Tuesday, February 3 – Sacrificial Rites
Leviticus 1-7
Walter Brueggeman, “Atonement,” “Death,” “Forgiveness,” “Redemption,” “Resurrection,” “Retribution,” “Sacrifice,” in Reverberations of Faith. A Theological Handbook of Old Testament Themes (Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 2002).
What was it that sacrifice was supposed to accomplish for the ancient Hebrews? I'm hoping to have a rabbi or other Jewish leader come in to talk with us about sacrifice in modern Judaism later in the semester, but barring that, what do these legalistic and ritualistic chapters have to say to modern Christians? Eugene Peterson suggests that Leviticus is a study in how to be holy. What does that look like in an increasingly secular society?
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
That 5000 BCE Murder
Tuesday, January 27 – Cain and Abel
Genesis 1-4
Meyer Schapiro, “’Cain’s Jawbone That Did the First Murder’ (1942),” in Late Antique, Early Christian and Medieval Art: Selected Papers (New York: George Braziller, Inc., 1979), pp. 249-265.
Glenn M. Miller, “Introduction,” The Great Irruption: Christ’s Work on the Cross (optional)
This week we start at the very beginning: Cain and Abel gave the first sacrifices. (In Jewish oral tradition, Adam told his sons to do so.) The intention is to focus not just on the first murder but on the nature of the sacrifice(s) God expects. We're reading the first 4 chapters of Genesis in order to include the Creation and the Fall. After all, Christ's death on the cross is often interpreted as a guilt or sin offering for the world. So we need to talk about (original) sin.
I assigned the Schapiro reading because I couldn't find an explanation of the usual arguments about Cain and Abel's sacrifices that I liked. Plus, I wanted to do something with some visual interest. So I will also be bringing another book which has ancient, medieval, and modern artistic interpretations of this famous story.
Why does God prefer Abel's first lamb to Cain's grains?
1. Maybe God's choice is entirely arbitrary. Remember that in Exodus God says he will bless whom he will bless.
2. Abel gave the best of his flock and with the right intentions. Cain just brought "some" of his produce, instead of the best. This is why God speaks to him, telling him to do better next time.
3. God requires blood. Remember that at this time God has provided "everything that grows from the Earth" for humans to eat. Only after the Flood does God allow humans to eat meat:
1Then God blessed Noah and his sons, saying to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the earth.2The fear and dread of you will fall upon all the beasts of the earth and all the birds of the air, upon every creature that moves along the ground, and upon all the fish of the sea; they are given into your hands.3Everything that lives and moves will be food for you. Just as I gave you the green plants, I now give you everything.
Genesis 1-4
Meyer Schapiro, “’Cain’s Jawbone That Did the First Murder’ (1942),” in Late Antique, Early Christian and Medieval Art: Selected Papers (New York: George Braziller, Inc., 1979), pp. 249-265.
Glenn M. Miller, “Introduction,” The Great Irruption: Christ’s Work on the Cross (optional)
This week we start at the very beginning: Cain and Abel gave the first sacrifices. (In Jewish oral tradition, Adam told his sons to do so.) The intention is to focus not just on the first murder but on the nature of the sacrifice(s) God expects. We're reading the first 4 chapters of Genesis in order to include the Creation and the Fall. After all, Christ's death on the cross is often interpreted as a guilt or sin offering for the world. So we need to talk about (original) sin.
I assigned the Schapiro reading because I couldn't find an explanation of the usual arguments about Cain and Abel's sacrifices that I liked. Plus, I wanted to do something with some visual interest. So I will also be bringing another book which has ancient, medieval, and modern artistic interpretations of this famous story.
Why does God prefer Abel's first lamb to Cain's grains?
1. Maybe God's choice is entirely arbitrary. Remember that in Exodus God says he will bless whom he will bless.
2. Abel gave the best of his flock and with the right intentions. Cain just brought "some" of his produce, instead of the best. This is why God speaks to him, telling him to do better next time.
