The Bible and Empire: Postcolonial Explorations

by R.S. Sugirtharajah

At a time when there is a renewed interest in Empire, this volume explores the complex relationship between the Bible and the colonial enterprise, and examines some overlooked aspects of this relationship. Topics include the unconventional retellings of the gospel story of Jesus by Thomas Jefferson and Raja Rammohun Roy, and the fate of biblical texts when marshalled by Victorian preachers after the Indian uprising of 1857. The innovative book features practical as well as theoretical insights, providing compelling evidence of the continuing importance of postcolonial discourse for biblical studies.

Genres: New Testament, Politics

254 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2005

About the author

R.S. Sugirtharajah, a Sri Lankan theologian and lecturer, is Professor of Biblical Hermeneutics at the University of Birmingham, England. Prior to his current appointment, he was Senior Lecturer in Third World Theologies at Selly Oak Colleges, Birmingham.