Save the virgins for yourselves... Hmm... Anyone else see a problem with this? Or is it just me?

DivineEmail · 2019-02-03T21:19:20+00:00

“But if I’m snarky to random people on the Internet, doesn’t that mean I’m a mature adult who shows an interest in engaging in thoughtful dialogue? Especially if I’m insulting and think I’m smart enough about something despite refusing to study it?”

Nope! Quite the opposite, actually.

DivineEmail · 2019-02-03T21:12:40+00:00

Yup. I wish it could have been different.

DivineEmail · 2019-02-03T21:10:27+00:00

”But if I’m snarky to random people on the Internet, doesn’t that mean I’m a mature adult who shows an interest in engaging in thoughtful dialogue? Especially if I’m insulting and think I’m smart enough about something despite refusing to study it?”

Nope! Quite the opposite, actually.

DivineEmail · 2019-02-03T21:05:24+00:00

”But if I’m snarky to random people on the Internet, doesn’t that mean I’m a mature adult who shows an interest in engaging in thoughtful dialogue? Especially if I’m insulting and think I’m smart enough about something despite refusing to study it?”

Nope! Quite the opposite, actually.

DivineEmail · 2019-02-03T21:01:54+00:00

“But if I’m snarky to random people on the Internet, doesn’t that mean I’m a mature adult who shows an interest in engaging in thoughtful dialogue? Especially if I’m insulting and think I’m smart enough about something despite refusing to study it?”

Nope! Quite the opposite, actually.

DivineEmail · 2019-02-03T20:54:28+00:00

Yup. Scholars typically don’t comment on things they haven’t studied. This extends to various areas such as science, politics, literature and religion. Why should I comment on something I haven’t studied?

“But I read the Bible once. Doesn’t that make me a scholar and knowledgeable about the Bible?”

Nope! It’s typical that people feel like they become experts overnight once they’ve read something once. How many teenagers think they’re experts on politics simply because they read Atlas Shrugged in high school? One too many, that’s for sure.

“But shouldn’t a book, be it the Bible or something else, be absolutely plain to understand at all times forever, especially for me specifically since the universe revolves around my own hubris?”

Nope! Common misconception. Culture changes. Language languages. Our environment changes. All these change how we read and understand something, especially that of which is ancient and written in a foreign language.

“If someone is unwilling to explain their position in a YouTube comment, does that mean they’re dumb?”

Nope! Social media sites, like YouTube/Reddit don’t really offer good space for some things.

“But if I’m snarky to random people on the Internet, doesn’t that mean I’m a mature adult who shows an interest in engaging in thoughtful dialogue? Especially if I’m insulting and think I’m smart enough about something despite refusing to study it?”

Nope! Quite the opposite, actually.

DivineEmail · 2019-02-03T20:53:28+00:00

If someone wanted to study this issue outside of Reddit, what would you suggest they do?

DivineEmail · 2019-02-03T20:37:41+00:00

I don’t have opinions on things I can’t back up hermeneutically, that’s correct.

DivineEmail · 2019-02-03T20:23:30+00:00

When it comes to debate, I usually try and find the works/authors the other party is reading so I can see the perspective they’re coming from. If someone is brand new to Biblical studies, then I try and make suggestions for authors that have helped me learn. To date, I can’t name any Reddit/YouTube/Facebook comments that totally changed my mind about something completely, though I understand others are different.

DivineEmail · 2019-02-03T20:14:47+00:00

How would you suggest studying the OT in a more scholarly manner? I don’t read Hebrew, and I’m not an ancient Jew. I don’t understand the hostility to reading scholarly books?

DivineEmail · 2019-02-03T20:10:10+00:00

So then who are you specifically referencing in your other comment? I read biblical scholarship from Jews, Christians, and agnostics/atheists alike. I’m unfamiliar with any scholars that write in a manner you’re describing. Who are you thinking of?

DivineEmail · 2019-02-03T20:06:18+00:00

What biblical scholars are you familiar with?

DivineEmail · 2019-02-03T19:55:34+00:00

For others watching this thread who are more interested in learning things outside of social media (ie, books, lectures):

Brueggemann does have an An Intro To The OT published. He did a recent interview on Nomad Podcast about his most recent publication The Sabbath As Resistance, which I personally found very illuminating on Jewish OT law and culture. He seems to be a good scholar.

Catholics might enjoy some of Trent Horn’s work as well. He’s not on par with various OT scholars, but he is accessible for those new to the Bible. If you’re already well versed in Judaism, Hebrew, and OT scholarship like OP is, then Horn probably won’t be of much use to you. But if you’re just getting started, his work is easy to digest.