3. God requires blood. Remember that at this time God has provided "everything that grows from the Earth" for humans to eat. Only after the Flood does God allow humans to eat meat:
1Then God blessed Noah and his sons, saying to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the earth.2The fear and dread of you will fall upon all the beasts of the earth and all the birds of the air, upon every creature that moves along the ground, and upon all the fish of the sea; they are given into your hands.3Everything that lives and moves will be food for you. Just as I gave you the green plants, I now give you everything.
4“But you must not eat meat that has its lifeblood still in it.5And for your lifeblood I will surely demand an accounting. I will demand an accounting from every animal. And from each man, too, I will demand an accounting for the life of his fellow man.
6“Whoever sheds the blood of man,
by man shall his blood be shed;
for in the image of God
has God made man.
~ Genesis 9:1-6
The Miller reading was optional, but consider the argument he lays out at the beginning:
There is some point to the Universe.
There was some situation that needed "re-work."
There was some point to Christ's coming to earth.
There is some reason Christ's death [and resurrection] has seemed more[?] important than his earthly life.
So the reason we're going back to Old Testament sacrifice is to understand the contexts of Jesus Christ's life, death, and resurrection in order to better understand their importance to our own lives.
Friday, January 2, 2009
Sacrifice and Atonement
The themes for our study in the Spring 2009 semester are sacrifice and atonement. We will supplement Glenn M. Miller's seven-part study of sacrifice and redemption in the Old and New Testaments, "The Great Irruption--The Work of Christ on the Cross," with readings from Anselm, Søren Kierkegaard, Walter Brueggeman, and others. In addition to familiarizing ourselves with the rites in Leviticus and their revisions in Romans and Hebrews, we will revisit the familiar stories of Cain and Abel, Abraham and Isaac, and the Last Supper. We will also host a viewing of Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ (2004) during Holy Week. The ultimate goal is for each of us to begin to discern the meaning of Jesus' death and resurrection for us, individually and collectively.
Most readings will be available in a packet, free of charge. Please bring it and your Bible(s) to each discussion. Hopefully we can rotate leading discussion each week.
Tuesday, January 20, Meet N Greet, 8:30-9pm, Student Lounge
Come to the Student Lounge at the Wesley Foundation to get in touch with the Grad Study group over snacks. Find out about the semester's study, pick up a reader, and sign up to lead discussion one week.
Tuesday, January 27 – Cain and Abel
Genesis 1-4
Meyer Schapiro, “’Cain’s Jawbone That Did the First Murder’ (1942),” in Late Antique, Early Christian and Medieval Art: Selected Papers (New York: George Braziller, Inc., 1979), pp. 249-265.
Glenn M. Miller, “Introduction,” The Great Irruption: Christ’s Work on the Cross (optional)
Tuesday, February 3 – Sacrificial Rites
Leviticus 1-7
Walter Brueggeman, “Atonement,” “Death,” “Forgiveness,” “Redemption,” “Resurrection,” “Retribution,” “Sacrifice,” in Reverberations of Faith. A Theological Handbook of Old Testament Themes (Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 2002).
Tuesday, February 10
Glenn M. Miller, “Sacrifice in the Old Testament,” The Great Irruption: Christ’s Work on the Cross
Tuesday, February 17 – Abraham and Isaac
Genesis 15, 17, 18:1-15, 22
Rachel Barenblat, “Silence,” Velveteen Rabbi (11 Nov 2008). Accessed 31 Dec 2008: http://velveteenrabbi.blogs.com/blog/2008/11/this-weeks-portion-silence.html.
Hebrews 11
“Story of Abraham,” Islamia. Accessed 31 Dec 2008: http://www.islamia.com/abraham.htm.
Tuesday, February 24 – Faith like Abraham
C. Stephen Evans, “Introduction,” in Fear and Trembling, ed. C. Stephen Evans and Sylvia Walsh, trans. Sylvia Walsh (New York: Cambridge University Press, 2006), pp. vi-xxx.
Søren Kierkegaard, “Tuning Up” and “A Tribute to Abraham,” in Ibid., pp. 7-20.
