Monday, September 28, 2009

Idolatry, the F word, and an Album


So trolling through my RSS feeds (and yes, i still use RSS feeds!) I happened upon some really good blog posts.

The first is Roland Boer's spot on examination of the critique of idolatry in 2nd Isaiah. I have struggled with this bit of Isaiah, because it is both subversive in it's portrayed context and because if the critique of idolatry was meant to be taken seriously, it is laughable, as Roland points out. the former claim, that it is subversive in its portrayed context, is key for me because the text declares that YHWH is indeed incomparable deity despite the fact that everything in the present would read otherwise, Israel is still in exile, YHWH was defeated by the Babylonian deities, and so on and so forth. The text screams out for another way to define victory, another way to interpret the present, another way to see the world (see David Clines' wonderful essay I, He, We and They: A Literary Approach to Isaiah 53). To me this becomes even more interesting when we compare it to the text of Romans 2. For here Paul's critique of the Judean/or the Jew is equally as laughable, so my proposition is that Paul, like Isaiah before him, is up to something similar.

The next is a fun little post by Jonathan about language, freedom, and capitalism. I have been rereading my Jameson and Gramsci lately trying to be more consistent in my methodology, and since I am always intrigued by the way people appropriate words, I found this post rather enjoyable.

The next is not a blog post, but I wanted to draw your attention to a magical album by Christopher O'Riley. Christopher is a classical pianist that has his own NPR show, which I highlight, to show that he is a bona fide credentialed pianist. Now I am not well versed in classical music, I like it, I listen to it, but can barely tell the difference between Bruckner and Chopin (I know it's sad). Christopher though meets me where I am at, and that is the world of Indie Rock heroes like Elliott Smith and Post Rock legends like Radiohead. Yes that is right he transcribes these rock heroes into magical piano compositions that are so much more than those lame classical tribute albums that are mere musac-al attempts to capitalize upon the popular. There are times when the compositions near the avant garde but this is brilliance in and of itself, the sonic cacophony that is Radiohead, played by one instrument, and done well, is worthy of a listen. So go buy the new album its only 8.99 on amazon (MP3), and then the catalog!

Friday, September 18, 2009

A Post befitting of N.T. Wrong

From the Londonist

Was Charles Dickens the smuttiest writer of all time? On the face of it, the much-loved author would seem to be the ultimate purveyor of family-friendly literature. But if you read his novels with a 21st Century eye for the perverse then you begin to see all kinds of filth. Or maybe words have shifted meaning somewhat in the past 150 years. Who cares? It's Friday and we feel like unleashing some nonsense.

"'What, old Nobs!' ejaculated the son. And they shook hands heartily." - Pickwick Papers, Chapter 27.

"The jackal then invigorated himself with a bum for his throttle." - A Tale of Two Cities, Chapter 5.

"Tom had sat upon the bed, swinging one leg and sucking his walking-stick with sufficient unconcern." - Hard Times, Chapter 6.

"Mr. Jasper broke silence by declaring that he placed his whole reliance, humanly speaking, on Mr. Sapsea's penetration." - The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Chapter 15.

"Mr Brass's ejaculations died away in the distance (for he continued to pour them out, all the way down stairs)." - The Old Curiosity Shop, Chapter 48.

"When the throbbing I had seen before, came into it as I looked at her, she absolutely lifted up her hand, and struck it." - David Copperfield, Chapter 32.

Thinking about getting Inked?


HT: LISNews

Friday, September 04, 2009

When dogmatics get in the way of scholarship



A panel of "NT Scholars" at Southern Baptist Seminary have gotten together to warn students, pastor's, and congregations alike of the evil ogre that is Tom Wright.

Michael Gorman, has a nice summary, which I could not agree with more!

He sums up the panel as saying, "Wright has some good things to say, but he has strayed from the true faith, he has forgotten the gospel, he is dangerous to students, pastors, and congregations."

When I think of Southern Baptists, this is who I think of..., I know it is not fair but... but where did all the old school Southern Baptists go after the Mohler and Patterson purges? Jim West has a lot of work to do in reforming this denomination.

I am well aware of Jim's distaste for Wright, but his distaste is for very different reasons! Namely Wright's project is rather anti-Bultmannian (is Bultmannian even a word?)

Sex and Prayer

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1210811/Mac-sex-prayers.html