Title: Jealous Gods and Chosen People: The Mythology of the Middle East
Author: David Leeming
Publisher:Oxford University Press
ISBN: 0195147898
Pro:
• Nice introduction of Middle Eastern mythology and history
• Presented for general readers
Con:
• No discussion of alternative ideas and explanations
Description:
• History of Middle Eastern culture, religion, and mythology
• Reveals the connections between various cultures through their mythologies
Book Review
The Middle East is one of the cradles of human civilization — the region is rich with cultural, religious, and political history. Unfortunately, much of it is so ancient that there are few records of it still remaining. Discussion of these cultures tends to be very academic in nature, but David Leeming’s Jealous Gods and Chosen People: The Mythology of the Middle East is a general introduction that should benefit the average reader looking to learn more. The first section is a chronological survey of the region’s political history: invasions and wars, the rise and fall of empires up through the 20th century. The second section is a review of the region’s various mythologies: creator gods, storm gods, heroes, divine births, and floods.
Leeming’s point isn’t to criticize the competing religions which fight over the region today, but instead to reveal their common roots and common beliefs which stretch back thousands of years. Leeming was drawn to this project because he observed how the fighting between Judaism, Christianity, and Islam all occurs despite the fact that these religions all teach love. How can these religions justify killing others in the presence of commandments on behalf of justice and peace?
The mythologies of all these cultures are remarkably similar, which isn’t a big surprise given how close they were as they developed. It’s also not surprising that their influence continues to be felt in religions today. Religion constitutes an important means by which people formulate their identities and relate to others; but if this is so, then the identities of those who are at each other’s throats should more closely identify which each other than they currently do.
Jealous Gods and Chosen People: The Mythology of the Middle East, by David Leeming
Ultimately, Leeming suggests that many religious believers today have taken belief in their ancient myths too far: instead of treating them as metaphors which might reveal spiritual or philosophical truths, they are treated as historical realities which justify narrow tribalism, nationalism, and an absolutism which refuses to admit to any compromises for the purpose of living together. In this Leeming follows closely in the views of Mircea Eliade and Joseph Campbell, both of whom are cited as sources for Leeming’s work.
This probably isn’t quite a book for everyone because it is pretty dense with information; at the same time, though, it is aimed non-specialists. So, with some attention, the average reader shouldn’t have a problem with getting a lot of out Leeming’s book.
