When the Horizons Close Rereading Ecclesiastes   Elsa Tamez Translated by Margaret Wilde In the Book of Ecclesiastes a leading Latin American theologian finds wisdom for our time.
February ISBN 1-57075-313-X 176pp. Index 5-3/8 x 8-1/4 Paper $18.00

On its surface the Book of Ecclesiastes appears to offer a type of “wisdom” that bears little reference to social or historical issues: “Vanity of vanities, says the Teacher, all is vanity.” But from her own perspective in Central America Elsa Tamez finds in this ancient book a surprisingly current message. Ecclesiastes reflects a time when utopian hopes have been crushed, when the prospects for change seem remote, and the challenge is how to live faithfully in the present while maintaining some openness to a different future. Because that describes the situation of many people today, especially in the third world, the Book of Ecclesiastes bears a message of unusual relevance.

Elsa Tamez is a Mexican theologian, known equally for her work in women’s theology and scripture study. She is professor of Biblical Studies and the president of the Latin American Biblical University in Costa Rica.

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