Chosenness in Scripture and Myth

Dr. Michael Coogan is Director of Publications at Harvard Semitic Museum and Professor Emeritus of Religious Studies at Stonehill College. A Biblical scholar and archaeologist, he is the editor of the New Oxford Annotated Bible and Oxford Biblical Studies Online. Dr. Coogan’s recent books include God’s Favorites: Judaism, Christianity, and the Myth of Divine Chosenness; The Ten Commandments: A Short History of an Ancient Text; and God and Sex: What the Bible Really Says. In this penetrating and provocative discussion with Dr. Yeshaya Gruber of the Israel Bible Center, Dr. Coogan explains his perspective on the complex histories of Biblical texts and how to read them today as a “believer” or “non-believer.”