Academic Conference on the Sanctuary of Silence

Today I went with Professor David Frankel to an academic conference 30 years after the publication of Israel Knohl's book, The Sanctuary of Silence. 

Until this book came out, it was believed that the material in the Bible written by the priests called p included a Holiness code section which was older than the rest of p. This book argued that it was the reverse --- that the Holiness Code was actually the newer material.

This is important because the Holiness Code describes a temple service that was much more exciting and enthusiastic and intended for the broader public. It also included extensive material on morality. The rest of the suggest a temple worship which is more formal and intended only for priests. The name of the book suggests that the key Temple service was perhaps even conducted in silence according to p. 

Julius Wellhausen, the original popularizer of the critical theory of the Bible, argued that biblical religion moved increasingly away from morality and emotion and it was only early Christianity that restored the original essence of biblical religion. Therefore he argued that the Holiness Code was earlier and the rest of p came later.

By reversing it, this book suggested that biblical religion was developing more emotional resonance and greater moral thinking rather than less.

There's a photo of me with a famous blogger who interviews scholars as well as a photo of me with the famous professor David Frankel. I am staying with David and his wife Michelle for the Hartman conference.