Caleb Vigilant (Chronicles of the Nephilim)
Page 25
— Nancy R. Pearcey, Author, Total Truth: Liberating Christianity from its Cultural Captivity
“A spirited and balanced defense of the imagination as a potential conveyer of truth. There is a lot of good literary theory in the book, as well as an autobiographical story line. The thoroughness of research makes the book a triumph of scholarship as well.”
— Leland Ryken, Clyde S. Kilby Professor of English, Wheaton College, Illinois. Author, The Christian Imagination: The Practice of Faith in Literature & Writing.
To order books and products by Brian Godawa,
as well as FREE articles, just go to the STORE at:
www.godawa.com
Myth Became Fact: Storytelling, Imagination & Apologetics in the Bible
By Brian Godawa
A collection of essays by Brian Godawa about storytelling, imagination, apologetics and the Bible. Some of them have appeared in the novel series, Chronicles of the Nephilim and some have been published in various magazines or journals.
The Christian reader will gain inspiration from these insights to use more imagination in their own approach to defending the faith and glorifying God.
Old Testament Storytelling Apologetics
Israel shared mythopoeic images with their pagan neighbors: The sea dragon of chaos, and the Storm god. These are polemical concepts used by Biblical writers to show the incomparability of Yahweh.
Biblical Creation and Storytelling: Cosmos, Combat and Covenant
Creation stories in the ancient Near East and the Bible both express a primeval battle called Chaoskampf, the fight of deity to create order out of chaos. But how do they differ?
The Universe in Ancient Imagination
A detailed comparison and contrast of the Biblical picture of the universe with the ancient Mesopotamian one. Does God communicate material structure or theological meaning?
New Testament Storytelling Apologetics
Paul’s sermon to the pagans on Mars Hill is an example of subversion: Communicating the Gospel in terms of a pagan narrative with a view toward replacing their worldview.
Mythopoeia in Prophecy and Apocalyptic Genre
God uses mythical descriptions of future events to deliberately obscure his message while simultaneously proving his claim about the true meaning and purpose behind history.
An Apologetic of Biblical Horror
An exploration of the genre of horror to show how God uses it as a powerful moral tool to communicate serious spiritual, moral, and social defilement in the context of repentance from sin and redemptive victory over evil.
To order books and products by Brian Godawa,
as well as FREE articles, just go to the STORE at:
www.godawa.com
Movies by Brian Godawa
To End All Wars
Written by Brian Godawa
A true story about Allied P.O.W.s who endure harsh treatment at the hands of their Japanese captors during World War II while they are forced to build a railroad through the Burmese jungle.
Alleged
Written by Fred Foote and Brian Godawa
Alleged is a romantic drama based on events using both historical and fictional elements occurring behind the scenes and outside the courtroom of the famous Scopes “Monkey Trial” of 1925.
The Visitation
Written by Brian Godawa
Based on the bestseller by Frank Peretti
Peretti’s supernatural thriller tells the story of a mysterious stranger (Edward Furlong) and his three associates, who arrive in a small town and perform miracles on those who would follow. Who is this charismatic drifter the townspeople have chosen to follow? Is he the true messiah, a false prophet or something far more sinister?
Documentaries by Brian Godawa
Lines That Divide
Written and Directed by Brian Godawa
Stem cell research: A potential miracle cure for diseases or a form of biological colonialism? The debate still rages over this controversial science. Supporters argue that it is our moral duty to pursue scientific progress that provides healing hope for humanity. Detractors argue that the ends don't justify the means in harvesting some human life to save others. This documentary seeks to educate the public on the scientific basics of stem cell research and the moral issues surrounding it as we enter the 21st century.
Wall of Separation
Written and Directed by Brian Godawa
The “wall of separation” is a metaphor deeply embedded in the American consciousness, and an idea that continues to cause deep controversy within the country. In this historical documentary, Godawa takes a look at what the Founding Fathers intended when they framed the Constitution and wrote the First Amendment religion clauses. Were they trying to create a Christian nation, a secular paradise, or something in between?
To order these movies and other books and products by Brian Godawa, as well as FREE articles, just go to the STORE at: www.godawa.com
Audio Lectures by Brian Godawa
Brian has spoken around the world on the topic of movies, worldviews, and faith. Now you can purchase some of his presentations on downloadable MP3 directly from his website, www.godawa.com! Here are a sample of presentations:
Art, Movies & Worldviews 6-Lecture Series by Brian Godawa
1. The Church and the Arts: Friends or Foes?
2. From Bezalel to Jesus: Art in the Bible
3. Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang: Sex & Violence in the Movies
4. That’s More Than Entertainment!: Redemption in the Movies
5. Following Your Heart: Existentialism in the Movies
6. Losing Our Grip on Reality: Postmodernism in the Movies
Screenwriting for Christians A 9-Lecture Series by Brian Godawa
Brian teaches the basic elements of storytelling used in writing screenplays from a Christian worldview, complete with examples and analysis of movies that illustrate the lessons. Comes with 30 pages of Student Handouts so you can follow along and take the class on tape! This was taught at YWAM's University of the Nations.
