tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149330092024-03-07T21:21:19.007-05:00metalepsis...parting of the waysmetalepsishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09577501652263855291noreply@blogger.comBlogger230125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14933009.post-52712493623804520572011-06-04T09:36:00.003-04:002011-06-04T09:54:02.022-04:00Prophetic Voice<a href="http://routenote.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/gil-scott-heron.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="http://routenote.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/gil-scott-heron.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a>The common biblical notion of a prophet is to speak truth to power, prophets are not above the ebb and flow of life, they are not any better or worse than others, yet they are often scrutinized, challenged, and many times beaten down, whilst their words are ignored. It is not a vocation they choose, for who would choose it, but none the less is it is a vocation that is so desperately needed. The ability to vision a new life, a better life, amid the mess that is our present life, sustains many, gives hope, imagination. When hope is on a tightrope, we need to hear the prophetic voice anew, may it inspire the imagination. Surely, at times, poetry is more important than food, soon the revolution will be televised, usque quo domine.metalepsishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09577501652263855291noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14933009.post-25772466568956395162010-01-25T14:40:00.003-05:002010-01-25T14:46:40.132-05:00Piper and the Rhetorics of Pimpin<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Verdana;font-size:medium;"><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/48/136250807_b623675626.jpg" /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; "><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:black">I saw this on a twitter feed of one of my friends and found it very disturbing:</span><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; ">"The horrendous, gut-wrenching reality of Haiti's earthquake happens DAILY in abortions."</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; ">It purports to be a quote from John Piper, you know the guy who thinks girls shouldn't be on the wrestling team, and the one who thinks god chases gay sympathizers with tornadoes. So I shouldn't be surprised. But what really made me mad is that in an effort to (re)frame the debate about abortion into the graphic horror Piper believes it to be, he pimps out Haiti's earthquake, and the countless victims. Really? Isn't there a better way to make your point Mr. Piper?</span></p></span></span></div>metalepsishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09577501652263855291noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14933009.post-37712836006551623452010-01-22T05:28:00.002-05:002010-01-22T05:32:55.955-05:00God bless America...<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; border-collapse: collapse; "><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><blockquote>I believe God made the St. Lawrence River, and the Rio Grande River, and the China Sea and the English Channel, but I don’t believe God made America, or Canada, or Mexico, or England, or China. Man did that. . . . It is doubtful that there has ever been a nation established for bad reasons. Nations are always established to escape tyranny, to combat evil, to find freedom, to reach heaven. Man has always been able to desire to build a heaven. But it seems he has never been able to admit that he didn’t pull it off. So he keeps insisting that he did pull it off. And that is really what patriotism is all about. It is the insistence that what we have done is sacred. It is that transference of allegiance from what God did in creating the whole wide world to what we have done with (or to) a little sliver of it. Patriotism is immoral. Flying a national flag—any national flag—in a church house is a symbol of idolatry. Singing ‘God Bless America’ in a Christian service is blasphemy. Patriotism is immoral because it is a violation of the First Commandment.</blockquote></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, sans-serif;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, sans-serif;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 13px;">Will D. Campbell, “I Love My Country: Christ Have Mercy,” <em>Motive</em> (December, 1969)</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, sans-serif;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, sans-serif;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 13px;">HT: <a href="http://www.inhabitatiodei.com/2010/01/21/against-patriotism/">Halden</a></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, sans-serif;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, sans-serif;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span></span></div>metalepsishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09577501652263855291noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14933009.post-20811810330277344382010-01-08T08:23:00.003-05:002010-01-08T08:27:24.703-05:00Michael Goulder: A Biblical Scholar<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41fXp9GNVOL._SS500_.jpg" /></div>On the news of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Goulder">Michael Goulder's</a> <a href="http://ntweblog.blogspot.com/2010/01/michael-goulder.html">passing</a>, I can't help but think of the time he came to Sheffield to speak to our Graduate Seminar, and being profoundly moved. Here was the epitome of a biblical scholar, someone who spent his life playing with the text, not in disservice to the text, but in order to understand it better, to think anew with the text, to never be satisfied with what some might call the "plain meaning" of a text. I remember his lecture starting with the acknowledgment that he could no longer read his own notes, thus signifying in my mind to expect a series of loosely connected meanderings, instead we got a lucid lecture that was easy to follow, yet rivaled the depth of any published monograph on the subject, I was amazed that he did this all from memory. There are few scholars that can stay relevant in a field like biblical studies throughout their lifetime. Michael Goulder was one, and the field was and is better for him.