Month: November 2018
-
Questions for Reflection and Discussion – Deuteronomy 6 1-9
We are studying Deuteronomy 6:1-9 (along with others using the Uniform Series) for Sunday, December 2. Here are some questions that might be worth thinking about or talking about in class: The first words of the text are “Now this is the commandment – the statutes and the ordinances –” (v1). What do we understand […]
-
A Big Fat Lie About Postmodernism
A year or two ago I took a course online about debunking popular misconceptions about things. What you are NOT supposed to do, when debunking a popular misconception, is start with the popular misconception, and then say that it’s incorrect. What will stick in people’s heads if you do that is the misconception. Research has […]
-
Study Notes – Deuteronomy 6 1-9
We are studying Deuteronomy 6:1-9 for Sunday, December 2. This is the preamble to the recitation of the law in Deuteronomy, and includes the text of “the Shema,” what has become the central prayer of Judaism, and which Jesus identifies as the greatest commandment in Matthew 22:36 and Mark 12:29-30. Here are my very brief […]
-
Irrelevant?
It’s commonplace in academic religious studies to take a “phenomenological” approach to the study of religion. This is an example: The academic study of religion requires the courage and compassion to empathetically understand the diverse worldviews of others and the willingness to learn from each. Its goal is not to show one religion is ‘right’ […]
-
Christ the King / Reign of Christ Sunday
How is Christ king? Can I answer this question? At a minimum, can I answer this question for myself? Can I answer it without using “church language” which, if and when I make the effort to translate it into the language we use every day in our homes and on our jobs and hanging out […]
-
Questions for Reflection and Discussion – Genesis 30 22-32 & 43
We are studying Genesis 30:22-32 & 43 for Sunday, November 26. Here are a few questions we might want to consider for class: Verse 22 reads that “God remembered Rachel.” What do we think this means? (E.g., that God had actually forgotten Rachel; that it is a figure of speech; … ?) Why do we […]
-
Study Notes – Genesis 30 22-32, 43
We’re studying Genesis 30:22-32 & 43 for Sunday, November 25. It is a continuation of the unfolding story of Jacob. Here are my notes on the text: BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT: Last week, we left Jacob coming to terms with his vision of a ladder reaching to heaven, as he was on his way to stay […]
-
Temporary Morning Darkness
These days the alarm goes off before the sun is up. It feels like night. It feels like cold. It feels like time to sleep. It definitely does not feel like time to get out of bed and get to work. I really noticed it this morning. The switch to Standard Time just pushed it […]
-
Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time
We were worn out yesterday, mostly in a good way. Our Holiday Bazaar, mostly an annual thing, was Saturday. It takes a lot of work: setting up the tables in the multi-purpose room, gathering up the things to sell and arranging them for display – even though we reduced this a lot this year by […]
-
Questions for Reflection and Discussion – Genesis 28
The text we’re studying for Sunday, November 18 is Genesis 28, the story of “Jacob’s ladder.” Here are a few questions we might want to consider in class: In v10, Jacob is leaving Beer-sheba for Haran – that is, in a way, “undoing” what his grandfather Abraham did. Do we have any reactions to this […]
-
That Old Time Religion, First Century Version
Wylen, Stephen M. The Jews in the Time of Jesus: An Introduction. New York: Paulist Press, 1996. [An installment of the “Read Me” Project] The Jews in the Time of Jesus ended up on the Read Me shelf because a book about 1st century Judaism looked so fascinating, and at the same time useful and […]
-
Study Notes – Genesis 28 10-22
We’re studying Genesis 28:10-22 for Sunday, November 18: the story of “Jacob’s ladder.” Along with our Jewish cousins, because this text happens to be the first episode in the Torah portion Va-Yeitzei, which comes up this week. BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT: We’ve been making our way through the saga of the patriarchs and matriarchs. This text […]
Matters of Interpretation 