1. Introduction/ Sex & Violence & the Bible
2. Christian writer
3. Basic Structure/ Premise/Theme
4. Premise/Theme Part 2
5. Character
6. Plot
7. Scene
8. The Business and the Life of the Writer
9. Analysis of first 10 pages of “The Sixth Sense”
Storytelling, Worldviews & Persuasion 2 Lectures by Brian Godawa
Part 1: Incarnation
The modern Christian exclusive concentration on logic, precision and rationality has missed a fuller Biblical approach. In the Scriptures, truth and persuasion are mediated through imagination and storytelling as well. Brian addresses the power of incarnation used in Biblical storytelling and imagery. Examples from film clips are used to illustrate.
Part 2: Subversion
Brian examines the Biblical usage of subversion through storytelling as a means of engaging culture and capturing it for Christ. He shows how the Apostle Paul used subversion to retell the Stoic story in Christian terms.
Defense of the Faith 12-Lecture Series by Brian Godawa
This is a different approach to apologetics than the typical way that “proves” a generic theism, then “proves” the Bible, then “proves” the resurrection. This series addresses the weaknesses of typical apologetics and explores how to defend the faith on a deeper level, the level of the worldview of the unbeliever.
1. Introduction to Apologetics
2. Logic Part 1: Intro
3. Logic Part 2: fallacies
4. Logic Part 3: fallacies
5. Faith and Reason
6. Antithesis: Acts 17
7. Worldviews Part 1
8. Worldviews Part 2
9. Authority and Truth
10. Authority: Part 2
11. Ethics
12. Technique
Bible Prophecy & the End Times: It’s Not When They Told You It Is 10-Lectur
e Series by Brian Godawa
The Book of Revelation is more like an Epic Horror Fantasy than a sermon. Brian explores the creative literary imagery of the First Century writings used in Revelation. The Left Behind novel series has made a gazillion dollars based on a popular view of the End Times. What would shock some Christians is to discover that this view is not Biblical. Brian examines the common beliefs of the Left Behind dogma and compares them to the Bible. He shows how the Bible itself explains how most of these prophecies have already been fulfilled. A partial preterist approach to Bible prophecy.
Two options are available for purchase. You can either buy just the MP3 audio, or buy the DVD video versions that have the same audio, BUT ALSO lots of colorful and helpful PowerPoint visuals and film clips for a much richer presentation of the material.
1. Interpreting Bible Prophecy
2. Israel in Prophecy
3. The Last Days
4. The Rapture
5. The Great Tribulation
6. The Anti-Christ
7. The Beast
8. The Coming of Christ
9. The Millennium Part 1
10. The Millennium Part 2
To order these audio lectures and other books and products by Brian Godawa, as well as FREE articles, just go to the STORE at: www.godawa.com
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[1] John H Walton, Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary (Old Testament): Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, vol. 1 (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2009), 344.
[2] David M. Fouts, “A Defense Of The Hyperbolic Interpretation Of Large Numbers In The Old Testament,” JETS 40/3 (September 1997), 378.
[3] I discuss this fact and its ramifications in my book Word Pictures: Knowing God Through Story and Imagination (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2009).
[4] A significant author of this view is Mark S. Smith, The Origins of Biblical Monotheism: Israel's Polytheistic Background and the Ugaritic Texts (Oxford: Oxford University, 2003).
[5] A significant author of this view is Gleason L. Archer, A Survey of Old Testament Introduction (Chicago: Moody Press, 2007).
[6] Avraham Negev, “Ugarit,” The Archaeological Encyclopedia of the Holy Land, 3rd ed. (New York: Prentice Hall Press, 1996).
[7] Karel van der Toorn, Bob Becking, and Pieter Willem van der Horst, Dictionary of Deities and Demons in the Bible (DDD), 2nd ext. rev. ed. (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1999), 132.
[8] N. Wyatt, Religious Texts from Ugarit, 2nd ed., The Biblical Seminar, vol. 53 (London: Sheffield Academic Press, 2002), 36-39.
[9] “Baal,” DDD, 134.