</span>metalepsishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09577501652263855291noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14933009.post-23855894260485619732010-01-05T09:56:00.002-05:002010-01-05T10:04:24.709-05:00Brit Hume really pissed me off!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.thenoseonyourface.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/12/brit2.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 479px; height: 365px;" src="http://www.thenoseonyourface.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/12/brit2.JPG" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Verdana;"><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><span style="font-size:100%;">I'm not sure why I read <a href="http://www.dennyburk.com/brit-hume-to-tiger-woods/">Denny Burk's blog</a>, it always irritates me and gets my blood pressure through the roof. Mind you this is due to Denny's perspective on the Christian faith, not Denny himself, I should note that Denny himself is a pretty <a href="http://www.dennyburk.com/about/">cool chap</a>. Anyhow his blog brought my attention to the comments of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brit_Hume">Brit Hume</a> about how Christianity can help Tiger Woods. Now I am getting this info second hand, because Fox News isn't often played on our televisions...but according to the clip Brit states, "</span><span style="font-size:100%;">Tiger, turn to the Christian faith and you can make a total recovery and be a great example to the world."</span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><span style="font-size:100%;">Ok so, if Tiger finds forgiveness and redemption in the Christian God, that's great and more power to him, but how in the <i>hell </i>will that cause a "total recovery" and how exactly will Tiger now be a "great example to the world." </span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><span style="font-size:100%;">I wonder about the brokenness he caused his family, how he betrayed his wife, and made a complete mockery of her. Forgiveness and redemption may help Tiger with his sense of guilt and his own issues, but it does nothing to undo what was done, and this misogynistic perspective ticks me off. Now don't get me wrong I am a strong believer in truth and reconciliation as a means of moving forward, it names the past for what it is, and finds ways to make the present and future bearable and sometimes better, but to insinuate that with the Christian faith Tiger can make a "total recovery" (whatever that means) is ridiculous. </span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><span style="font-size:100%;">And please inform me how and why Tiger, if he follows Brit's advice, will be a great example to the world. What exactly is the message here, </span><i><span style="font-size:100%;">why</span></i><span style="font-size:100%;"> would he be a great example, I am racking my brains and can't figure it out. Only in Pat Robertsons F***ed up world would Tiger be a great example.</span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><span style="font-size:100%;">Brit goes on to suggest that the controversy sorrounding his statement is due to the power of naming the name of Jesus, and this may be true in our politically correct culture where it is verboten to speak such things, but Brit's lack of depth and triteness are what got my blood boiling!</span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div></span>metalepsishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09577501652263855291noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14933009.post-49677150781190081572009-12-22T07:47:00.003-05:002009-12-22T07:54:18.299-05:00From Lenin's Tomb by way of Stalin's Moustache: A Christmas Wish<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Univers, Zurich, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; "><h3 class="posttitle" style="margin-top: 5px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.25; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">From <a href="http://leninology.blogspot.com/2009/12/rage-against-x-factor.html">Lenin's Tomb</a> by way of <a href="http://stalinsmoustache.wordpress.com/2009/12/22/now-i-can-enjoy-christmas/">Stalin's </a></span></span></h3><h3 class="posttitle" style="margin-top: 5px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.25; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><a href="http://stalinsmoustache.wordpress.com/2009/12/22/now-i-can-enjoy-christmas/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"></span></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><a href="http://stalinsmoustache.wordpress.com/2009/12/22/now-i-can-enjoy-christmas/">Moustache</a>:</span></span></span></h3><div><br /></div><h3 class="posttitle" style="font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin-top: 5px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.25; "><a href="http://leninology.blogspot.com/2009/12/rage-against-x-factor.html" class="nohighlight" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-color: initial; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; ">Rage against X-factor</a><span class="poster" style="font-weight: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 13px; color: rgb(153, 0, 0); "></span></h3><p class="postcontent"></p><div style="clear: both; "></div>The Facebook <a href="http://www.facebook.com/#/group.php?gid=2228594104&ref=ts" style="text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-color: initial; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><span style="font-weight: bold; ">campaign</span></a> to knock the annual X-Factor schlock from the top of the charts by promoting the Rage Against the Machine song 'Killing in the Name Of' is very close to success, but only by the narrowest margin according to reports. I think it was a success!