Synopses & Reviews
In this vivid, original interpretation of Genesis, former Episcopal priest John R. Coats takes readers on a journey through the ancient text, inviting them to see its characters in a new light, not as religious icons, but as people whose day-to-day concerns, triumphs, and failures are like our own. andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;In Coatsand#8217;s telling, the relationships of Cain and Abel, Jacob and Esau, Rachel and Leah, and Joseph and his brothers take on stunning contemporary relevance as these characters find themselves confronted with extraordinary situations and circumstances that theyand#8217;d neither asked for nor had anything to say about. Using stories from his life as well as the lives of people heand#8217;s known, Coats creates a rubric you can use to examine your own life and to discover aspects of yourself in the characters whose lives unfold in these primordial stories. How has Eveand#8217;s story shaped yours? Is your life reflected in Jacoband#8217;s evolution to wisdom? In Josephand#8217;s youthful arrogance? Coats explores the strengths and weaknesses of the men and women in Genesis, pulling back the wrappings that have hidden their humanity to reveal the vibrant drama of these foundational narratives. "Different clothing, yes, and language, and customs, yet at the andlt;Iandgt;human andlt;/Iandgt;level," he writes, "they were just as greedy and generous as we are, as gullible and crafty, as moronic and brilliant, as cowardly and brave. They are us, their stories, our stories, mirrors in which to see our best and worst selves."
Review
"This engaging, well-written retelling of the Genesis story...uses conclusions of modern biblical criticism to emphasize the human story of the biblical narrative as myth from which nonreligious and religious alike can gain psychological insight and wisdomand#8230; His contemporary life comparisons [are] enlightening... Readersand#8230;will revel in his insights." --andlt;iandgt;Library Journalandlt;/iandgt;
Synopsis
ORIGINAL SINNERS reimagines the stories and characters in Genesis in a humanizing, familiar light to show their contemporary relevance and humanness.
About the Author
John R. Coats holds masterand#8217;s degrees from Virginia Theological Seminary (Episcopal) and Bennington College Writing Seminars.andnbsp; A former parish priest, he was a principal speaker and seminar leader for the andlt;iandgt;More to Lifeandlt;/iandgt; training program in the United States, Great Britain, and South Africa, and an independent management consultant.andnbsp; The More To Life/Kairos Foundation is a non-profit educational charity which aims to help people connect their daily lives with their highest values andandnbsp;sponsors personal development training programs on four continents.andnbsp;andnbsp;Coats was involved with the program fromandnbsp;1981andnbsp;to 1995; as a senior trainer,andnbsp;he lead overandnbsp;300 weekend intensives,andnbsp;working with about 30,000 people, and todayandnbsp;remains well connected with the program as well asandnbsp;with people heandnbsp;worked in such places as California, London, South Africa, Knoxville, Atlanta and Houston.andnbsp;He lives with his wife, Pamela, in Houston, Texas.