November 2004 – Page 6

Alter’s Unaltered Five Books Of Moses

(If you’re secure in your faith, can exercise critical thinking skills, and want to learn, that is.)

Robert Alter’s translation of the Pentateuch is out!

For those who may not know, Alter is a major figure in the study of biblical literature. Though he is a secularist and doesn’t even believe that the Bible is the Word of God, he has led a revolution in biblical studies to take the Bible seriously as a work of literature and stop trying to deconstruct it into ever smaller and more dubious sources. He further has adopted a translation philosophy that allows the style and literary genius of the original text to show through into English, instead of trying to mask it with an artificial cloak of English style.

He’s been publishing excellent books on biblical literature for some years, and a few years ago he published a translation of Genesis, whose Introduction (concerning the flaws in contemporary translations) is worth the price of the volume all by itself.

Now he has supplemented his Genesis volume with translations of Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy, making it a complete set of the Torah, or Pentateush.

Here’s a CNN story on the subject (and, being CNN, it doesn’t fully appreciate what Alter is doing).

Alter’s work will help you view the Pentateuch through new eyes.

This guy may not be a Christian, but there is a lot one can learn from him, even if he’s not right on everything.

I’ve already ordered MY COPY!

U.K. YAHOOS + End Of The World Stuff = ???

. . . a British schoolteacher who tells her 13-14-year old class that their world is about to end and scares them out of their wits in a brainless attempt to give them a warm fuzzy.

GET THE STORY.

End Of The World Stuff

INTERESTING REFLECTIONS ON THE FILMING OF DR. STRANGELOVE FROM JAMES EARL JONES.

Among other things, he reveals that Stanley Kubrik was a control freak (no newsflash there) and in the process discloses why George C. Scott was so (wonderfully) over-the-top.

U.K. YAHOOS: St. Mary Magdalene School Should Take "Saint" Out Of Its Name

Might offend non-Christians, y’see.

There a bit in Star Trek VI where, after having just saved the world, the gang is told to bring the Enterprise in for decommissioning.

Spock replies:

If I were human, I believe my response would be . . . "Go To Hell." . . . If I were human.

Well St. Mary Magdalene was kind of close to someone who did saved the world and who made her a saint by his grace.

And I am human.

So, apparently, are a lot of the parents of St. Mary Magdalene School children.

GET THE STORY.

Note, especially, the response of the local Jewish folks.

U.K. YAHOOS: St. Mary Magdalene School Should Take “Saint” Out Of Its Name

Might offend non-Christians, y’see.

There a bit in Star Trek VI where, after having just saved the world, the gang is told to bring the Enterprise in for decommissioning.

Spock replies:

If I were human, I believe my response would be . . . "Go To Hell." . . . If I were human.

Well St. Mary Magdalene was kind of close to someone who did saved the world and who made her a saint by his grace.

And I am human.

So, apparently, are a lot of the parents of St. Mary Magdalene School children.

GET THE STORY.

Note, especially, the response of the local Jewish folks.

The U.N. Scandal

If you’re like me (i.e., not a total political news junkie) then you may have heard about the investigation and blossoming scandal involving the United Nations but you may not have a clear picture of what the issues are or what is being done (or not done) to address them.

HERE’S A GOOD OVERVIEW.

Sounds as if some folks in the Senate otherwise favorably disposed to the U.N. are getting fed up.

Bishops' Task Force on Catholic Politicians

The bishops are having one of their biannual meetings this week and, now that the election is over, Cardinal McCarrick gave a report in which he discussed the bishops’ role in the recent election cycle and in which he outlined plans for future actions in this area.

HERE IS THE TEXT.

Bishops’ Task Force on Catholic Politicians

HERE IS THE TEXT.

Studios Sue Pixar, Demand Bad Movie

SDG here with a too funny "story" from satire site DatelineHollywood.com.

Hollywood — The eight major Hollywood studios have filed suit against CGI animation company Pixar for its consistent record of quality movies. The complaint alleges that with its sixth consecutive profitable and critically acclaimed film in “The Incredibles,” Pixar is overturning a decades-long public relations campaign waged by Hollywood studios to convince the public that it’s impossible to consistently make high quality films. “If Pixar doesn’t get with the program, we’re going to have to fundamentally change the way we do business,” groused Paramount chairwoman Sherry Lansing, whose studio hasn’t produced a hit film in several years. “I repeat my recommendation to Steve Jobs that he pay John Travolta and Halle Berry $20 million each to provide voices for an effects-laden remake of ‘The Fox and the Hound.’”

Get the “story.”

Blue States' Rights

Being out of power nationally can give one an appreciation for the value of states rights.

It is argued that this is something the blue states are starting to become aware of.

But could deciding to stay out of each others’ hair and let the states do what they want on a larger range of issues without interference from the federal government?

ONE GUY SAYS NO.

BUT A RECENT PIECE I LINKED FROM WALTER WILLIAMS MIGHT SEEM TO SUGGEST OTHERWISE.