<br /></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Univers, Zurich, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><img src="http://www.ratm.com/photos/thebell_atlas/images/rage_3.jpg" /></span></span></div>metalepsishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09577501652263855291noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14933009.post-22764947598328995202009-12-02T07:50:00.003-05:002009-12-02T07:57:04.583-05:00Daily Zizek: on the sacredness of questioning<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; border-collapse: collapse; "><p style="text-align: center;padding-left: 30px; "><img src="http://theartseen.net/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/rauschenberg.jpg" /></p><p style="padding-left: 30px; ">“What is perceived here as the problem is precisely the Christian universalism: what this all-inclusive attitude (recall St. Paul’s famous “There are no men or women, no Jews and Greeks”) involves is a thorough exclusion of those who do not accept inclusion into the Christian community. In other “particularistic” religions (and even in Islam, in spite of its global expansionism), there is a place for others, they are tolerated, even if they are condescendingly looked upon. The Christian motto “All men are brothers,” however, means ALSO that “Those who are not my brothers ARE NOT MEN.” Christians usually praise themselves for overcoming the Jewish exclusivist notion of the Chosen People and encompassing all of humanity – the catch here is that, in their very insistence that they are the Chosen People with the privileged direct link to God, Jews accept the humanity of the other people who celebrate their false gods, while Christian universalism tendenti[ous]ly excludes non-believers from the very universality of humankind.”</p><p style="padding-left: 30px; ">(Slavoj Žižek, <em>On Belief.</em> Routledge, 2001: 143-144)</p><p style="padding-left: 30px; "><br /></p><p style="padding-left: 30px; ">HT: <span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans', Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; color: rgb(102, 102, 102); line-height: 22px; "><a href="http://dunedinschool.wordpress.com/2009/12/02/tasting-the-primeter-the-porn-bible-and-god-loves-fags/">Deane Galbraith</a></span></p></span>metalepsishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09577501652263855291noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14933009.post-83879408767220622362009-11-06T15:19:00.003-05:002009-11-06T15:26:05.199-05:00BW3 and the deconstruction of Sheffield<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; "><span style="font-size:100%;"><div style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><img src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/4109/1367/400/0826462804.jpg" /></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><br /></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><a href="http://earliestchristianhistory.blogspot.com/2009/11/sheffield-and-some-odd-comments.html">James Crossley</a> brought to my attention the Christianity Today <a href="http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2009/octoberweb-only/141-41.0.html">article</a> about the whole Sheffield fiasco, highlighting some rather <i>strange </i>remarks by <a href="http://blog.beliefnet.com/bibleandculture/">Ben Witherington</a>. The article is really poorly written, with a number of gross inaccuracies, so let us hope that BW3's remarks were also taken completely out of context. </div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><br /></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; ">Just to offer some examples: the article insinuates that "evangelically minded" faculty were purposely replaced with non "evangelically minded" scholars. I have no idea what this might look like in real life. My understanding of how the policies work, and I this is sheer conjecture, but when a NT scholar leaves who specializes in Paul, a faculty member with roughly the same specialization is sought. Andrew Lincoln left the department some time ago, and was replaced with another Pauline scholar, and Loveday who left rather recently (2008) and she was not replaced at all. Here is the CT quote: </div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><br /></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><br /></div><blockquote>"Evangelically minded faculty, including Andrew Lincoln and Loveday Alexander, were not replaced with scholars who held similar views."</blockquote></span><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><span style="font-size:100%;">Now to the BW3 quote: </span><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><span style="font-size:100%;"><blockquote>"Other faculty were "bent on the deconstruction of the Bible, and indeed of their students' faith," according to Ben Witherington, a New Testament scholar at Asbury Theological Seminary."</blockquote></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><span style="font-size:100%;">This is a very strange statement that I can't even begin to understand, but let me take a shot at it...so first "evangelically minded" faculty were replaced with "bad" non evangelically minded scholars, then "other" faculty, even worse than the "bad" non evangelical scholars were present who dabbled in the dark arts of deconstruction. Hmm, I am surprised a tornado didn't hit the 11th floor of the Arts tower. The BW3 quote starts with the word bent, which is presumably a pejorative in this context (especially for evangelicals, hence not straight) and then dives into the postmodern word of "deconstruction". Deconstruction is a nice, and less violent, way of saying destroy, so these "other" faculty wanted to destroy the very thing they were employed to study and ultimately their students faith. So the Bibs department is really just another Hogwarts, with faculty dressed in black (I have noticed that James favours the darker hues when it comes to wardrobe) bent on destroying the thing that ought never be named...FAITH. </span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><span style="font-size:100%;">Oh, I guess I can kind of piece this whole thing together after all. </span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><span style="font-size:100%;">Or perhaps BW3 was just talking about Stephen Moore's earlier project and the CT writer just assumed that it was a pejorative? I guess then the same thing could be said of Jamey Smith's work on Derrida down at Calvin College in Grand Rapids. </span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; "><br /></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; ">Very strange article indeed.