Home » The Bible and Beyond
Enjoy posts about a variety of subjects, all designed to help you look at religion, the Bible, and early Christian texts in a new way.
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|2020-01-10T05:11:25-05:00January 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|2020-01-01T23:09:36-05:00December 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|2019-11-24T06:32:52-05:00November 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|2019-10-23T06:43:32-04:00October 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 Ellie Elliott|2019-10-02T23:03:22-04:00October 3rd, 2019|Tags: Elli Elliott, Extracanonical Texts, Shepherd of Hermas|
His thoughts are not private. God sees into his mind. His mind has become a stage for the performance of his virtue. God is the audience for the performance on the stage of his mind.
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|2019-09-19T13:12:04-04:00September 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.
