The Secular Frontier

Previously: TRANSITIONS: Wrapping Up Scripture Studies Blogging (Part 1, Goicoechea and Paul 1) TRANSITIONS: Wrapping Up Scripture Studies Blogging (Part 1, Goicoechea and Paul SECTION 2) TRANSITIONS: Wrapping Up Scripture Studies Blogging (Part 1, Goicoechea and Paul SECTION 3) TRANSITIONS: Wrapping Up Scripture Studies Blogging (Part 1, Goicoechea and Paul SECTION 4) Transitions Part 1 Section 5, Goicoechea on Paul’s 1 Corinthians Transitions Part 1 Section 6, Goicoechea on Paul’s 2 Corinthians Transitions Part 1 Section 7, Goicoechea on Paul’s Galatians Transitions Part 1 Section 8, Goicoechea on Paul’s Romans One topic I mentioned previously is Paul being seen as pro slavery, and in fact he has been historically proof-texted in that way by anti-abolitionists, citing he sent a runaway slave back to his master. I'd like to think about that here. Philemon is very short and can be read in a minute or two.  It’s about Paul sending the runaway (and possibly thief) sla ... Read Article

A big problem for the Christian right is there is a large demographic who might be susceptible to their message but don't want to go to church. The answer? Lure them in through other media, like movies. Here is a short clip about a Christian propaganda movie the purpose of which is to win souls for Jesus (in an entertaining way): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PyTvVBsCB18 ... Read Article

What's up, Infidels? Come up to the lab/ And see what's on the slab! Previously: TRANSITIONS: Wrapping Up Scripture Studies Blogging (Part 1, Goicoechea and Paul 1) TRANSITIONS: Wrapping Up Scripture Studies Blogging (Part 1, Goicoechea and Paul SECTION 2) TRANSITIONS: Wrapping Up Scripture Studies Blogging (Part 1, Goicoechea and Paul SECTION 3) TRANSITIONS: Wrapping Up Scripture Studies Blogging (Part 1, Goicoechea and Paul SECTION 4) Transitions Part 1 Section 5, Goicoechea on Paul’s 1 Corinthians Transitions Part 1 Section 6, Goicoechea on Paul’s 2 Corinthians Transitions Part 1 Section 7, Goicoechea on Paul’s Galatians Part of the difficulty in establishing Jesus’ relation to the law is that there is a popular grace through faith vs works reading going around.  But, Jesus said he didn’t come to abolish the law, but to fulfill it (Matt 5:17).  The point of the law was to show you how sinful you are, so Jesus didn’t abolish the law but made it sup ... Read Article

Previously: TRANSITIONS: Wrapping Up Scripture Studies Blogging (Part 1, Goicoechea and Paul 1) TRANSITIONS: Wrapping Up Scripture Studies Blogging (Part 1, Goicoechea and Paul SECTION 2) TRANSITIONS: Wrapping Up Scripture Studies Blogging (Part 1, Goicoechea and Paul SECTION 3) TRANSITIONS: Wrapping Up Scripture Studies Blogging (Part 1, Goicoechea and Paul SECTION 4) Transitions Part 1 Section 5, Goicoechea on Paul’s 1 Corinthians Transitions Part 1 Section 6, Goicoechea on Paul’s 2 Corinthians And now, on to Goicoechea and Galatians: When something particularly egregious happens that is a symptom of systemic problems in society, like the Rodney King beating or Columbine shooting or the death of Socrates, it can be an occasion/catalyst for society to pause / hold a moratorium on itself.  The death of Jesus was another historical example of this, because what could cry for change more than the specially chosen one of God who demonstrated who he was through wisdom, signs, ... Read Article

