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.
By Shirley Paulson, PhD|2019-09-10T00:12:30-04:00September 10th, 2019|Tags: Extracanonical Texts, Mary, The Protevangelium of James|
I was trained in traditional texts, but drawn to non-normative books and what they can reveal about gender and the construction of one’s identity. Franҫois Bovon considers the Protevangelium of James to be “useful for the soul.”
By Shirley Paulson, PhD|2019-09-19T13:12:04-04:00September 5th, 2019|Tags: Extracanonical Texts, Gnostics, Salvation, Savior, Secret Revelation of John|
In the Secret Revelation of John, the disciple John asks the Savior a crucial question: does everybody get saved? No, if we look at it one way. But yes, if we look at it another way.
By Shirley Paulson, PhD|2019-08-21T07:53:58-04:00August 22nd, 2019|Tags: Baptism, Dicache, Eucharist, Extracanonical Texts, Testimony of Truth|
I can imagine how comforting those words would be for anyone who has been rejected, oppressed, or considered unclean. … This is a different picture from the way baptism works in my life today.
