Wednesday, October 7, 2020

On Our Own Again

 I fixed one last big meal for everyone, and then the company departed. It is just me and Tim rattling around our house again. 

My weekly class met tonight using zoom. That class is a lot of reading and it requires me to read with my kindle in one hand to look up unfamiliar terms or to get an historical reference. I discovered tonight that most folks hate the book that I have to read. But, strangely, I like it. I've always liked history, and this is a part of history that I'm unfamiliar with. 

When current events become too much to be borne, I can lose myself in a book with maps and names and conquests. The distraction is nice. Sometimes the distraction is required.

But I watched the debate anyway and kept up with the commentary in a local 'live watch' group. 

Another headache. 

To bed. 

Good night.


6 comments:

  1. What is the name of the book?
    I watched the debates again too...
    I agree. Another headache.

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  2. Since I have already decided that I'm not voting for either of the "main stream" presidential candidates, I didn't watch the debate. I too am interested in the book that you chose, especially since I love reading about unfamiliar history.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I didn't choose the book. It is part of a curriculum for a course I am taking called Education for Ministry (EfM) It is called the Introduction to the Hebrew Bible by John J Collins. I am also reading The Hebrew Bible, Feminist and Intersectional Perspectives, by Gale A Yee. It's nice to have the historical context to set the Biblical framework in, and Yee introduced me to Gilgamesh and to Atrahasis and Enuma Elish. The last two make a very strong case for NOT trying to interpret the Bible literally, which in my opinion has been very divisive not just for churches, but for our nation as well.

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  4. When you study the historical and cultural aspects of biblical times, it becomes even more clear why you can't read from the Bible literally. That's not to say the Word isn't alive, active, and true.... just that you can't make it necessarily fit the "here and now".

    A Bible I've enjoyed having on had for reference is the Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible put out by Zondervan. The copy I have is the NIV translation.

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  5. Our priest always reviews the day's gospel readings three different ways. He first discusses what it meant for the people listening at the time it was said, then discusses what others not present at the time interpreted it and finally he discusses how it should be taken in today's time. Basically, he gives us three perspectives with every reading. Listening to how meanings change certainly makes a strong case for not taking everything literally.

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  6. I think that is an excellent way to instruct, Ed. I believe that the Bible has a wealth of truth and wisdom. For me, it does not detract from that truth to know that it cannot be taken literally.

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