As the lead in to election season heats up, I have been indicating the use of Photoshop to present Trump as a hero (eg a fireman. a soldier, etc). What's next? In biblical studies/classics there is something called haggadic midrash/mimesis such as when Matthew presents Jesus as imitating Moses - Jesus is the new and greater Moses. Some on the right are now doing this with Trump propaganda art, and so we have "Moses Trump" leading his people out of slavery and into the promised land: Interestingly, this kind of political propaganda is rooted in American history and so in the Capitol rotunda we have the Apotheosis (IE becoming God) of Washington: Above is The Apotheosis of Washington, as seen looking up from the Capitol rotunda, fresco painted by Greek-Italian artist Constantino Brumidi in 1865 and visible through the oculus of the dome in the rotunda of the United States Capitol Building. Above detail showing George Washington. An interesting question is why this imagery is bei ... Read Article

Happy Mother's Day Infidels! This is one of the few days of the year when it's good form to ease up on the secularism if your mother is a believer. The odds against you existing at all are beyond astronomical, so take this day to give thanks to the woman who is responsible for the one real miracle in your life: YOU! ... Read Article

Previously on Goicoechea's reading of Paul: TRANSITIONS: Wrapping Up Scripture Studies Blogging (Part 1, Goicoechea and Paul 1) TRANSITIONS: Wrapping Up Scripture Studies Blogging (Part 1, Goicoechea and Paul SECTION 2) TRANSITIONS: Wrapping Up Scripture Studies Blogging (Part 1, Goicoechea and Paul SECTION 3) TRANSITIONS: Wrapping Up Scripture Studies Blogging (Part 1, Goicoechea and Paul SECTION 4) Transitions Part 1 Section 5, Goicoechea on Paul’s 1 Corinthians Hello infidels!  Let’s continue our secular journey with Goicoechea on 2 Corinthians. One of the problems I had with studying philosophy in the Continental tradition as a young secular student was all of the “God superstition” that went along with it.  This was no different with Goicoechea, but what I came to appreciate was the way he could interpret the evidence to make actual ethical points the original Christians were attempting to make, not just religious gibberish.  So, let’s continue and think abo ... Read Article

Previously in this Scripture Studies Concluding Series: TRANSITIONS: Wrapping Up Scripture Studies Blogging (Part 1, Goicoechea and Paul 1) TRANSITIONS: Wrapping Up Scripture Studies Blogging (Part 1, Goicoechea and Paul SECTION 2) TRANSITIONS: Wrapping Up Scripture Studies Blogging (Part 1, Goicoechea and Paul SECTION 3) TRANSITIONS: Wrapping Up Scripture Studies Blogging (Part 1, Goicoechea and Paul SECTION 4) Goicoechea points out starting religious communities was difficult for Paul because there was alienation, bickering and infighting within each person, within many families, within the little community (92). Goicoechea comments, The main point about the solution to all the problems is that we have received the gift of love and it alone will let the other gifts of faith, hope, understanding, teaching prophecy, etc., be efficacious and really heal the root cause of all our problems which torment each and every person. Paul knew that the love that forgives is a gift because he had r ... Read Article

I've voted liberal, as my parents did, all my life, and can't really ever see voting conservative. But, you say, does that mean you like Big Government? In a way, yes. In Canada, there are many ways that the government is involved in education, like standardized tests. In the end, we want teachers and principals and superintendents to be accountable to students and parents regarding BEST PRACTICE. A common curriculum is part of this too. Whatever way we can ensure high accountability and standards of practice are important in doing the best we can for students and families. One example of this is how in certain school boards the progressive "Math Makes Sense" program was instituted, only to be challenged later because the students were slipping in their test scores and so a "back to basics" call was initiated. The problematic nature of this math program was immediately evident to teachers because the math textbooks were written above student reading level! Contrast this with the excellent practi ... Read Article

Home-school advocate, actor Kirk Cameron, says public schools are staffed with “nefarious forces” who want to indoctrinate kids by “killing God,” and replacing him with “progressive, socialist, communist ideas.” It's amazing to me a guy I once thought was the very definition of cool has turned into an ultra right wing Christian clown show who gives the God of Logic an aneurysm every time a new mental abortion drops out of his mouth. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTgqYPS57zc I missed the Nefarious Forces committee meeting. Signed up for Before School Breakfast Club instead. ... Read Article

