By Shirley Paulson, PhD|2020-02-11T09:59:06-05:00December 5th, 2019|Tags: Biblical Violence, Early Christian Texts, Extracanonical Texts|
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|2021-01-25T04:11:22-05:00November 14th, 2019|Tags: Extracanonical Texts, Gratitude, Prayer of Thanksgiving, Thanksgiving|
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|2021-01-25T04:11:36-05:00October 24th, 2019|Tags: Extracanonical Texts, Gospel of Judas, Grief, 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 Elli Elliott|2021-02-23T07:16:29-05:00October 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|2022-10-29T14:31:24-04:00October 1st, 2019|Tags: Elizabeth Schrader Polczer, Extracanonical Texts, 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 Polczer.
By Shirley Paulson, PhD|2021-01-25T04:11:58-05:00September 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|2022-12-27T18:57:34-05:00September 10th, 2019|Tags: Apocryphal Texts, Extracanonical Texts, Mary, 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.” An Interview with Dr. Lily Vuong.
By Shirley Paulson, PhD|2022-05-14T23:58:37-04:00September 5th, 2019|Tags: Extracanonical Texts, Gnosticism, 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|2021-01-25T04:12:22-05:00August 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.
By Shirley Paulson, PhD|2020-02-11T10:01:21-05:00August 10th, 2019|Tags: Elli Elliott, Extracanonical Texts, Poverty, Shepherd of Hermas|
In Shepherd of Hermas, Elliott finds distinguishing Christian feature: the poor are to be honored. All of us – slaves and masters – should be servants to God. An Interview with Elli Elliott, PhD.
By Shirley Paulson, PhD|2021-01-25T04:12:36-05:00August 8th, 2019|Tags: Extracanonical Texts, Material World, Matter, Spirituality, Tripartite Tractate|
In many different forms of the biblical message, I learned there was a difference between a perception of the not-enough-world and the abundance of the heavenly realm as Jesus taught it.
