A quote from the latest post in Fred Clark’s ongoing review of the Left Behind series gets at the heart of his evaluation: This is a pattern in these books. We’re told that Buck Williams is a master journalist, but since the authors couldn’t be bothered to learn what good journalism looks like, we’re shown that Buck is a clumsy hack (“like saying the Great Wall of China is long”). We’re told that Nicolae is a great orator, but since the authors couldn’t be bothered to... Read more
Doctor Who returns this evening! Feel free to pass the time talking here! Read more
Today's Non Sequitur cartoon fits how some understand Good Friday perfectly: Among our oldest traceable concept of gods are the personalities we once assumed to be behind the forces of nature. How do we find a way to get rain when we need it, or divert illness away from ourselves? Placate the deity. And how does one placate a person? Flattery and gift-giving. Hence sacrifices and outpourings of lavish praise at the core of so many religious traditions. There is... Read more
The student who presented today in my class on the Bible shared this meme image: That Jesus dies is a spoiler only in the sense that the sinking of the ship is a spoiler for those who watch the movie Titanic. But what is noteworthy in the attempts at humor is the penchant for this to be thought of as the crucial moment in the Bible’s narrative, the turning point in history. And as a result, for some, it is viewed... Read more
Here’s the abstract of a second paper that I will be presenting at SBL in November, in a session on “Intertextuality and the Art of Persuasive Argumentation” organized by the Intertextuality in the New Testament Section: “Reading a Letter Quoting a Hymn Quoting Scripture: Intertextuality and Persuasion in Philippians 2:6-11” The passage in Philippians 2:6-11 has been subjected to detailed scrutiny from a number of perspectives, often focusing on distinct but not ultimately unrelated questions: Is it quoting an already-existing... Read more
This seemed worth posting again, since this week brings together Jesus’ death (foreseen, according to the Gospels, as clearly as that of a redshirt in a landing party) and the wearing of red to show support for marriage equality. Some people are having to explain that you can be in favor of marriage equality as a Christian. For others of us, it is a natural extension of our following Jesus’ example to be concerned that others have the same rights... Read more
Apparently the term “Maundy Thursday” comes from the Latin phrase “mandatum novum” meaning “new commandment.” The reference is to John 13, which features the story of Jesus washing the disciples’ feet, followed by his statement about a new commandment he has given them, to love one another. We actually reached this passage in my class on the Gospel of John yesterday, and had an interesting discussion about whether this commandment is “new,” and if so, in what sense. 1 John... Read more
In some segments of Christianity, shouting “Amen!” is encouraged, and at times even requested with a phrase like “Can I hear an 'Amen'?” This isn't a Biblical way of using the word. But even if it were, it would still be problematic. It is asking for immediate assent to what is said, based on enthusiasm or assumptions, rather than on careful reflection and investigation. I was struck recently by the contrast between this sort of 'Amen' and the exclamation 'Aha!'... Read more
This cartoon by David Hayward might seem anti-Biblical to some. But that’s only because they’ve missed that the Bible itself directs attention away from its pages elsewhere. As Paul puts it, “The letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.” And yet many in our time bizarrely associate Christianity with letter-fixation. Read more
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