There is an internal logic to shame. This is one reason Te-Li Lau writes Part 1 (“Framework”) of Defending Shame. For many people, the initial section of an academic book could easily be called “Boring But Necessary.” I was tempted to skim the first few chapters of Lau’s book; I’m glad I didn’t. (The first post in this series gave a broad introduction to Defending Shame: Its Formative Power in Paul’s Letters.) Definitions and Clarifications Chapter 1 provides the conceptual framework for his... Read more

I might have found my new favorite honor-shame book. The title of Te-Li Lau’s new book is Defending Shame: The Formative Power in Paul’s Letter. However, he does far more than defend shame as a topic worthy of consideration; he demonstrates the pervasive presence and influence of shame in Paul’s writings. Read more