanks for letting me know about On Earth as it is in Heaven — I’ll have to make sure to get a copy. By the way, I just had a look at your blog and I really enjoyed it. You are doing a great job and have some awesome insights. If you don’t mind, I plan to write something up about it here on my blog.
Seth,
You really should read Barker — she’ll open your mind to new possibilities for how the Old Testament can be understood — she has a perspective that is very appealing to Latter-day Saints.
Regarding the “Divine Feminine” — why do you think it could be risky stuff for Mormons? I find it quite refreshing and supportive of the Mormon belief in a Heavenly Mother. Of course we don’t emphasize it as much as she does, but I find her research on the topic interesting and helpful. The feminine aspects of Wisdom (and related motifs) are biblical traditions that should not be ignored by any serious student of the Old Testament. I think the presence of references to the Divine Feminine in ancient texts is exciting and helps me appreciate LDS doctrine more fully.
Oh, I think a further scriptural grounding for LDS notions of Heavenly Mother would be absolutely fabulous. I can’t wait for further authoritative “light and knowledge” on the subject – whenever it comes.
It’s just my experience that a lot of LDS tend to get a little uncomfortable whenever the subject comes up. So that’s what I guess I was referring to.