Wow, just when I thought: enough with KJV’s bday, “66 Books” comes along. A dramatic project launching the new Bush theater in London, it’s 66 short plays based on the books of the King James Bible. How I wish I could be there! Jeanette Winterson on Genesis. Full creative license. Imagine the possibilities. What a […]
Sixty-Six Books, a 21st Century Take on the KJV Read More »
The Library of Virginia sure knows how to put on an eve! With Bible Babel a finalist in 2 categories, I’m honored to have been in the company of not only the winners of those: The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks and The Horse in Virginia, but also all the amazing writers and lovers of lit who were
Lovin’ the Literary Awards at LoVA Read More »
Saw “The Book of Mormon” on Broadway last night! Between the laughs, horror, and sweetly poignant moments, it got me thinking: what is religion for? Yes, the show is hilarious, brilliant, shocking, and incredibly well performed and produced. That we got tickets at all is its own small miracle… or another example of my husband’s capacity to amaze.
There’s a new game in town. Finally, a video game based on biblical, or sort-of-biblical, stories. Bible-reading folks frequently say that there are really great stories in the Bible; but what they usually mean is that its stories instruct, correct, or otherwise inform the ways that people should live. Sure, there are such didactic texts; but
El Shaddai, Now on Video Read More »
People hunted with birds in Cyrus the Great’s time and place (6th cent BC, Mesopotamia).* Just another of many things I’ve learned recently while working on my next book. Trying to figure out what bird to give him, I spent the better part of Friday night learning what kinds might have been found in his area.
Falconry in Ancient Iran Read More »
The gospels say almost nothing about what Jesus looked like. Some days ago, I mused here on the matter of Jesus’ “second coming.” I threw out the thought: why should Christians (believing Jesus to be God) presume that Jesus should be limited by anything, even including human appearance? Yet we often get most excited about determining
Rembrandt’s Face of Jesus Read More »
What if Jesus has already come back or is even coming back all the time? That the first generation of Jesus’ followers expected the Parousia or “second coming” during their own lifetimes is certain. They were sure, based on Jesus’ teachings and their own, first-hand knowledge of him that it would happen. At least that’s how the
Second Coming, all the time? Read More »
Ai yai yai. A new series looking to biblical women for role models. Between that and Michele Bachmann’s latest: presidential hopeful who is submissively obedient to husband in all things, well,… Scott Bailey’s blog post can get you started: http://scotteriology.wordpress.com/2011/07/09/epic-fail-real-housewives-of-the-bible/
Kidding, Right — “Real Housewives of the Bible”?! Read More »
Hot as it is, summer in Israel sees an increase in archaeological activity, not least because it’s a great opportunity for students on break to get course credit volunteering at one of the many fascinating dig sites. At Tel es-Safi, archaeologists believe they’ve uncovered the ancient Philistine city of Gath, complete with a pillared temple —
Philistines of Gath… Today Read More »
Did you know that the second most quoted book (second to the Good Book, of course) is Margaret Mitchell’s Gone with the Wind? Me neither. But I learned that from author Ellen F. Brown last Friday at Over the Moon bookstore in Crozet, Virginia. Ellen, with John Wiley, Jr., recently published Margaret Mitchell’s Gone with the Wind: A Bestseller’s
The Bible and Margaret Mitchell Read More »
