Beyond the Written Word: Oral Aspects of Scripture in the History of Religion

The concept of 'scripture' as written religious text is re-examined in this close analysis of the traditions of oral use of the sacred writings of religions around the world. Pointing out the central importance of the oral and aural experience of religious texts in the life of religious communities of both Eastern and Western cultures, William Graham asserts the need for a new perspective on how scripture has been appropriated and used by the vast majority of all people who have been religious, most of whom could neither read nor write. Graham first probes the history of literacy, focusing on the prominent role of the written word in modern Western culture and its history in Western civilisation. He then considers the unique case of scripture, examining the problems of communication of texts to illiterate or semi-literate religious communities, the various oral uses of scripture, and affective impact of the spoken holy word vis-á-vis the silently written page.

Table of Contents:
Preface; Acknowledgements; Introduction; Part I. Of Written and Spoken Words: 1. Writing and written culture; 2. The print textuality of modern culture; 3. Books, reading and literacy in the premodern west; Part II. Of Written and Spoken Scripture: 4. Scripture in Judeo-Christian perspective; 5. Holy writ and holy word; 6. Scripture as spoken word: the Indian paradigm; Part III. 'An Arabic Reciting': Qur`an as Spoken Book: 7. Revelation and recitation; 8. Muslim scripture as spoken word; 9. Voicing the Qur`an: questions of meaning; Part IV. 'The Lively Oracles of God': Bible as Spoken Word: 10. The spoken word of Christian holy writ; 11. God's word in the desert; 12. Hearing and seeing: the rhetoric of Martin Luther; Conclusion.

Review :
'Graham's recovery of the oral\aural tradition ... is a model of scholarly precision and richly suggestive for other, related investigations ... A compelling case for reassessing Christianity's dependence on the written text.' The Christian Century 'This book presents a lot of material that would have been beyond the ability of ordinary students of the history of religion to assemble, and it raises a subject that has been ignored for a very long time.' The Expository Times 'Well written for both graduate and undergraduate use.' Religious Studies Review