Comment

Comment by Forrest Curo on 12th mo. 29, 2015 at 1:53pm

You notice that Jesus (and other Jewish teachers, before and since) gives us 'story'. People filter the story through their systemic ideas; but the story never quite fits in there, is always a little larger. Jesus also gives specific statements, that we are 'children' of God for example -- or at least in some analogous relation to God. But it isn't a theoretical statement 'about' life; it's implied in the map of life his words convey.

Comment by David McKay on 12th mo. 29, 2015 at 11:04am

I have a degree in theology which tends to cure people of their Bible reading habits. I read it in fits and starts — going massively in depth for a while and then leaving the thing alone for a while.

I tend to read the Bible for story. I tend to read as though it is the story that gives meaning to the rest. So I ask those same questions that our high school English teachers taught us to ask: who is the main character? Who's the "bad guy"? What is the main conflict and how is it resolved? These are the skeletons of the stories and any meaty spiritual meaning hangs on those bones.

My most recent interest is in a short two chapters in the book of Acts of the Apostles in which the story of Stephen the proto-martyr is told. I noticed the parallels between his life or rather his death in the death of Jesus in the Gospel of Luke and have become convinced that the story of Stephen is given to us to teach us discipleship. He is also the fulcrum on which Acts pivots from a mostly Jerusalem-based Jewish sectarian group to a worldwide (by then standards) multi-ethnic religion.

I suspect my approach to scripture is equally off-putting to people. Those who insist on historical critical method being the only valid approach find me to literalist because of my emphasis on story; while evangelicals find me a bit to neck-up and academic in my approach.

Comment by Forrest Curo on 12th mo. 29, 2015 at 10:17am

And now computers to make even bigger mistakes faster!

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I keep having to conclude that there's something off-putting in my approach to the Bible... I can't say it keeps people honest any better than our own innate potential-intimacy with God --

but people do so poorly if we throw it aside (or if we make a fetish of it, for that matter.)

A long, tenditious account (and collection of examples) of divine/human family dyscommunication? Maybe not so 'comforting', yet it is a reminder of our only solid hopes... Do you still mess with the thing, yourself?

Comment by David McKay on 12th mo. 29, 2015 at 9:11am

Bigger brains, bigger mistakes I guess!  :)

Comment by Forrest Curo on 12th mo. 28, 2015 at 5:31pm

Yes, but isn't there supposed to be one at each end?

Comment by Forrest Curo on 12th mo. 28, 2015 at 2:55pm

They never invented advertising, or discovered 'news' or 'presidential debates'. Poor things!

Comment by Forrest Curo on 12th mo. 28, 2015 at 2:45pm

But they didn't burn all their carbon or poison their food supplies or dig up a bunch of radioactive minerals to render their living quarters uninhabitable, now did they?