The Genesis of Genesis with Dr David Carr

SPEAKER_1 (0:01)

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David Carr (0:29)

The Bible, when you get inside it more, turns out to be this complex, sometimes conflictual dialogue between different perspectives that are very opposed to each other. Many people, when they read the Bible, just presuppose, oh, I'm supposed to just agree with everything in it and just, you know, organize my whole life around it.

But the Bible itself models a process of argument and wrestling and that sort of thing. That's how this text got put together.

Dan McClellan (0:59)

Hey, everybody, I'm Dan McClellan.

Dan Beecher (1:05)

And I'm Dan Beecher.

Dan McClellan (1:06)

And you are listening to the Data Over Dogma podcast, where we increase public access to the academic study of the Bible and religion and combat the spread of misinformation about the same. How are things today, Dan?

Dan Beecher (1:18)

Oh, man, things are good. We're going to dig into some stuff, some of the Genesis, if you will, of Genesis.

Dan McClellan (1:27)

The precursors to the Genesis.

Dan Beecher (1:28)

Yes, indeed, which sounds like a lot of fun. Why don't you introduce our guest, who's going to tell us all about it?

Dan McClellan (1:36)

Sure thing. Today, we're going to be talking with Professor David M. Carr, who is professor of Hebrew Bible at Union Theological Seminary in New York, and in New York, excuse me, and also teaches classes at Jewish Theological Seminary also in New York.

Welcome to the show, David. Thank you so much for being here with us.

David Carr (1:56)

Well, it's so great to be here. Thank you for having me.

Dan McClellan (1:59)

Well, we're glad we could have you. I have been working with your stuff for a while now. I wrote a dissertation at Exeter University that was mainly focused on Hebrew Bible, and really enjoyed some of the stuff that you've written, particularly the formation of the Hebrew Bible, writing on the tablet of the heart, reading the fractures of Genesis was, I think, the first work of yours that I came across, which I think you published almost 30 years ago.

And then today we're going to be democratizing to some degree your work in both a commentary on Genesis 1 through 11 and your book, The Formation of Genesis 1 through 11, Biblical and Other Precursors. Does that sound right? Did we get the brief correct there?

David Carr (2:52)

That was fantastic.

Dan McClellan (2:56)

I wonder if you might just to begin, introduce yourself a bit, let our audience know who you are.

David Carr (3:05)

Yeah, well, as you did a great job of introducing where I am right now at Union Theological Seminary in New York. I taught for 12 years at Little Seminary in Ohio before that. So I've been at this Hebrew Bible thing for a good while.

And I'm amazed that I still find it fascinating. I can be an eternal student. I just attached Bible to some other topic, and it's legit.

Which is a lot of fun. I have to say, I feel like over my career, I've done a lot better job speaking to doctoral students and fellow colleagues with my work. And I've tried at various points to write to a broader audience, and to some extent have reached folks. But it feels somewhat like somebody with a rifle who's aiming at a target and always hits above it. That's true of me. So I'm so happy to have this chance to talk with you all and have you bring me into contact with your amazing audience.

Dan Beecher (4:10)

Yeah. Well, we're excited to have you. We're excited to get to it.

I will admit that I have not...

Look, your books are apparent. Dan has said how amazing they are. I have not been able to access it. I didn't get a copy of your book before the thing. So I'm a babe in the woods. I apologize. I wish I had been able to dive in beforehand. But something tells me I wouldn't get it.

Something tells me that I don't have the necessary background. So I'm going to be here filling in for our listeners, asking dumb questions. And I think we'll be able to make it through together. Sounds great.

Dan McClellan (4:55)