Myth and Criticism (was Re: [CS-FSLUG] God Didn't Say That)

[Timothy R. Butler]

Hi Aaron,
> A question regarding Form Criticism:  Is Genesis 1 - 12, from an fc
> perspective, regarded as Law, Myth, or History?  I ask because, while I
> completely agree that marriage is between husband and wife, I'm
> wondering if we can fairly use this verse by itself to support such a
> claim?  Do we not also have to bring in Jesus' use of it?  Am I just
> being to nit picky here?

	From a form crit perspective, Genesis would be considered -- some 
reading this may want to brace themselves -- as myth. Of course, myth 
is a word that's gotten a bad wrap. Myth in the scholarly sense can 
merely mean a way of telling something that provides meaning. It can be 
literally true or only figuratively true (or it could be false), but it 
isn't necessarily a judgment on the truth of the text.

	In regards to the marriage passage, this appears to be an etiological 
passage -- i.e. explaining how marriage began. This then, seems 
intended as instruction, rather than merely analogy, even if we were to 
take the stance that Genesis 1-12 is only figuratively true.

	-Tim

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