The Text in Play—Experiments in Reading Scripture

Synopsis: In The Text in Play, Mike Higton and Rachel Muers conduct a series of experiments in the reading of Scripture. They experiment in the first place with a form of Christian theological exegesis of the Bible that they call "serious play"--a form of reading beyond the literal sense that is nevertheless serious about the ethical, historical, and textual responsibilities of the reader. They experiment in the second place with the practice called Scriptural Reasoning--in which Jews, Christians, and Muslims read and argue over their respective Scriptures together--and argue that the practice makes deep sense for "seriously playful" Christian readers. This constitutes the most detailed and developed account of Scriptural Reasoning yet published. Endorsements: "The Text in Play offers a broad curriculum on how to read Scripture as Scripture--that is, as witness to the living God whose Word lives in a dynamic interchange with its reader. . . . It is a serious, playful read, a book you can read in one entranced sitting or again and again, a book that refreshes itself as you read it because such is the way of the Word." --Peter Ochs, Professor of Modern Judaic Studies, University of Virginia "Higton and Muers offer imaginative, scholarly, wise, and often exhilarating explorations of Scripture, and they have succeeded brilliantly in sharing, through their delightful, accessible style, a profound understanding of the Bible's practical implications for the twenty-first century. . . . There is an abundance of new insights and daring ideas, with extensive learning lightly worn, and through it all the attractive, serious play of fine minds and hearts in intensive engagement with deep questions." --David F. Ford, Professor of Divinity and Director, Cambridge Inter-faith Programme, University of Cambridge Author Biography: Mike Higton is Academic Co-Director of the Cambridge Inter-Faith Programme at the University of Cambridge and Senior Lecturer in Theology at the University of Exeter. He is the author of several books, including A Theology of Higher Education (2012), Christian Doctrine (2008), and Difficult Gospel (2004). Rachel Muers is Senior Lecturer in Christian Studies at the University of Leeds. Her publications include Keeping God's Silence (2004), Living for the Future (2008), and, with David Grumett, Theology on the Menu: Asceticism, Meat and Christian Diet (2010).