Richard A. Horsley’s Hearing the Whole Story A Critical Review of its Postcolonial Slant

Abstract

In Hearing the Whole Story Richard Horsley argues for a holistic view of Mark as narrative rather than theology or, more particularly, Christology. This view has Mark presenting Jesus as a prophet who opposes economic exploitation by Roman rulers and Judean elites and to this end appeals largely to oral rather than scriptural traditions. The opposition is nonviolent and oriented to village and family life rather than individual discipleship. At the expense of male disciples, women disciples take a leading role. The present review takes issue with such a reading of Mark by highlighting Markan Christology and calls to individual discipleship, by questioning a contrast between oral and scriptural traditions, and by noting the women’s failures.