[10] Judges 6; 1 Kings 18; 2 Kings 10.
[11] Judges 2:13; 1 Samuel 12:10; Jeremiah 2:23.
[12] “Baal,” DDD, 136.
[13] Judges 2:11; 3:7; 8:33.
[14] Stephanie Dalley, trans., Myths from Mesopotamia: Creation, The Flood, Gilgamesh and Others (New York: Oxford University Press, 1989, 2000, 2008), 154-62. The Sumerian version can be found in Jeremy Black, trans., The Literature of Ancient Sumer (New York: Oxford University Press 2004, 2006), 65-76.
[15] Alexander Heidel, trans., The Babylonian Genesis (Chicago: University of Chicago, 1942, 1951, 1963), 14.
[16] C. Jouco Bleeker and Geo Widengren, eds., Historia Religionum I: Religions of the Past (Leiden, Netherlands: E. J. Brill, 1969), 134.
[17] John D. Currid, Ancient Egypt and the Old Testament (Grand Rapids: Baker; 1997), 83.
[18] Fred E. Woods, Water and Storm Polemics against Baalism in the Deuteronomic History, American University Studies, Series VII, Theology and Religion (New York: Peter Lange Publishing, 1994), 32-35.
[19] The abbreviation KTU stands for “Keilalphabetische Texte aus Ugarit”, the standard collection of this material from Ugarit.
[20] All these Ugaritic texts can be found in N. Wyatt, Religious Texts from Ugarit, 2nd ed., The Biblical Seminar, vol. 53 (London: Sheffield Academic Press, 2002).
[21] Aloysius Fitzgerald, “A Note on Psalm 29,” Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research, no. 215 (October 1974), 62. A more conservative interpretation claims a common Semitic poetic discourse.
[22] This also sheds light on Jesus’ prophecy regarding his coming judgment on Israel at the destruction of the Temple: “and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory” (Matt 24:30).
[23] The Hebrew word for “Highest One” used in Daniel 7 is Elyon, which is the Hebrew equivalent of Aliyan in Ugaritic - another frequently used epithet of Baal! “Aliyan,” DDD, p 18.
[24] Hermann Gunkel first suggested this theme in Schöpfung und Chaos in Urzdt und Endzeit (1895).
[25] Bruce R. Reichenbach, “Genesis 1 as a Theological-Political Narrative of Kingdom Establishment,” Bulletin for Biblical Research 13, 1 (2003).
[26] Clifford, Creation Accounts, 8, n. 13.
[27] Samuel Noah Kramer, Sumerian Mythology: A Study of Spiritual and Literary Achievement in the Third Millennium B.C. (Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 1944, 1961, 1972), 77-78.
[28] “Charioteer of the Clouds” also appears in these texts: KTU 1.3:4:4, 6, 26; 1.4:3:10, 18; 1.4:5:7, 60; 1.10:1:7; 1.10:3:21, 36; 1.19:1:43; 1.92:37, 39.
[29] KTU 1.2:4:27-32.
[30] See KTU 1.5:1:1-35.
[31] KTU 1.5:1:1-4.
[32] Walter C. Kaiser, Jr., The Ugaritic Pantheon (dissertation) (Ann Arbor, MI: Brandeis University, 1973), 212.
[33] See also Isaiah 51:9; Ezekiel 32:2; Revelation 12:9, 16, 17.
[34] Psalm 89:9-10; Isaiah 51:9-10; Job 26:12-13. Psalms 18, 29, 24, 29, 65, 74, 77, 89, 93, and 104 all reflect chaoskampf. See also Exodus 15, Job 9, 26, 38, and Isaiah 51:14-16; 2 Samuel 22.
[35] H. Niehr, "Zaphon", in Dictionary of Deities and Demons in the Bible, ed. Karel van der Toorn, Bob Becking and Pieter W. van der Horst, 2nd extensively rev. ed., 927 (Leiden; Boston; Köln; Grand Rapids, MI; Cambridge: Brill; Eerdmans, 1999).
[36] Rami Arav, “Hermon, Mount (Place),” ed. David Noel Freedman, The Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary (New York: Doubleday, 1992), 158.
[37] Michael Heiser, “The Mythological Provenance of Isaiah 14:12-15: A Reconsideration of the Ugaritic Material” Liberty University
[39] John H. Walton, Ancient Near Eastern Thought and the Old Testament: Introducing the Conceptual World of the Hebrew Bible (Grand Rapids: Baker, 2006), 21.
[40] Curtis Chang, Engaging Unbelief: A Captivating Strategy from Augustine to Aquinas (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2000), 26.
[41] Ibid., 27.