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: sans-serif; font-style: italic; "> </span></div></div></span>metalepsishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09577501652263855291noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14933009.post-8882132814757319232009-11-05T07:57:00.002-05:002009-11-05T08:00:01.489-05:00Remembering the 5th of November<img src="http://dunedinschool.files.wordpress.com/2009/11/filthyrottensystem.jpg?w=600&h=409" alt="filthyrottensystem" /><div><br /></div><div>HT:<a href="http://dunedinschool.wordpress.com/2009/11/05/new-zealands-official-terrorist-celebration/"> dunedinschool</a></div>metalepsishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09577501652263855291noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14933009.post-49630477152369017502009-11-02T08:00:00.002-05:002009-11-02T08:08:34.640-05:00Is N.T. Wright smacking down Jim West or what?<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia, times, 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 13px; color: rgb(48, 51, 36); line-height: 18px; "><div>In a quote from N.T. Wright's <a href="http://trevinwax.com/2009/10/31/n-t-wright-on-protestant-catholic-relations/">short rebuttal </a>to the CT piece that claims he is at fault for the protestant exodus to Rome, Wright has this to say:</div><div><br /></div><blockquote>"It reminds me of the fine old German NT scholar Heinrich Schlier, who found that the only way to be a Protestant was to be a Bultmannian, so, because he couldn’t take Bultmann, became a Roman Catholic; that was the only other option in his culture. Good luck to him; happily, most of us have plenty of other options."</blockquote>Now who among us loves Bultmann? Perhaps this is why <a href="http://jwest.wordpress.com/">Jim West</a> has yet to ask N.T. Wright into his heart.</span>metalepsishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09577501652263855291noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14933009.post-5648153793939567682009-10-14T12:13:00.001-04:002009-10-14T12:14:32.537-04:00Univ. of Sheffield Keeps Biblical Studies Dept.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; "><div class="text2" style="font-size: 8pt; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><br /></div><div class="text2" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">From an article found </span></span><a href="http://blog.christianitytoday.com/ctliveblog/archives/2009/10/univ_of_scheffi.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">here</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">.</span></span></div><div class="text2" style="font-size: 8pt; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><br /></div><div class="text2" style="font-size: 8pt; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">October 14, 2009 8:35AM</div><div class="title" id="a538981924" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: bold; font: normal normal bold 18pt/normal Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif; color: rgb(111, 121, 161); ">Univ. of Sheffield Keeps Biblical Studies Dept.</div><div class="deck" style="font-size: 8pt; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font: italic normal normal 10pt/normal Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><p style="font-size: 10pt; color: rgb(138, 130, 111); font: italic normal normal 9pt/normal Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: left; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; ">Students had protested an early proposal to shut the department down.</p></div><br /><div class="text2" style="font-size: 8pt; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><b style="font-weight: bold; ">Sarah Pulliam Bailey</b></div><p style="font-size: 10pt; color: rgb(45, 57, 110); font: normal normal normal 9pt/13pt Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: left; margin-bottom: 0px; ">Following student protests, the University of Sheffield in England decided to not close the department of biblical studies.</p><p style="font-size: 10pt; color: rgb(45, 57, 110); font: normal normal normal 9pt/13pt Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: left; margin-bottom: 0px; ">A <a href="http://savebiblicalstudies.weebly.com/background-information.html" style="color: rgb(96, 108, 155); text-decoration: underline; ">review</a> by the pro-vice-chancellor had recommended shutting down the <a href="http://www.shef.ac.uk/bibs/" style="color: rgb(96, 108, 155); text-decoration: underline; ">department</a> down after current and 2009-2010 students completed their degrees, citing the loss of staff and declining student demand.</p><p style="font-size: 10pt; color: rgb(45, 57, 110); font: normal normal normal 9pt/13pt Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: left; margin-bottom: 0px; ">At 8 a.m. today, 1,064 members had joined the <a href="http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=279524090701" style="color: rgb(96, 108, 155); text-decoration: underline; ">Facebook group</a> "Don't shut down Biblical Studies at Sheffield" and a <a href="http://savebiblicalstudies.weebly.com/index.html" style="color: rgb(96, 108, 155); text-decoration: underline; ">website</a> was created to send the vice chancellor petition letters, several of which were <a href="http://savebiblicalstudies.weebly.com/letters-to-the-university.html" style="color: rgb(96, 108, 155); text-decoration: underline; ">posted</a> on the website. Ben Hurrell, who created the Facebook group, told CT that citing the lack of student interest and staff was "unjust."</p><p style="font-size: 10pt; color: rgb(45, 57, 110); font: normal normal normal 9pt/13pt Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: left; margin-bottom: 0px; ">"The number of entries last year were capped at eight, but this year's graduates and level three students represent all-time high figures," Hurrell said in an e-mail. "While five senior lecturers have left over the last 2 years, the university has not allowed the department permanent staff to replace them for a variety of reasons."</p><p style="font-size: 10pt; color: rgb(45, 57, 110); font: normal normal normal 9pt/13pt Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: left; margin-bottom: 0px; ">The university senate was supposed to vote on the department's future on October 7, but after students heard through the students' union and protested, the decision was postponed.