In an underhanded effort to kill the precocious and popular upstart, David, King Saul promised his daughter’s hand in marriage if David would collect one hundred foreskins from their enemies, the Philistines. The narrator of 1 Sam 18:20-27 tells that David foiled Saul’s murderous plan by killing said number of Philistines and bringing their foreskins back to Saul. Yuck. Cut to
Circumcision for the Modern Man? Read More »
“In the beginning,” the Bible says, food meant plants. Everybody — human beings, birds, beasts, everything that moves and breathes — vegan. Yup. “It was so… and very good.” Or so the authors/editors of the first chapter of the Bible tell it. Not till after the great Flood and Noah’s (meat) sacrifice do the biblical narrators
Genesis, Vegetarians, Blood, and Life Read More »
Sitting in a coffee shop in Manhattan, listening to Bob Marley’s “By the Rivers of Babylon.” So soulful and evocative. The loss of and longing for home. The alienation and despair of finding oneself among people for whom you’re an oddity. Few people know that the lyrics are straight out of the Bible — Psalm
Bob Marley, Babylon, and the Psalms Read More »
I have had the great good fortune to visit recently with some amazing preachers about the challenges posed by general biblical illiteracy, in the course of writing an article on the topic for Christian Century magazine. For all sorts of reasons, it’s tough for people these days to learn even basic information about the Bible, despite its
Preachers Riff on Biblical Illiteracy — Part V: Bring Back the Awe Read More »
I have had the great good fortune to visit recently with some amazing preachers about the challenges posed by general biblical illiteracy, in the course of writing an article on the topic for Christian Century magazine. For all sorts of reasons, it’s tough for people these days to learn even basic information about the Bible, despite its
I have had the great good fortune to visit recently with some amazing preachers about the challenges posed by general biblical illiteracy, in the course of writing an article on the topic for Christian Century magazine. For all sorts of reasons, it’s tough for people these days to learn even basic information about the Bible, despite its
Preachers Riff on Biblical Illiteracy — Part III: Hold on, a Minute! Read More »
I have had the great good fortune to visit recently with some amazing preachers about the challenges posed by general biblical illiteracy, in the course of writing an article on the topic for Christian Century magazine. For all sorts of reasons, it’s tough for people these days to learn even basic information about the Bible, despite its
Preachers Riff on Biblical Illiteracy — Part II: The Role of Translation(s) Read More »
I have had the great good fortune to visit recently with some amazing preachers about the challenges posed by general biblical illiteracy, in the course of writing an article on the topic for Christian Century magazine. For all sorts of reasons, it’s tough for people these days to learn even basic information about the Bible, despite its
Preachers Riff on Biblical Illiteracy — Part I: The Power of Stories Read More »
Those Lutherans are on top of it, again! Recognizing that few people have an opportunity to learn about the Bible and so are at a disadvantage for understanding the bases of their faith as well as for engaging the rich questions of lived belief, they’ve established the Book of Faith Initiative. Reverend Dr. Stan Olson,
Book of Faith Initiative Read More »
A recent study reveals that our friends in the UK may actually have beat us in the ignominious race toward biblical illiteracy. Comfortably ensconsed in the charming “Senior Common Room” (a kind of faculty lounge but waaay nicer) at Harris Manchester College, I came across an article in The Independent citing a recent study that “found that as few
Biblical Illiteracy Across the Pond Read More »