Tuesday, March 3
Glenn M. Miller, “Sacrifice in the New Testament,” The Great Irruption: Christ’s Work on the Cross
Tuesday, March 10
Glenn M. Miller, “Redemption in the Old Testament,” The Great Irruption: Christ’s Work on the Cross
Tuesday, March 17 – Law and Righteousness
Romans 2:12-8:17
Matthew 5:17-19
Saturday, March 21-Sunday, March 28 – U of I Spring Break
Tuesday, March 31
Glenn M. Miller, “Redemption in the New Testament,” The Great Irruption: Christ’s Work on the Cross
Tuesday, April 7
Glenn M. Miller, “Reconciliation,” The Great Irruption: Christ’s Work on the Cross
Friday, April 10,
Wesley UMC Sanctuary, 7pm
Tenebrae Service
Wesley Movie Theater, 8pm
Mel Gibson, The Passion of the Christ (2004). Discussion to follow.
Sunday, April 12 – Easter Sunday
You are cordially invited to Michael and Kristen’s house for a potluck Easter dinner, 5:30-8pm. We will provide drinks and the main meat course (TBA); please the separate thread to sign up for sides and desserts.
Tuesday, April 14 – Christ as Priest and Lamb
Leviticus 21-22
Hebrews 1-10, 12-13
Bruce Chilton, “Epilogue: Two Priesthoods of the Absent Temple,” The Temple of Jesus: His Sacrificial Program Within a Cultural History of Sacrifice (University Park, PA: The Pennsylvania State University Press, 1992), pp.155-159.
Tuesday, April 21 – Atonement
Leviticus 16-17, 23: 26-32
“Atonement,” The New Interpreter’s Dictionary of the Bible (2006)
Claude Beaufort Moss, “The Atonement in History,” Part I, Chapter 30 in The Christian Faith (London: The Chaucer Press, 1965, 1943). Prepared for katapi by Paul Ingram, 2004. Accessed 28 Dec 2008: http://www.katapi.org.uk/ChristianFaith/XXX.htm.
Robb McCoy, “’With,’ not ‘For,’” The Fat Pastor (20 Oct 2008). Accessed 28 Dec 2008: http://fatpastor.wordpress.com/2008 /10/20/with-not-for/.
Tuesday, April 28 – Why God Became Man
Anselm, “Cur Deus Homo,” Anselm of Canterbury: The Major Works, ed. Brian Davies and G.R. Evans (New York: Oxford University Press, 1998), pp. vii-x, xvii-xviii, 260-267, 270-271, 274-286, 300-307, 313-315, 318-352.
Tuesday, May 5 – Christus Victor
Glenn M. Miller, “Christus Victor,” The Great Irruption: Christ’s Work on the Cross
Tuesday, May 12 – “Living Sacrifice”
1 Cornithians 11:12-34
Romans 12:1-8
Bruce Chilton, “The Sacrifice of Jesus,” The Temple of Jesus: His Sacrificial Program Within a Cultural History of Sacrifice (University Park, PA: The Pennsylvania State University Press, 1992), pp. 100-111, 137-154.
United Methodist Church Communion Liturgy
We will celebrate Communion this evening with Pastor Rob Kirby.
Most readings will be available in a packet, free of charge. Please bring it and your Bible(s) to each discussion. Hopefully we can rotate leading discussion each week.
Tuesday, January 20, Meet N Greet, 8:30-9pm, Student Lounge
Come to the Student Lounge at the Wesley Foundation to get in touch with the Grad Study group over snacks. Find out about the semester's study, pick up a reader, and sign up to lead discussion one week.
Tuesday, January 27 – Cain and Abel
Genesis 1-4
Meyer Schapiro, “’Cain’s Jawbone That Did the First Murder’ (1942),” in Late Antique, Early Christian and Medieval Art: Selected Papers (New York: George Braziller, Inc., 1979), pp. 249-265.
Glenn M. Miller, “Introduction,” The Great Irruption: Christ’s Work on the Cross (optional)
Tuesday, February 3 – Sacrificial Rites
Leviticus 1-7
Walter Brueggeman, “Atonement,” “Death,” “Forgiveness,” “Redemption,” “Resurrection,” “Retribution,” “Sacrifice,” in Reverberations of Faith. A Theological Handbook of Old Testament Themes (Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 2002).