</p><p style="font-size: 10pt; color: rgb(45, 57, 110); font: normal normal normal 9pt/13pt Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: left; margin-bottom: 0px; ">"The vice chancellor has said that he feels the faculty handled consultation with staff and students so badly that it cannot justify a closure," Holly Taylor, education officer for the students' union, said in an e-mail this morning.</p><p style="font-size: 10pt; color: rgb(45, 57, 110); font: normal normal normal 9pt/13pt Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: left; margin-bottom: 0px; ">Taylor said that the the faculty will draw up plans for the department, including new staff appointments.</p><p style="font-size: 10pt; color: rgb(45, 57, 110); font: normal normal normal 9pt/13pt Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: left; margin-bottom: 0px; "><em>Collin Hansen contributed to this report. Another report will be forthcoming.</em></p></span>metalepsishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09577501652263855291noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14933009.post-4007410481767507752009-10-12T14:47:00.003-04:002009-10-12T14:52:48.981-04:00(Graphic) Save BIBS<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjndm-vIXKGifXIiAWvRH2yyc6j2JdI9AlowUlR338UvuRUPbkCsnI4czFMwDH-CObPq8EemoSOoAuSWoejAtGIy_adZKtUBANVm49U7ubmnRKXiz2tGDGKD3N5E8O6dY7bUlyW/s1600-h/Save+Bibs+Now.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjndm-vIXKGifXIiAWvRH2yyc6j2JdI9AlowUlR338UvuRUPbkCsnI4czFMwDH-CObPq8EemoSOoAuSWoejAtGIy_adZKtUBANVm49U7ubmnRKXiz2tGDGKD3N5E8O6dY7bUlyW/s400/Save+Bibs+Now.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391787772455756466" /></a><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span></span></div>How to help: <a href="http://savebiblicalstudies.weebly.com/index.html">HERE</a>.<div><br /></div><div><br /></div>metalepsishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09577501652263855291noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14933009.post-181110261373315632009-10-12T13:00:00.003-04:002009-10-12T13:05:29.863-04:00Why Save Sheffield Biblical Studies?Why save the Biblical Studies Department?<div><br /></div><div>The partial answer is found in an article written by David Clines <a href="http://www.shef.ac.uk/bibs/DJACcurrres/Intellectual.pdf">here</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div><img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/archive/b/bf/20050802122459!Sheffield_University_Arts_Tower.jpg" /></div>metalepsishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09577501652263855291noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14933009.post-3648315031848070852009-10-08T14:57:00.001-04:002009-10-08T14:59:47.244-04:00Top 200 Global Uni's<div><br /></div><div><img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6a/Sheffield_University_Students_Union_buildings.jpg/1000px-Sheffield_University_Students_Union_buildings.jpg" /></div><div><br /></div><a href="http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/Rankings2009-Top200.html">http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/Rankings2009-Top200.html</a><div><br /></div><div>Where does your school rank?</div>metalepsishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09577501652263855291noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14933009.post-84132407508403377332009-09-28T08:34:00.004-04:002009-09-28T09:39:32.629-04:00Idolatry, the F word, and an Album<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3333/3477822539_183d5594a3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 375px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3333/3477822539_183d5594a3.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />So trolling through my RSS feeds (and yes, i still use RSS feeds!) I happened upon some really good blog posts.<div><br /></div><div>The first is <a href="http://stalinsmoustache.blogspot.com/2009/09/on-more-serious-note-critique-of.html">Roland Boer's</a> 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 <span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'Book Antiqua';font-size:medium;"> <i>I, He, We and They: A Literary Approach to Isaiah 53</i></span>). 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. </div><div><br /></div><div>The next is a fun little post by <a href="http://jtwb.blogspot.com/2009/09/i-swear.html">Jonathan </a>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.</div><div><br /></div><div>The next is not a blog post, but I wanted to draw your attention to a magical album by <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002GHHHBA/ref=cm_cr_mts_prod_img">Christopher O'Riley</a>. 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 <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Hold-Me-This-Christopher-Radiohead/dp/B0007TFI4W/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1254144715&sr=1-5">catalog</a>!</div>metalepsishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09577501652263855291noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14933009.post-57038087621320484372009-09-18T09:18:00.002-04:002009-09-18T09:21:36.124-04:00A Post befitting of N.T. Wrong<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 13px; border-collapse: collapse; "><p>From the <a href="http://londonist.com/2009/09/lewd_dickens_the_filthiest_quotes_f.php">Londonist</a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://www.biblioblogs.com/img/bloggers/nt-wrong.jpg" /></p><p>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.</p><p>"'<em>What, old Nobs!' ejaculated the son. And they shook hands heartily</em>." - Pickwick Papers, Chapter 27.</p><p>"<em>The jackal then invigorated himself with a bum for his throttle.</em>" - A Tale of Two Cities, Chapter 5.</p><p>"<em>Tom had sat upon the bed, swinging one leg and sucking his walking-stick with sufficient unconcern.</em>" - Hard Times, Chapter 6.</p><p>"<em>Mr. Jasper broke silence by declaring that he placed his whole reliance, humanly speaking, on Mr. Sapsea's penetration.</em>" - The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Chapter 15.