The Signs of Sin: Seriousness of Offence in Biblical Law

Jonathan Burnside

ISBN 10: 0826462189 / ISBN 13: 9780826462183

Published by Continuum International Publishing Group - Sheffie, 2003

About this Item

9.25x6.25x1.00 inches. In Stock.

Seller Inventory # x-0826462189

Bibliographic Details

• Title: The Signs of Sin: Seriousness of Offence in Biblical Law
• Publisher: Continuum International Publishing Group - Sheffie
• Publication Date: 2003
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0826462189
• ISBN 13: 9780826462183
• Binding: Hardcover
• Condition: Brand New
• Weight: 0.59 kilograms

About this title

Synopsis

What makes one crime more serious than another, and why? This book investigates the problem of "seriousness of offence" in English law from the comparative perspective of biblical law. Burnside takes a semiotic approach to show how biblical conceptions of seriousness are synthesised and communicated through various descriptive and performative registers. Seven case studies show that biblical law discriminates between the seriousness of different offences and between the relative seriousness of the same offence when committed by different people or when performed in different ways. Recurring elements include location and the offender's social statue. The closing chapter considers some of the implications for the current debate about crime and punishment.

About the Authors

Andrew Mein is Director of Research at the Queen's Foundation for Ecumenical Theological Education, UK

Claudia V. Camp is Professor of Religion at Texas Christian University, USA and was on the steering committee of the Seminar. She is currently co-general editor of the LHBOTS series, as well as the author or editor of 4 books and numerous articles.