Tuesday, February 10
Glenn M. Miller, “Sacrifice in the Old Testament,” The Great Irruption: Christ’s Work on the Cross
Tuesday, February 17 – Abraham and Isaac
Genesis 15, 17, 18:1-15, 22
Rachel Barenblat, “Silence,” Velveteen Rabbi (11 Nov 2008). Accessed 31 Dec 2008: http://velveteenrabbi.blogs.com/blog/2008/11/this-weeks-portion-silence.html.
Hebrews 11
“Story of Abraham,” Islamia. Accessed 31 Dec 2008: http://www.islamia.com/abraham.htm.
Tuesday, February 24 – Faith like Abraham
C. Stephen Evans, “Introduction,” in Fear and Trembling, ed. C. Stephen Evans and Sylvia Walsh, trans. Sylvia Walsh (New York: Cambridge University Press, 2006), pp. vi-xxx.
Søren Kierkegaard, “Tuning Up” and “A Tribute to Abraham,” in Ibid., pp. 7-20.
Tuesday, March 3
Glenn M. Miller, “Sacrifice in the New Testament,” The Great Irruption: Christ’s Work on the Cross
Tuesday, March 10
Glenn M. Miller, “Redemption in the Old Testament,” The Great Irruption: Christ’s Work on the Cross
Tuesday, March 17 – Law and Righteousness
Romans 2:12-8:17
Matthew 5:17-19
Saturday, March 21-Sunday, March 28 – U of I Spring Break
Tuesday, March 31
Glenn M. Miller, “Redemption in the New Testament,” The Great Irruption: Christ’s Work on the Cross
Tuesday, April 7
Glenn M. Miller, “Reconciliation,” The Great Irruption: Christ’s Work on the Cross
Friday, April 10,
Wesley UMC Sanctuary, 7pm
Tenebrae Service
Wesley Movie Theater, 8pm
Mel Gibson, The Passion of the Christ (2004). Discussion to follow.
Sunday, April 12 – Easter Sunday
You are cordially invited to Michael and Kristen’s house for a potluck Easter dinner, 5:30-8pm. We will provide drinks and the main meat course (TBA); please the separate thread to sign up for sides and desserts.
Tuesday, April 14 – Christ as Priest and Lamb
Leviticus 21-22
Hebrews 1-10, 12-13
Bruce Chilton, “Epilogue: Two Priesthoods of the Absent Temple,” The Temple of Jesus: His Sacrificial Program Within a Cultural History of Sacrifice (University Park, PA: The Pennsylvania State University Press, 1992), pp.155-159.
Tuesday, April 21 – Atonement
Leviticus 16-17, 23: 26-32
“Atonement,” The New Interpreter’s Dictionary of the Bible (2006)
Claude Beaufort Moss, “The Atonement in History,” Part I, Chapter 30 in The Christian Faith (London: The Chaucer Press, 1965, 1943). Prepared for katapi by Paul Ingram, 2004. Accessed 28 Dec 2008: http://www.katapi.org.uk/ChristianFaith/XXX.htm.
Robb McCoy, “’With,’ not ‘For,’” The Fat Pastor (20 Oct 2008). Accessed 28 Dec 2008: http://fatpastor.wordpress.com/2008 /10/20/with-not-for/.
Tuesday, April 28 – Why God Became Man
Anselm, “Cur Deus Homo,” Anselm of Canterbury: The Major Works, ed. Brian Davies and G.R. Evans (New York: Oxford University Press, 1998), pp. vii-x, xvii-xviii, 260-267, 270-271, 274-286, 300-307, 313-315, 318-352.
Tuesday, May 5 – Christus Victor
Glenn M. Miller, “Christus Victor,” The Great Irruption: Christ’s Work on the Cross
Tuesday, May 12 – “Living Sacrifice”
1 Cornithians 11:12-34
Romans 12:1-8
Bruce Chilton, “The Sacrifice of Jesus,” The Temple of Jesus: His Sacrificial Program Within a Cultural History of Sacrifice (University Park, PA: The Pennsylvania State University Press, 1992), pp. 100-111, 137-154.
United Methodist Church Communion Liturgy
We will celebrate Communion this evening with Pastor Rob Kirby.
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