</p><p>"<em>Mr Brass's ejaculations died away in the distance (for he continued to pour them out, all the way down stairs).</em>" - The Old Curiosity Shop, Chapter 48.</p><p>"<em>When the throbbing I had seen before, came into it as I looked at her, she absolutely lifted up her hand, and struck it.</em>" - David Copperfield, Chapter 32.</p></span>metalepsishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09577501652263855291noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14933009.post-65018519874110041672009-09-18T07:41:00.005-04:002009-09-18T07:51:45.410-04:00Thinking about getting Inked?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTznxnFzyq6epjj0mk_yuHtx3oj_R_shnP7FsOqRH4aimOLUIJE-yj98d0O0C0JNekTKVfGLn4XKHr-_qC-o2uCaPSpsuMdjupfJ3VxHIPsrHQrwnu1hW05oePXTtx9ClG04pB/s1600-h/ink.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 293px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTznxnFzyq6epjj0mk_yuHtx3oj_R_shnP7FsOqRH4aimOLUIJE-yj98d0O0C0JNekTKVfGLn4XKHr-_qC-o2uCaPSpsuMdjupfJ3VxHIPsrHQrwnu1hW05oePXTtx9ClG04pB/s400/ink.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382773472724594274" /></a><br />HT: <a href="http://lisnews.org/bibliophile_tattoo">LISNews</a>metalepsishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09577501652263855291noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14933009.post-80898475428234928762009-09-04T10:42:00.005-04:002009-09-04T13:59:44.052-04:00When dogmatics get in the way of scholarship<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKYbirCMFJB7G9lnXMKirJY7H-Z9fCnJYtRdNSUa3HIfmwZHb5Pfbe5zoo0af7-5yjZPSOFtjYaRfR9k05emIyeABtelIAEXe29OOGbRJ5z4LCbH9WjzKU-jxdZ9NtVhS-XgZd/s1600-h/fun.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 288px; height: 317px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKYbirCMFJB7G9lnXMKirJY7H-Z9fCnJYtRdNSUa3HIfmwZHb5Pfbe5zoo0af7-5yjZPSOFtjYaRfR9k05emIyeABtelIAEXe29OOGbRJ5z4LCbH9WjzKU-jxdZ9NtVhS-XgZd/s400/fun.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377630681324831794" /></a><br /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Verdana;font-size:13px;"><span><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">A </span><a href="http://www.michaeljgorman.net/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">panel</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> 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. </span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><a href="http://www.michaeljgorman.net/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Michael Gorman</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">, has a nice summary, which I could not agree with more! </span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">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."</span></span><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">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?<a href="http://jwest.wordpress.com/"> Jim West</a> has a lot of work to do in reforming this denomination. </span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">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?)</span></i></div></span>metalepsishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09577501652263855291noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14933009.post-1437994164525442492009-09-04T08:24:00.000-04:002009-09-04T08:25:28.537-04:00Sex and Prayer<a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1210811/Mac-sex-prayers.html">http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1210811/Mac-sex-prayers.html</a>metalepsishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09577501652263855291noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14933009.post-40791303006209447652009-08-07T07:29:00.003-04:002009-08-07T07:37:43.411-04:00New Blog Calvinolatry<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 13px; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKiRxo-FlKJbjRkAvEAfPN6anZQxtWh8RnlCfoSQ9GT4hg5c0xCGVtCeIFwimAFVflSgCKPr82VJYyTNTrXdXNZRhTS4kBAZhMOp1VfhwwhkdEbTSxNu4A4k_RuTHvSV6p8H1r/s220/4241_189893910712_672330712_6796753_3705096_s.jpg" alt="[4241_189893910712_672330712_6796753_3705096_s.jpg]" /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 13px; ">James Harding's has posted to his new blog<a href="http://alltruthisafriendofcalvinism.blogspot.com/"> </a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><a href="http://alltruthisafriendofcalvinism.blogspot.com/">Calvinolatry</a></span>. James is a great chap and we always seem to be running around in the same groups every SBL, but beyond this he is extremely engaging! Let us hope he continues to explore <span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; line-height: 20px; ">the worship of self-referential, non-falsifiable ideologies, in what are sure to be <span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;color:black;mso-ansi-language: EN-US;mso-fareast-language:EN-US;mso-bidi-language:AR-SA">intriguing</span> posts to come.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS';font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; "><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS';font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">Welcome James!</span></span></div></div>metalepsishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09577501652263855291noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14933009.post-41920384382656738302009-07-27T12:21:00.004-04:002009-07-27T12:26:27.227-04:00Prof. Gates and The Man<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2008/07/24/article-0-02103A7F00000578-914_468x463.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 468px; height: 463px;" src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2008/07/24/article-0-02103A7F00000578-914_468x463.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">I find it interesting the hoopla that is surrounding the arrest of Professor Gates in his own home.<span style=""> </span>For the record, I am by and large, a very law abiding citizen, and believe in being deferential to everyone I come in contact with.