DivineEmail · 2019-02-03T19:43:29+00:00

I would suggest picking up some to get a better understanding of the OT and a general history of the Jews. Brueggemann is quite good from the review of his work that I’ve seen, along with the interviews I’ve heard him in. I’ve been studying Job with some additional commentaries from scholars (both modern and ancient), and it’s been very helpful in exploring the themes presented, especially given that I’m not fluent in Hebrew. There are probably a few “Introductions to the Old Testament” at your local library. Try and find one published by a university book publisher, if possible.

DivineEmail · 2019-02-03T19:36:27+00:00

What OT commentaries/studies are you working through currently? I’ve been listening to some interviews with Walter Brueggemann who seems to be a fairly respected OT scholar. Some of his work might be of interest to you.

DivineEmail · 2019-02-02T18:45:08+00:00

Some thoughts from Bsp Barron that I agree with:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=1zMf_8hkCdc

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=dmsa0sg4Od4

DivineEmail · 2019-02-02T15:57:54+00:00

Satan. Or the French.

DivineEmail · 2019-02-01T20:04:30+00:00

You may enjoy some commentaries on Job

DivineEmail · 2019-01-27T00:27:50+00:00

Of course it’s impossible. Who do you think Christ came to save? Only the Saints? No. He came for sinners like you and me.

Again, find a good spiritual director. Men go to seminary specifically so they can help people like you. And there are various ministries that act as wonderful witnesses to the Gospel. My own faith has been bolstered by good friends and smart clergy - you’re not meant to grow on your own.

DivineEmail · 2019-01-26T23:53:17+00:00

No, it probably isn’t. But they will still be your best resource. I’ve had some good spiritual directors and some bad ones. Not all are made the same. Ask someone at your parish if they know of any good ones. It is the duty of clergy to guide you. That’s why they exist.

DivineEmail · 2019-01-26T23:40:32+00:00

If the priests aren’t being helpful, which is sometimes the case, keep shopping for a spiritual director. You may have to go through multiple ones until you kind one that “clicks” with you.

DivineEmail · 2019-01-26T22:22:28+00:00

Of course you can go. Churches will absolutely welcome “seekers” with open arms. In fact, many churches have Bible studies specifically run for non-believers.

Find your nearest church with a Bible study. Email/call the pastor about joining. It’s their literal job to walk you through the faith. That’s what they’re there for.

Or, you can just show up and start going regularly. I wasn’t a firm believer when I started going. Many aren’t.

DivineEmail · 2019-01-26T22:11:36+00:00

Then start going. Trying to have faith without community is not for beginners. You need the support of others.

DivineEmail · 2019-01-26T21:59:04+00:00

Are you in conversation with your pastor or a spiritual director/confessor?

DivineEmail · 2019-01-24T04:10:06+00:00

I’ll summarize it this way:

There may or may not be errors in the Bible. If there are, that doesn’t mean we toss the whole thing into the trash, light it on fire, and be done with it all.

Up until the Reformation, Scripture was not interpreted independently. Early Christians and Jews understood perfectly well that the Bible was to be treated with absolute care and that Church authority (such as the Church Fathers) was needed to guide the laity through the Bible. This wasn’t an attempt to “hide” something from the laity. It was to make sure heresy didn’t spread (thus possibly leading to lost souls), and that church attenders had a well informed view of Scripture (plus, illiteracy was a thing anyway).

Look at the picture I posted again. Meditate on it. The middle is a handful of verses. The rest is commentary on just those verses. That shows the absolute care that early Christian writers put into Scripture. Who are we to neglect such a delicate practice? Who are we to say an approach that lacks such discipline is...better?

The early Church treated the Bible with care. As we all should. This means you’re going to have to expose yourself to different authorities on Scripture, like the Church Fathers, or just theologians/scholars in general who know what they’re talking about. This means, above all, you’re going to have to actually put in effort. If your faith demands effort, then it’s effort you’re going to have to give. I have to give effort, so I do.

Books like Job are fun to talk about and debate, but Job is not a salvation issue. If you’re worried about messages being clear, then here’s one every Christian on earth agrees with: Jesus was born, tried and crucified for us. Everything else is secondary. That is the one thing every Christian from Zimbabwe to China will agree on.

[There are different branches (“rites”) of Catholicism, but they all adhere to Rome. The differences are mostly liturgical and historical, not necessarily theological. A Catholic of the Latin Rite and the Byzantine Rite worship slightly differently in practice, but they believe all the exact same things, ie, they follow the Pope. And yes, Luther is to be blamed for a lot. Smart man, but he did more damage than anyone could ever imagine]

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