By Shirley Paulson, PhD|2020-09-21T06:52:19-04:00September 3rd, 2020|Tags: Extracanonical Texts, Odes of Solomon, Stephanie A. Duzant, The Thunder Perfect Mind, Thecla, Womanist|
"I saw that I was womanish. I saw myself in it…. In the feminist movement, it was about being a woman. In the womanist tradition, it’s about being a woman in community." An interview with Rev. Stephanie A. Duzant.
By Shirley Paulson, PhD|2020-05-14T00:34:48-04:00May 14th, 2020|Tags: COVID-19, Extracanonical Texts, Prayer, The Thunder Perfect Mind, Vulnerability|
Somewhere in all this, I rebel. Is God really unwilling or unable to help? Can prayer do something to help the vulnerable during a pandemic?
By Shirley Paulson, PhD|2020-04-22T19:40:15-04:00April 23rd, 2020|Tags: COVID-19, Extracanonical Texts, Gospel of Thomas, Nag Hammadi|
I started to wonder: what else (besides an invisible virus) might be right in front of my face that I may not be noticing?
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|2020-02-11T09:59:06-05:00December 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|2019-11-13T08:59:25-05:00November 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.
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|2020-02-11T10:00:12-05:00October 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." An Interview with Elizabeth Schrader.
