What If God is a ‘Pagan Amalgam’: Marilynne Robinson and historical BIBLE SCHOLARSHIP

Abstract Marilynne Robinson is one of the most influential Christian writers and public intellectuals alive today, her views on a range topics should be taken seriously. In 2015 essay entitled ‘Memory’, she argues that ‘liberal side’ American Christianity has retreated from scriptural theology under pressure academic biblical criticism. Her dismissal Hebrew Bible scholarship centred two primary interrelated ideas. First idea Israelite religion was embedded in broader context Ancient Near East (ANE) religious cultures, such stories characters sometimes borrow other ancient sources. Second problem scholarly understanding polytheism threatens to make God into ‘pagan amalgam’. The problem, is, uniqueness transcendence Bible, who its main character. this article, I review Robinson’s complaints about it. argue treats critical only at distance, allusively, (mis)representing it (mis)understanding superficial ways, but theological anxiety warranted.