The previous posts in this series are: TRANSITIONS: Wrapping Up Scripture Studies Blogging (Part 1, Goicoechea and Paul 1) TRANSITIONS: Wrapping Up Scripture Studies Blogging (Part 1, Goicoechea and Paul SECTION 2) TRANSITIONS: Wrapping Up Scripture Studies Blogging (Part 1, Goicoechea and Paul SECTION 3) Continuing to follow Goicoechea’s reading of Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians, Goicoechea’s project is to outline the various competing models in the New Testament and reconcile them through the lens of agape love.  It is of utmost importance that the secular reader understands the differences and tensions in the New Testament when debating Christians who think in terms of systematic theology.  Goicoechea writes: This question of the coming of the Kingdom is a major problem for each of the New Testament writers and just as there will be nine different models of the Kingdom and the Cross, so there will be different models concerning the Parousia or the fullness of time. Once more we ... Read Article

"President Trump COOKED CNN tonight" (Nick Adams evaluating Trump's Town Hall on CNN last night). "Yes, I am more successful and attractive than you. No, I will not be apologizing for it. (Nick Adams)." Nick is mainly responsible for the photoshop Trump propaganda I've been posting here, and he is the self-proclaimed head of a group he calls the Alpha Males. If you'd like to get to know him, here's a short selection he posted today about something that happened to him: I was waiting to pick up my hot black coffee when I noticed a table full of suburban white women having a spirited conversation nearby. I’m not usually one to eavesdrop, but I couldn’t help but notice they were talking about President Trump’s CNN town hall. Three of the four women were blown away by the President’s performance and admired the strength and policy prowess he showed during the event. “He looked so presidential last night,” one of the women remarked, “he looks like he hasn’t aged a day since 2016 ... Read Article

Previously in this series: TRANSITIONS: Wrapping Up Scripture Studies Blogging (Part 1, Goicoechea and Paul 1) TRANSITIONS: Wrapping Up Scripture Studies Blogging (Part 1, Goicoechea and Paul SECTION 2) Bernhard Anderson’s Understanding the Old Testament above has been a great resource for generations of Religious Studies’ students, and is also valuable for Secularists to get a clearer idea of what they are arguing against.  Perhaps one of the most important distinctions in the Old Testament for understanding Paul’s Jesus is between (1) Mosaic Covenant theology and (2) Davidic Promise theology.  Jesus is portrayed as fulfilling, not abolishing, the law by making it stricter: eg adultery is not just the act, but is committed when there is lust in your heart.  In terms of this interpretation of the law, Jesus’ life is an existential point: the world violently turned on God’s specially chosen Jesus who had proved who he was through signs and wonders and wisdom, Jesus thus disclosing or ... Read Article

In what came as a shock to many conservatives, Donald Trump was found guilty in civil court of sexual abuse and was fined. The reaction of the extreme right? Cries that the justice system is broken and corrupt, and produced more Trump photoshop propaganda. The trump phenomenon is an interesting case study in "spin," the idea it doesn't matter what someone says or does if you are predisposed to like, or dislike, them. ... Read Article

Last Post: TRANSITIONS: Wrapping Up Scripture Studies Blogging (Part 1, Goicoechea and Paul 1) As a modern textual critic in the rigorous Jesuit tradition, Goicoechea is going to affirm difference:  For instance, the terrified and panicking pseudonymous Jesus on the cross in Mark is not the calm expectant pseudonymous Jesus on the cross in Luke.  However, in the postmodern philosophical tradition of Kierkegaard, Nietzsche, Levinas, Derrida, Deleuze and Foucault, he is going to begin to reconcile the differences with the category of selfless loves as agape, in distinction with love as eros, philia, or storge: Storge – empathy bond. Philia – friend bond. Eros – romantic love. Agape – selfless love. Goicoechea comments: Two thousand years ago Jesus introduced his new teaching and practice of agape which commands us to love one another as he loved us in self denial and sacrifice. Each new age has emphasized a special aspect of loving God with our whole heart, mind, and sou ... Read Article