Utilising Giorgio Agamben’s concepts of homo sacer and drawing from political theory, philosophy, and psychoanalysis, this book creates a theoretical framework from which to analyse interpretations of Genesis 4:1-16 and to propose an alternative reading of the Biblical text that incorporates other texts inside and outside the Biblical canon.

Never before has the problem of evil been a more urgent subject for our reflection. The Yahwist confronts the issue through a sequence of stories on the progressive deterioration of the divine-human relationship in Genesis 2-11. In Genesis 4 he narrates the initial slaughter of one human being by another, and strikingly, it is described as . Onslaught Against Innocence: Cain, Abel, and the Yahwist provides a close reading of J's story by using literary criticism and psychological criticism. It shows that the biblical author has more than an "archaeological" design. His characters--including God, Adam, Eve, Cain, and Abel, plus minor characters--are paradigmatic. They allow J to proceed with a fine analytical feel for the nature of evil as performed by "homo" as "homini lupus." No imaginative "mimesis" of evil has ever been recounted with such an economy of means and such depth of psychological insight.

The story of Cain and Abel narrates the primeval events associated with the beginnings of the world and humanity. But the presence of linguistic and grammatical ambiguities coupled with narrative gaps provided translators and interpreters with a number of points of departure for expanding the story. The result is a number of well established and interpretive traditions shared between Jewish and Christian literature. This book focuses on how the interpretive traditions derived from Genesis 4 exerted significant influence on Jewish and Christian authors who knew rewritten versions of the story. The goal is to help readers appreciate these traditions within the broader interpretive context rather than within the narrow confines of the canon.

For Regina Schwartz, we ignore the dark side of the Bible to our peril. The perplexing story of Cain and Abel is emblematic of the tenacious influence of the Bible on secular notions of identity - notions that are all too often violently exclusionary, negatively defining "us" against "them" in ethnic, religious, racial, gender, and nationalistic terms. In this compelling work of cultural and biblical criticism, Schwartz contends that it is the very concept of monotheism and its jealous demand for exclusive allegiance - to one God, one Land, one Nation or one People - that informs the model of collective identity forged in violence, against the other.

Enter the packed courtroom and take your seat as a juror on the Cain v. Abel trial. Soon, the prosecution and defense attorneys (angels from Jewish legend) will call Cain, Abel, Sin, Adam, Eve, and God to the witness stand to present their perspectives on the world’s first murder. Great Jewish commentators throughout the ages will also offer contradictory testimony on Cain’s emotional, societal, and spiritual influences. As jurors, when we mete out Cain’s punishment, must we factor in his family history, psychological makeup, and the human impulse to sin? In this highly eclectic and gripping compilation of insights by Jewish commentators on the Cain and Abel story, courtroom scenes are juxtaposed with the author’s commentary, advancing novel insights and introspection. As each of us grapples with Cain’s actions, we confront our own darkest traits. If Cain is a symbol for all humanity, what can we do to avoid becoming like him? Furthering this conversation, Rabbi Dan Ornstein includes a discussion and activity guide to promote open dialogue about human brokenness and healing, personal impulses, and societal responsibility.

Cain and Abel in modern times..... was written to inform that God has a plan and purpose for everyone’s life. Reminding us that those who are the sons of God are lead by God. God has given me a burden for men, through my prayer life, that with purpose and on purpose... I should speak to all men about seeking God to find out God’s purpose for their lives. Travel with me on this journey as .... Cain and Abel go from being the sons of traditional ways to becoming the son’s of God and finding purpose. Inspired by God and written with love for you my awesome brothers....

Table of Contents 1. The Spiritual Meaning of Abel’s Offering of the Firstborn of His Flock and of Their Fat (Genesis 4:1-4) 2. Abel’s Offering of the Firstborn of the Flock and their Fat (Genesis 4:3-5) 3. Faith God Accepts with Joy (Genesis 4:3-7) 4. The Remission of Sins Accomplished Only by the Word of God (Genesis 4:4) 5. Have the Right Faith (Genesis 4:5-17) 6. Let’s Not Become the Descendants of Cain (Genesis 4:16-24) 7. The Disposition of the Heart Required of God’s Servants (Genesis 4:25-26) 8. People Are Beings who will Receive the God-given Blessing (Genesis 5:1-24) 9. The Blessed Life Granted to the Righteous (Genesis 5:1-32) 10. We Must Walk with the Lord, Trusting in His Righteousness (Genesis 5:1-32) 11. Ancestors of Faith Who Knew the Time of Destruction Set by God (Genesis 5:25-32) 12. Believing in God’s Righteousness, We Must Frequently Offer the Sacrifice of Faith (Genesis 5:1-32) 13. We Must Lead Lives through Which Sinners Are Saved by our Spiritual Faith (Genesis 6:1-8) 14. We Must Believe in the Righteousness of the Lord and Walk with Him (Genesis 6:1-9) 15. Noah, a Faithful Servant of God (Genesis 6:13-22) In the Book of Genesis, the purpose for which God created us is contained. When architects design a building or artists draw a painting, they first conceive the work that would be completed in their minds before they actually begin working on their project. Just like this, our God also had our salvation of mankind in His mind even before He created the heavens and the earth, and He made Adam and Eve with this purpose in mind. And God needed to explain to us the domain of Heaven, which is not seen by our eyes of the flesh, by drawing an analogy to the domain of the earth that we can all see and understand. Even before the foundation of the world, God wanted to save mankind perfectly by giving the gospel of the water and the Spirit to everyone's heart. So although all human beings were made out of dust, they must learn and know the gospel Truth of the water and the Spirit to benefit their own souls. If people continue to live without knowing the dominion of Heaven, they will lose not only the things of the earth, but also everything that belongs to Heaven. The New Life Mission https://www.bjnewlife.org