Whoa, Check This Out
I remember when Ojo Taylor posted to Scott's blog and Scott knew he was in the presence of royalty. Well, as far as I'm concerned, my blog has been equally favored (for me, more so). Chris Price, the person who wrote the critique of Doherty's reading of Hebrews I link to below posted to my comment on his article. I don't know how he found me; some kind of link tracer or something I guess, but I'm honored he did and appreciative for the other links on Doherty and Jesus-mythicists in general. I will read them.
My blog has been in blimbo lately. I haven't known what to do with it and was seriously considering quitting. Even this morning I was thinking this. Maybe, I consider now, there is a place for what I do here; amateur white-knuckle apologetics and emotional necessity sharing. Odd combo, I know. Somehow I just feel encouraged by Chris' post at the end of two very hard days. I'm digging in deeper, working on core ocd, and it's blows most heavy. I feel much worse than before I began, but my hope is, and my experience says, that this kind of work will pay off in time. It has before. I simply forgot how hard it was to do. I can't believe it was ever this challenging, but I know it was. A lenten discipline I'll need beyond Lent, offered for the love of my wife and family and a desire to continue my own self-care. May God bless it.
This is the first Ash Wednesday and Lent in general I feel I've truly embraced.
I've also found another great link. I said in my last post the fundamentalist view of scripture needs to change, is changing (outside fundamentalism anyway) but what to put in its place? I know, again, Wright has a book on this (The Last Word) which I have yet to get, but this article is an impressive outline, or a beginning at least, for an alternative to the fundamentalist approach. C.S. Lewis, writing decades ago in Reflections on the Psalms was the only alternative I'd really heard, though Bruggemann is helping me enormously on the OT (and does it ever need help, grossly disturbing human set of books that it is, or at least I find Joshua, Judges, Samuel disturbing in what they attribute to Yahweh).
Maybe when we seek truly, we really do find. Markos makes this point in the final lines of Lewis Agonistes (a good book, though I struggle with the Fall in light of modern biology) using Reepicheep.
Well, I really must do some actual work. It has snowed here for two straight days. It's not supposed to stop until later tonight. Not only do I have schoolwork waiting, but my snow shovel is starting to call. It's always easier when it's powder.
My blog has been in blimbo lately. I haven't known what to do with it and was seriously considering quitting. Even this morning I was thinking this. Maybe, I consider now, there is a place for what I do here; amateur white-knuckle apologetics and emotional necessity sharing. Odd combo, I know. Somehow I just feel encouraged by Chris' post at the end of two very hard days. I'm digging in deeper, working on core ocd, and it's blows most heavy. I feel much worse than before I began, but my hope is, and my experience says, that this kind of work will pay off in time. It has before. I simply forgot how hard it was to do. I can't believe it was ever this challenging, but I know it was. A lenten discipline I'll need beyond Lent, offered for the love of my wife and family and a desire to continue my own self-care. May God bless it.
This is the first Ash Wednesday and Lent in general I feel I've truly embraced.
I've also found another great link. I said in my last post the fundamentalist view of scripture needs to change, is changing (outside fundamentalism anyway) but what to put in its place? I know, again, Wright has a book on this (The Last Word) which I have yet to get, but this article is an impressive outline, or a beginning at least, for an alternative to the fundamentalist approach. C.S. Lewis, writing decades ago in Reflections on the Psalms was the only alternative I'd really heard, though Bruggemann is helping me enormously on the OT (and does it ever need help, grossly disturbing human set of books that it is, or at least I find Joshua, Judges, Samuel disturbing in what they attribute to Yahweh).
Maybe when we seek truly, we really do find. Markos makes this point in the final lines of Lewis Agonistes (a good book, though I struggle with the Fall in light of modern biology) using Reepicheep.
Well, I really must do some actual work. It has snowed here for two straight days. It's not supposed to stop until later tonight. Not only do I have schoolwork waiting, but my snow shovel is starting to call. It's always easier when it's powder.
Comments
Thank you.
But mostly, I feel my blog has become so focused lately on things with a limited audience. Theological and historical questions I don't even take the time to introduce. I teach for a living and always worry about my audience, but I rarely explain myself much here anymore. I just write.
It's where I'm at, though, the beginnings of historical research into Christian origins to help me with my own faith. Chris' post and links showed me other people doing the same thing (only enormously better; his article on Acts, for example). I don't know how these writers find time but am glad they do. Hence, I feel less isolated, maybe even feel some blog direction.
I am such a damned perfectionist.
But truthfully, could I ever completely quit? With a few true friends I know reading? I doubt it. What is that quote from Neil Simon's Odd Couple that Scooter pointed out to me a dozen years ago, something like:
'Do I talk too much, I think I talk too much...'
'Maybe you just have a lot to say.'
I'm one who needs to talk.
Anyway, you two both have beautiful blogs and I appreciate your comments (that's something else, my blog looks so 1996-lame but again, time, even though I used to do some web design and can read and write dhtml/css, fake my way through xml!)
Again, thanks from the heart. I thought I was writing myself out of an audience, maybe not.
t
I have several searches running on technorati that lets me keep track on what is happening regarding certain subjects. One of those relates to the Jesus Myth and Earl Doherty. I honestly don't track my articles like that, though its not a bad idea. I stopped in to comment because you had mentioned my piece and because you obviously had approached the issue directly. I appreciated your honesty, which comes through on the blog.
There are two reasons to blog, IMO. One is to help youself and the other is to help others. Either foundation is a sufficient reason, IMO, to keep blogging, but its nice when the two merge. Looks to me that you have both reasons to keep blogging.
All the best,
Chris
I like the specificity of the historical and theological posts. I wish I knew more about them to jump with any kind of authority. But I do appreciate the view from the margins and observing your trace, that incredible arc, through the phase-space of faith. I look forward to the solid, liquid, gas and the surfactants that allow for any commingling of this triune.
And Victor, I did not think you lurked here at all anymore; your support and poetry is appreciated. "That incredible arc, through the phase-space of faith..." Damn. I'm impressed, V.
Are some genetically incapable of faith? I don't know. The only ones Jesus seems to caution especially in the gospels are the rich and those secure in their religion who ignore love! He also addresses those who have ears to hear, and I admit I don't know what that means. Some of us get ears after not having them, some lose them after having them it seems.
Me, I shut my ears for a long time, I just didn't have them, I read the gospels and felt so judged on every page I couldn't manage a chapter, and it took true persistance on the part of a Christian (in the face of my livid doubt and rage) to get me to slowly listen to what the gospel Jesus really says.
For sure, though, apart from faith, historical-scientific inquiry (can I put those words together?) into Christian origins (and for that matter, other religious origins) as well as the Christian world-view is a valid field for discussion. I know I can't prove Jesus rose from the dead, though I do feel the historical evidence for that event is spookily strong based on what we have. What challenges me (and sometimes pisses me off) is when writers come along and argue that they've disproved the event, or the whole Jesus story, for any number of reasons, strong and weak. That I need to examine. Or see examined.
Whatever, I'm trying to find my way in the beautiful psychosis-ward of this world. I know I feel less alone in my intellectual struggles since Chris gave me the link to his site. Thanks to both of you, Chris and Victor, for such kind words here. It makes my day, and encourages me to continue sharing.
Grace and peace to you both
t