Shinan, Avigdor

Avigdor Shinan is an Israeli scholar of Hebrew literature and Jewish studies who has made significant contributions to understanding the relationship between biblical texts and ancient Near Eastern mythology. Professor Emeritus at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Shinan specializes in rabbinic literature, biblical exegesis, and the comparative study of ancient religious texts. His work "From Gods to God: How the Bible Debunked, Suppressed, or Changed Ancient Myths and Legends" examines how biblical authors transformed polytheistic myths into monotheistic narratives, demonstrating the revolutionary theological shift from paganism to biblical monotheism. Shinan's scholarship illuminates the complex process through which ancient Israelite religion distinguished itself from surrounding cultures while adapting their mythological motifs. His interdisciplinary approach combines literary analysis with historical criticism to reveal how the Hebrew Bible strategically reinterpreted ancient mythological traditions to establish and reinforce monotheistic belief.