Baytīn, a Jordanian village : a study of social institutions and social change in a folk community

This study explores the interplay between the commendation of enjoyment and the injunction to fear God in Ecclesiastes. Previous studies have tended to examine these seemingly antithetical themes in isolation from one another. Seeing enjoyment and fear to be positively correlated, however, enables a fresh articulation of the book's theology. Enjoyment of life lies at the heart of Qohelet's vision of piety, which may be characterized as faithful realism, calling for an authentic engagement with both the tragic and joyous dimensions of human existence. Winner of the 2007 John Templeton Award for Theological Promise Note on Transliteration I. The Nature of this Study II. The Community III. Islam and Village Culture IV. Popular Religion and Rituals V. Government and Politics VI. Settlement of Disputes VII. Making a Living VIII. Marriage Customs IX. Family Structure X. Conclusion Glossary Selected Bibliography