Thursday, July 13, 2006

Why a Ph.D. takes so long...


Back when I was in Sheffield I remember at a seminar Prof. Loveday Alexander mentioned how she thought that the proper paradigm for the parting of the ways was mostly captured by Boyarin's account. I sat there and nodded my head, as I often do when things only partially register, whilst my brain raced trying desperately to connect the name Boyarin with the books that I had recently read. I had remembered one on Intertextuality and Midrash, and perhaps something about a radical Jew, but nothing on Christian origins. So I determined to find Boyarin's book on Christian origins, as soon as the seminar was over, but I suspect the sirens at the Devonshire Cat were calling that day, and by the second pint all thoughts of getting any serious work done were well behind me.

Well good news I have finally tracked down Boyarin's book on the subject, it only took me two years. Who said efficiency is part of the Ph.D. process anyway? Well I plan on posting some thoughts on the parting of the ways after I tuck into this little gem.

Oh, you just want me to give up the name of the book when I worked so hard for it!

Ok then I am feeling nice:


7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Why do you talk so much about alcohol? I understand it is not a sin to drink, but your comment about not being able to get serious after two pints makes it sound like you were "drunk with wine" which clearly is sin. I read your site often as well as some other "academic" sights, and it just seems to me, I could be wrong here, that the more academic or intellectual you become, the less holy you become. I would be curious for your thoughts. Thank you.

metalepsis said...

Who said anything about alcohol? Everyone knows that the DevCat serves the best milk in all of Sheffield.

And after two pints of that wonderful nectar, not to mention all the cookies, one just can't get serious about the "parting of the ways".

I suggest for your own sanctification that you just quit the 'academic' sites all together. I know a couple of academics and they are a rowdy bunch, you wouldn't like them!

for what it is worth, peace...

Anonymous said...

Metalepsis,

It seems that I have offended you. That was never the intention. I offer my apology. But when a bottle of brew goes with your most recent posting and you talk about drinking "two pints" I would have thought the two were connected.

I grew up in Germany, so beer was a large part of our culture and even our family. But my father did a great job of reminding us kids that we were never to be drunk with wine.

I will continue reading "academic" sights. I love to learn. I just see some inconsistencies some times that is all. I have really enjoyed your sight. Especially anything relating to Bono. I saw U2 in Belfast when I was in high school. I have never been the same.

Grace and Peace,

Ted

Sharad Yadav said...

You're not done with that thing yet? You should be writing a few books by now, and attending swanky signing parties with ethiopically malnutritioned models hanging about.

metalepsis said...

Sorry Ted, I meant no harm with my silly attempt at humor. And you did not offend me, but I really could not comment on how 'academics' relate to the holy.

Just know that the narrative I wrote of was more fictional truth, it was a way of conveying truth through a narrative; for heavens sake if I could really remember why I did not look up the Boyarin book, then I probably would have remembered to actually look it up.

I love Germany, and German beer too!

Thanks for reading Ted,

Peace,

b

Michael F. Bird said...

Are you sure that this is the book by Boyarin on the POTW? He has another one on the Jewish-Christian partition.

metalepsis said...

Hey Mike!

He does have a work called "Border Lines: The Partition of Judaeo-Christianity (Divinations)"

I believe that this is a newer work that may build on the earlier work mentioned. But I am sure this is the work, the first chapter is very provacative and the second looks even better, I promise to post soon.