By Shirley Paulson, PhD|2020-02-13T02:48:44-05:00February 13th, 2020|Tags: Jesus, Letter of Peter to Philip, Violence|
I don’t think I’ve ever heard this message preached in church, in self-help books, or even among friends! What an unusual way to respond to fear, violence and injustice! To heal others.
By Shirley Paulson, PhD|2020-02-11T09:57:46-05:00February 6th, 2020|Tags: Early Christian Texts, Gender Issues, Q, Sara Parks|
“It’s not like Jesus is the only person in antiquity to think of women as people. But I do think that he innovated this style of teaching: these parable pairs.” An interview with Sara Parks, PhD.
By Shirley Paulson, PhD|2020-01-10T05:11:25-05:00January 23rd, 2020|Tags: Faith, Letter of Peter to Philip, Odes of Solomon, Secret Revelation of John, Sentences of Sextus, Testimony of Truth|
I understand study leads to loss of faith. But I also want to bear witness to the way this study can be the source of deeper faith and trust.
By Shirley Paulson, PhD|2020-01-02T01:36:32-05:00January 9th, 2020|Tags: Empowerment, Freedom, Hypostasis of the Archons, Reality of the Rulers, Secret Revelation of John|
Dr. King drew on Biblical imagery for his conviction in this empowerment, and he would undoubtedly have appreciated the powerful message in support of his cause from the then-unknown extracanonical texts.
By Shirley Paulson, PhD|2020-02-11T09:58:19-05:00January 2nd, 2020|Tags: Christian Heresies, Deb Saxon, Extracanonical Texts, Mary Magdalene, Perpetua, Thecla|
"Orthodoxy glorifies martyrs. So the stories of women martyrs are lifted up, but women who speak up or stand up in any other way are criticized and challenged." An Interview with Deb Saxon, PhD.
By Shirley Paulson, PhD|2020-01-01T23:09:36-05:00December 12th, 2019|Tags: Christmas, Gospel of Luke, Gospel of Matthew, Nativity Story|
I was afraid to consider the implications, because Christmas had become a profoundly religious experience for me by now. Was this discovery going to shatter my faith?
By Shirley Paulson, PhD|2020-02-11T09:59:06-05:00December 5th, 2019|Tags: Biblical Violence, Early Christian Texts, Extracanonical Texts, Karri Whipple|
A singular reading is often done from a dominant position. People with power are the ones who have their story told…But I have found these multiple readings have strengthened my faith." An Interview with Karri Whipple, PhD.
By Shirley Paulson, PhD|2019-11-24T06:32:52-05:00November 25th, 2019|Tags: Eucharist, Fellowship, Gratitude, Thanksgiving|
The simple willingness to be grateful inspires others to notice something good and do something about it.
By Shirley Paulson, PhD|2019-11-13T08:59:25-05:00November 14th, 2019|Tags: Extracanonical Texts, Gratitude, Prayer of Thanksgiving, Thanksgiving, Transformation|
I’m intrigued with examples of transformation I’ve seen from the writers of the Bible and extracanonical texts: … “We are happy. You have taught us about yourself.”
By Shirley Paulson, PhD|2020-02-11T09:59:42-05:00November 7th, 2019|Tags: Dr. James McGrath, Extracanonical Texts, John the Baptist, Mandaeans|
“So many people are not aware that there is a group that has survived from ancient times down to the present day that…has sacred texts in a dialect of Aramaic.” An Interview with Dr. James McGrath.
