I’ve seen a couple of good movies in the last week: “Zodiac” and “Amazing Grace.” Two very different movies but both are well made and worth watching. A theme common to both movies is obsession and the toll it takes on those committed to a cause.
Our staff is reading Slaves, Women and Homosexuals: Exploring the Hermeneutics of Cultural Analysis by William Webb. We’ve just gotten started, but I can already tell it’s going to spawn some great discussions.
Another book I highly recommend is The Burning Word: A Christian Encounter with Jewish Midrash by Judith Kunst. I think most Christians take the Bible too seriously. So seriously in fact that we suffocate it. We come to the text already knowing what it says and how we’re supposed to respond. Maybe this is actually a sign that for all our seriousness about the Bible, we’re not willing unleash it and let it be the heart-cutting, bone-melting Word of God. This book shows Christians how to read the Bible with a spirit of creativity and playfulness. Approaching it in such a way gives Scripture room to breathe and opens us up to surprising discoveries, which might actually break through our pious religiosity and shake us up a bit. Kunst argues–and I agree with her–that Scripture is written in such a way to encourage such playful creativity.
I’ve received a couple of nasty emails blaming me for a newfound sweet-tarts jelly bean addiction. I told you they were good.
Telling Stories, Asking Questions, Learning Lessons
The books sound interesting. I might have to look into them.
Regarding the jelly beans… I don’t think we can be friends anymore.
the way the evangelical christians hold the bible is somewhat frustrating. the bible is a beautiful and wonderful work. ancient communities pointing toward god. seen through our human lens. much like our interpretation. we continue to point toward what we do not fully understand.
http://www.jesusisnowhere.blogspot.com
Have you ever noticed that when it comes to “discussions” regarding religion, Christian participants can often behave the least Christian?
When you approach something believing you are the ONLY right person, but you don’t actually know enough to back it all up, it’s not only very frustrating for you; it makes you nearly impossible to talk to.
(This is a general comment on general stuff and is not directed at anyone…generally)
Generally Jenni,
I generally agree with your general comment.
This is not where I wanted to comment for the post the other day but I was afraid it would not be seen on the other post.
I want to apologize for my words of hurt to those Catholics and others who were offended by my lack of knowledge and my lack of tact.
I was trying to be light and even the Catholics I work with joke about it, so I didn’t think it would be taken so seriously.
Seriously, I don’t understand lent, Mardi Gras or any of the Catholic traditions. That does not mean that I am judging them to be wrong, I just don’t understand them. In my lack of understanding came hurt and I am so sorry for that. I would never want to wound someone for their belief. I guess I was hoping for some explanation in my own inept way of saying it.
So again, I am sorry. I will sign off from posting now. Thanks
Peggy–thanks for posting this.
I hope you’ll continue to participate in the discussions around here.
I can’t wait to see the movie 300! 🙂