Many people have written books about the Bible from feminist and black points of view, but prior to this exceptional book no one has interpreted the Bible from the perspective of blindness. When John Hull went blind he realised that the Bible was written by sighted people. Even Jesus shared in the attitudes of his day towards blindness. In writing the book, Hull ignored the printed text and listened to the Bible on tape. The result is a unique interpretation, which challenges the sighted monopoly yet brings new insights into the Bible for both sighted and blind. Examining some of the best known instances of blindness in the biblical stories, the author brings anecdotes from his own life and experience to bear on thesa. What emerges is that the image of God is stamped upon blindness since only blind people can say that they, like God, are beyond light and darkness. In the Beginning There was Darkness affords new perspectives to all who are unaware that they read the Bible from a sighted point of view and will draw the different worlds of sight and blindness into a deeper mutual understanding. A gripping testament to courage and faith, it makes a powerful contribution to burgeoning interest in theologies of disability and offers one of the most sinking fusions of the biblical and the personal yet to have appeared in print.

About the Author
John M Hull is Professor of Religious Education in the University of Birmingham and President of the National Christian Education Council. His books include On Sight and Insight, Touching the Rock, Utopian Whispers and Hellenistic Magic and the Synoptic Tradition.

Reviews
This is a book to get you started on the road to growth. You may not like it all. You may not agree with it all. Your experience might be different. But this is a book you can't ignore. If you've ever been stuck on the hard shoulder, and sighed with relief to see the breakdown van arriving, then you'll have an idea of how helpful this book might be. - Stephen Cottrell, Bishop of Reading "If you want your church to grow there are few better places to start than this. It's based on thorough research, it's very readable, and it's well applied. Moreover, it's not prescriptive; rather it helps church members to tap their existing experience, while learning from other churches and, with God's help, discover their own church's road to growth". - John Coles, Director, New Wine



Book Information
ISBN 9780334028215
Author John M. Hull
Format Paperback
Page Count 188
Imprint SCM Press
Publisher SCM Press