Jonathan Bernier wrote this in a comment here on this blog, and I thought it deserved wider circulation. It seems to me that a foolproof theodicy would have to be one in which the innocent never suffer. Therefore it would have to argue that those who suffer are not innocent. Such a theodicy should be morally offensive to any decent person. Therefore a foolproof theodicy should be morally offensive. Therefore it’s not an adequate theodicy, for the purpose of theodicy... Read more
Yesterday in my first year seminar class, we talked about the story in which Abraham sets out to sacrifice Isaac. Since first-year university students tend not to have children, I wondered what could be as precious to them as a child would have been to an aged patriarch. I jokingly suggested their phones, and the idea for these images was born. Read more
The New Republic featured an article by theoretical physicist Carlo Rivelli, about science and its relationship to certainty. This is the best part, in my opinion: What, then, are the aspects of doing science that I think are undervalued and should come up front? First, science is about constructing visions of the world, about rearranging our conceptual structure, about creating new concepts which were not there before, and even more, about changing, challenging, the a priori that we have. It has nothing to do with the... Read more
Ken Schenck blogged about the worship of Jesus, and I feel honored to be included among his list of “key players.” He summarized the views of a number of scholars, but because we are friends and fellow bloggers, he asked me how he did. Here’s what he wrote to summarize my viewpoint: a. I believe he considers the worship of YHWH generally exclusive. b. But he does believe there were precedents for a softer worship of other beings associated with YHWH... Read more
In a blog comment, Brooke Lester made the comment that I’ve shared here: It’s never really about a “literal” interpretation, but about controlling interpretation. In every interview, every Facebook comment, every conversation, you have to take the word “literally” away from them. That their interpretation is “literal” is the Big Lie that makes all the little lies possible. This image also seems relevant to this topic: Read more
When my pastor recently did a sermon series about controversial topics, I initially wanted to write songs that explored each theme. It soon became clear that that was not a realistic goal. But having found that there were few songs actually about monotheism, and that subject being a scholarly research interest of mine, I did take a stab at writing a song which explores the progression through different kinds of monotheisms – exclusive, inclusive, and mystical. I’m not entirely satisfied with the result, even after... Read more
HT LotharLorraine Read more
The Doctor Who episode “Listen” has leaped immediately onto my list of all-time favorite Doctor Who episodes. Spoilers ahead! It had me at “listen.” The episode opens with a view of a planet (probably Earth) from space. It then moves to the open door of the TARDIS. Then up to the top of the TARDIS, where the Doctor is sitting in the lotus position, eyes closed, meditating. Eventually he opens his eyes and says “listen.” That should have clued me in... Read more
Ryan Covington has posted on his blog about a subject we also discussed here, namely the question of whether there was a pre-Christian concept of a Davidic Messiah who, rather than ascending the throne and restoring the Davidic dynasty, is executed before he can do so. Ryan points to some of the well-known proposed counter-examples: Isaiah 53 (especially as translated in the LXX) and 4 Ezra. Whether Isaiah 53 in the Septuagint rendering is more messianic in character than the... Read more
I’ve been reading a wonderful book about the Isaac story, James Goodman’s But Where Is the Lamb?: Imagining the Story of Abraham and Isaac. It is a history of interpretation, but written in an unconventional manner – as though the author of the Akedah story were surveying what future readers would say and do in response to the story, sometimes appreciative, sometimes disappointed. The author wrestles with his own product as well as their interpretation. This makes the book engaging and accessible... Read more
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