Why read these bewildering stories? First, they are truly captivating. But more importantly, because they are the best examples available that move us away from a literal, historical, or fundamentalist interpretation of the Bible. When a text does not make sense in the first degree, we cannot take it literally. In a way, the effect of an apparently absurd text projects the reader into a quest for meaning, freeing him from his fundamentalist reflexes. For each unusual narrative, after a short presentation, the reader has access to the biblical text (NRSV version). The author then highlights the elements of the text that usually provoke a reaction of surprise. To try to understand them better, he places the text in its historical and literary context. Finally, he offers personal reflections on contemporary issues relating to those dealt with in the biblical stories.