<span style=""> </span>I am also a product of a very American white middle class sensibility, and even though feel that I have an educated knowledge of the “other,” my academic knowledge can never be translated into the heart pumping, sweat inducing fear, that is often the constant companion to those who find themselves on the other side of the tracks throughout American history. <span style=""> </span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">That being said, do I think this arrest was about race?<span style=""> </span>Yes and no.<span style=""> </span>Firstly my initial inclination is toward yes, namely because if the Cambridge police came to check out a reported “break in” and found Timothy F. Geithner in the same position, the situation would probably have never escalated.<span style=""> </span>Yet, I say no, because I don’t believe that once the Cambridge police found out that Professor Gates was the owner of the home, he would have been arrested, if, and this is the key, if he would have showed the proper deference.<span style=""> </span>This, to me, is disconcerting to me on a number of levels.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Let me diverge from this particular situation, and reflect upon something that I have been ruminating on about for awhile, and have only recently been brought into focus with the recent arrest of Professor Gates.<span style=""> </span>I was lounging around one Saturday flipping through the stations on my television when I happened upon a spring break version of cops.<span style=""> </span>This episode took place on a lake in Arizona and consisted of a plethora of drunk, scantily clad spring breakers, blowing off some steam whilst boating.<span style=""> </span>The show was entertaining in that it showed how uneducated the American college spring breaker really is, and how it must suck to be a cop who is charged with maintaining safety and order in such a chaotic situation.<span style=""> </span>But over and over again, the editing of the show, focused on the lack of deference that was given to the cops on patrol, with those who showed deference were treated nicely, and those who did not show deference being verbally roughed up a bit, to the camera’s delight.<span style=""> </span>There were funny moments, don’t get me wrong, one of the funniest was when a teen, tried to disallow the police from boarding his vessel, as if he was asserting some sort of seafaring law he had read in Sea Wolf and thought that it actually had legal bearing.<span style=""> </span>This unlucky chap was hauled off and arrested for something…, the only discernible crime to the viewer was his utter lack of deference.<span style=""> </span>This whole episode was made even more interesting because the Officers could have arrested everyone on the lake for either public intoxication, or underage drinking, but those that ended up making the final edit were those who by and large refused the officer deference.<span style=""> </span>Now, let me be real clear here, I am in no way trying to equate the Gates incident with the drunken spring breakers in Arizona, in Arizona the kids were breaking numerous laws, Professor Gates broke none.<span style=""> </span>The thread that ties these two stories together is thin at best, but I think it highlights an interesting subject.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Now in getting back to the Professor Gates story, I want to be clear that I think civility is key to a well functioning society, but I believe that Socratic questioning is even more important.<span style=""> </span>So when discussing the Gates story, I wish at least part of the public debate would be upon deference, the lack of deference that Professor Gate’s showed the Cambridge police officer, and that Police officers response. If civil servants work for the people in a democracy, should they be able to arrest someone because of a lack of deference?<span style=""> </span>Do the police receive their authority based on public trust or on public fear?</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Just thinking out loud…</p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Go <a href="http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2009/07/gatesgate.html">Here</a> for more:<br /></p>metalepsishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09577501652263855291noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14933009.post-91607050645759642852009-07-19T10:21:00.003-04:002009-07-19T10:28:06.179-04:00Jimmy Carter Leaves Southern Baptist Behind<div>Looks like Jimmy Carter is leaving the Sothern Baptist Church over there treatment of women...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://www.topnews.in/files/Jimmy-Carter_1.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(88, 88, 88); font-size: 14px; font-style: italic; line-height: 21px; "><blockquote>At their most repugnant, the belief that women must be subjugated to the wishes of men excuses slavery, violence, forced prostitution, genital mutilation and national laws that omit rape as a crime. But it also costs many millions of girls and women control over their own bodies and lives, and continues to deny them fair access to education, health, employment and influence within their own communities.</blockquote></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Full Story <a href="http://www.blogher.com/jimmy-carter-leaves-southern-baptist-church-protest-treatment-women">Here</a>:</div>metalepsishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09577501652263855291noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14933009.post-59848628529600638452009-07-06T14:29:00.002-04:002009-07-06T14:43:01.604-04:00Five most important primary sources for my understanding of the Bible.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; "><span style="font-family: arial; "><div style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><img src="http://www.crystalinks.com/tiamatbattle.jpg" /></div></span><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><br /></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; ">In no particular order, and in no way to diminish others who have made equally convincing lists, here are the texts (primary sources) that have most influenced my reading of the bible.</span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><br /></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">1. