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|2020-01-02T00:43:09-05:00January 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.
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|2019-12-05T11:16:28-05:00December 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."
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|2019-11-07T01:22:52-05:00November 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.”
By Shirley Paulson, PhD|2019-10-23T06:43:32-04:00October 24th, 2019|Tags: Extracanonical Texts, Gospel of Judas, Grief, Optimism, Victimization|
This author is angry that people would mourn and agree to limitations and suffering, instead of throwing out the powers of darkness. This message of optimism is not naivete, but a rebuke to acquiescence.
By Shirley Paulson, PhD|2019-10-01T16:09:15-04:00October 1st, 2019|Tags: Elizabeth Schrader, Extracanonical Texts, Lazarus, Martha, Mary Magdalene|
"Mary Magdalene seems to have the most prominence in the Gospel of John, and I wondered if it’s possible if that early controversy could have affected the text of the Bible."
By Shirley Paulson, PhD|2019-09-18T20:55:27-04:00September 18th, 2019|Tags: Climate, Extracanonical Texts, Gospel of Thomas, Secret Revelation of John|
One of the biggest problems in our global concern with climate change is the fact that people are angry and divided over the right course of action.
