麻豆约拍

Professor Francesca Stavrakopolou examines how the Western idea of God developed, exploring the ancient religions and societies of the biblical world.

In this third episode, she begins at the summit of Jebel Musa, the most sacred mountain in southern Sinai. These are the rocks, tradition has it, from which were hewn the tablets of the Ten Commandments. And here is the very spot where Moses asked to see God鈥檚 body in its most fulsome glory.

鈥淚t is one of the more carefully choreographed exhibitions of God鈥檚 anatomy in the Bible. Like a celebrity stretching out a hand to block the paparazzi, God only permits Moses to see him from behind as he moves away. In the story, this is supposed to be a sign of divine favour. And yet culturally, the back of a god was more usually a devastating sight: it not only signalled divine displeasure but presaged disaster鈥︹��

Professor Francesca Stavrakopoulou studied theology at Oxford and is currently Professor of Hebrew Bible and Ancient Religion at the University of Exeter. The author of a number of academic works, she also presented the 麻豆约拍2 documentary series The Bible鈥檚 Buried Secrets. She regularly appears on 麻豆约拍1鈥檚 The Big Questions and Sunday Morning Live, and writes for the Guardian, the Mail on Sunday and the Times Literary Supplement.

Abridged and produced by Elizabeth Burke.
A Loftus Media Ltd production for 麻豆约拍 Radio 4