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Enuma-Elish-Tablets-History-Creation/dp/159986701X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1246905244&sr=1-1">Enuma Elish</a>: This is great text that details, among other things, the exploits of Tiamut and Marduk. This is one of the ANET that ought to inform any reading of the Hebrew Bible, my work on the divine warfare led me to this text and it completely made me think my rather naive view of the creation myth and the exodus "event".</span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><br /></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">2.<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Ugaritic-Baal-Cycle-Introduction-Translation/dp/9004153489/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1246905183&sr=1-9"> Ugaritic Ba'al Cycle</a>: Like Enuma Elish this text is very important for understanding the gods of the ANE, here the exploits of Yamm and El are detailed, and like Enuma Elish this cycle is key in understanding divine warfare and the exodus event.</span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><br /></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">3. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Cambridge-Companion-Galen-Companions-Philosophy/dp/0521525586/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1246904202&sr=8-6">Galen of </a><span style="font-family: verdana; "><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Cambridge-Companion-Galen-Companions-Philosophy/dp/0521525586/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1246904202&sr=8-6">Pergamum</a><span style="font-family: arial; ">: <i>On the Passions and Errors of the Soul</i>: This is a key text on the role of the passions written shortly after the time of Paul. This text helped solidify the importance of self mastery and its role in the cultural zeitgeist during and after the time of Paul, not to mention the fact that It is a very entertaining read.</span></span></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><br /></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">4. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Scrolls-English-Penguin-Classics/dp/0140449523/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1246905367&sr=1-1">Qumran Hymns</a>: Early in my biblical studies education I determined to sit down and read through the dead sea scrolls, it was tedious at times, but the Hymns totally made up for the effort. To this day I often rather mischeviously read, or quote, a hymn in the presence of devote Christians and they always assume that I am reciting one of the Hebrew Psalms...</span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><br /></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">5. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Old-Testament-Pseudepigrapha-Expansions-Philosophical/dp/0300140207/ref=pd_bxgy_b_img_b">Pseudepigrapha</a>: There are a lot of choice texts in the pseudepigrapha, so if I had to pick just one set of texts I would have to chose the Tales of the Patriarchs (I know I just grouped a bunch of texts together, but it's my list so they are to be considered one text from this point forward :) ). These are key texts in the Sin - Exile - Restoration motif that was present during the Second Temple period. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><img src="http://www.mlahanas.de/Greeks/Stamps/Galen001.jpg" /></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div></span>metalepsishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09577501652263855291noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14933009.post-52957313311619580712009-07-04T19:18:00.004-04:002009-07-04T19:56:39.282-04:00What to do on the 4th?<div><img src="http://www.soulbounce.com/soul/2007/10/17/cornel_west_bet_hha-thumb-473x315.jpg" alt="cornel_west_bet_hha.jpg" /></div><div><br /></div>What better way to spend the 4th:<div><br /></div><div>Read some Cornel West: <a href="http://auroraforum.stanford.edu/files/transcripts/Aurora_Forum_Transcript_Democracy_Matters_with_Cornel_West.09.30.04.pdf">Here</a></div><div><br /></div><div>or listen: <a href="http://itunes.stanford.edu/">here</a> (search for Cornel West)</div><div><br /></div><div>here is a quote:</div><div><br /></div><div><div></div><blockquote><div>The question is, as the American democratic experiment has grown old, the challenge is for that experiment to really grow up. James Baldwin used to say that innocence itself is the crime prior to the committing of the concrete crime. And optimism. George Santayana put it so well in his essay on William James. He said, “Americans believe they’re always already on the right track,” so even if they fear they may have done something wrong, like the prison in Iraq, it’s just an abnormal, aberrational thing that couldn’t have anything to do with who we fundamentally are. He says, “Well, you’ve got to check yourself.” That wonderful moment in Melville’s Pierre where he says, “Look at that Christian gentleman dressed so sharp and beautifully, and yet just a few weeks ago he kicked his slave in the head, and three years ago he shot down an Indian.” So you get an Indian annihilator and a slaveholder dressed so smoothly, speaks with such eloquence, hiding and concealing his dark side. You see that in the vanilla suburbs, hiding and concealing the decrepit school systems in chocolate cities, hiding and concealing the inadequate childcare, unavailable health care, shortage of jobs of any quality, and yet still the sugar-coating. That sugar-coating is associated with the optimism.</div></blockquote><div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>metalepsishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09577501652263855291noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14933009.post-22420644998029315532009-06-24T15:00:00.001-04:002009-06-24T15:02:00.791-04:00Mike Bird's Aussie Christmas Tree<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 13px; border-collapse: collapse; "><img alt="2406b.ee.jpg" src="http://londonist.com/attachments/SallyB2/2406b.ee.jpg" width="640" height="473" /></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 13px;">from the <a href="http://londonist.com/2009/06/extra_extra_823.php">londonist</a>.</span></span></div>metalepsishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09577501652263855291noreply@blogger.com3