Online Book Discussion

Marcus J. Borg

Reading the Bible Again for the First Time.

Taking the Bible Seriously but not Literally.

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SCHEDULE

Links to Additional Resources from RBAFT Study Guide

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12

WHEN WHAT

WEEK ONE:
Sunday, 22 Sept

In the first week of discussion it is suggested that we take the first three chapters that provide the "foundations" for the discussion later in the book:

1. Reading Lenses: Seeing the Bible Again
2. Reading Lenses: The Bible and God
3. Reading Lenses: History and Metaphor

For further background information on Marcus Borg, see the additional resources for session 1 of the study guide.

The additional materials for sessions 2, 3 & 4 have links to resources relevant to these chapters, and also to the following worksheets included in the study guide:

Opinion Grid
Exploring the World of the Metaphor

WEEK TWO:
Sunday, 29 Sept

We begin the main part of Borg's book with a focus on "Reading the Creation Stories Again" (ch. 4).

Creation themes feature in the following passages from the Hebrew Bible:

Genesis 1:1-2:4a
Genesis 2:4b-3:24
Ezekiel 28:11-19
Psalm 104
Job 38-39

The online resources for session 5 include links to sites that feature creation stories from various cultures.

WEEK THREE:
Sunday, 6 Oct

The discussion this week will focus on "Reading the Pentateuch Again" (ch. 5), but with a focus on the following aspects:

The Fathers and Mothers of Israel (pp. 88-90)
Egypt and Bondage (pp. 94-98)
Sinai and the Covenant (pp. 98-102)

Divine violence and divinely-sanctioned violence forms part of the dark side of the Bible and the Judeo-Christian religious tradition. These issues emerge in this week's discussion.

The supplementary resources include links to iTanakh and the Theban Mapping Project, as well as a paper prepared for the Spring 2001 Westar "Once & Future Faith" conference.

WEEK FOUR:
Sunday, 13 Oct

This week will focus on "Reading the Prophets Again" (ch 6).

To supplement Borg's focus on Amos, and the "writing prophets" more generally, you may wish to check the following passages for representative texts from the pre-literary prophets (Samuel, Elijah), deuteronomistic period (Jeremiah), and the exilic period (Second Isaiah):

1 Samuel 7-12
1 Kings 17-19 & 2 Kings 1-9
Jeremiah 7-9
Isaiah 40-55

The additional resources provide links to online commentaries and other tools.

WEEEK FIVE:
Sunday, 20 Oct

"Reading Israel's Wisdom Again" (ch. 7) completes Borg's treatment of the Hebrew Bible.

The key wisdom texts from Jewish writings of the second Temple period are the following:

Proverbs 8-9
Job 28
Sirach 24
Wisdom of Solomon 7-10
Baruch 3-4

The additional resources include an RTF document with the text of all the New Testament Sophia texts mentioned by Borg, as well as links to the Gospel of Thomas, and a liturgy with Sophia themes.

WEEK SIX:
Sunday, 27 Oct

We begin Borg's treatment of the New Testament with "Reading the Gospels Again" (ch 8).

In this chapter, Borg will focus on two major threads:

The gospels as thematic constructions (pp. 192-205)
Selected texts: metaphorical narratives (pp. 205-18)

The additional materials include links to the Common Sayings Tradition, to notes from an important essay by Elizabeth A. Johnson, and various other historical Jesus resources.

WEEK SEVEN:
Sunday, 3 Nov
In "Reading Paul Again" (ch 9), Borg makes no secret of his admiration for Paul, who he understands as a Jew with a Christ-centered mysticism.

The key threads in this chapter seem to be:

Paul's personal religious experience
Paul as Christian missionary and leader
Paul's interpretation of Jesus

At this stage the additional materials only include a link to my essay, "What did Paul know about Jesus? from The Fourth R 12/1 (Jan/Feb 1999). Other links should be added before long.

WEEK EIGHT:
Sunday, 10 Nov
"Reading Revelation Again" (ch 10) seems a fitting way to conclude the book and this series.

After a brief introduction to the book and its genre, Borg devotes most of the chapter to the following issues:

Alternative ways of reading revelation (pp. 273-79)
Major theme: a clash of empires (pp. 279-91)

The additional materials provide a link to the dramatic oral performance of the Book of Revelation by David Rhoads.

We will also look at Borg's concluding remarks in the Epilogue.

Send us your suggestions for more supplementary materials!

MORE, MUCH MORE, TO COME!!!
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WHEN	WHAT
WEEK ONE: Sunday, 22 Sept	In the first week of discussion it is suggested that we take the first three chapters that provide the "foundations" for the discussion later in the book: 1. Reading Lenses: Seeing the Bible Again 2. Reading Lenses: The Bible and God 3. Reading Lenses: History and Metaphor For further background information on Marcus Borg, see the additional resources for session 1 of the study guide. The additional materials for sessions 2, 3 & 4 have links to resources relevant to these chapters, and also to the following worksheets included in the study guide: Opinion Grid Exploring the World of the Metaphor
WEEK TWO: Sunday, 29 Sept	We begin the main part of Borg's book with a focus on "Reading the Creation Stories Again" (ch. 4). Creation themes feature in the following passages from the Hebrew Bible: Genesis 1:1-2:4a Genesis 2:4b-3:24 Ezekiel 28:11-19 Psalm 104 Job 38-39 The online resources for session 5 include links to sites that feature creation stories from various cultures.
WEEK THREE: Sunday, 6 Oct	The discussion this week will focus on "Reading the Pentateuch Again" (ch. 5), but with a focus on the following aspects: The Fathers and Mothers of Israel (pp. 88-90) Egypt and Bondage (pp. 94-98) Sinai and the Covenant (pp. 98-102) Divine violence and divinely-sanctioned violence forms part of the dark side of the Bible and the Judeo-Christian religious tradition. These issues emerge in this week's discussion. The supplementary resources include links to iTanakh and the Theban Mapping Project, as well as a paper prepared for the Spring 2001 Westar "Once & Future Faith" conference.
WEEK FOUR: Sunday, 13 Oct	This week will focus on "Reading the Prophets Again" (ch 6). To supplement Borg's focus on Amos, and the "writing prophets" more generally, you may wish to check the following passages for representative texts from the pre-literary prophets (Samuel, Elijah), deuteronomistic period (Jeremiah), and the exilic period (Second Isaiah): 1 Samuel 7-12 1 Kings 17-19 & 2 Kings 1-9 Jeremiah 7-9 Isaiah 40-55 The additional resources provide links to online commentaries and other tools.
WEEEK FIVE: Sunday, 20 Oct	"Reading Israel's Wisdom Again" (ch. 7) completes Borg's treatment of the Hebrew Bible. The key wisdom texts from Jewish writings of the second Temple period are the following: Proverbs 8-9 Job 28 Sirach 24 Wisdom of Solomon 7-10 Baruch 3-4 The additional resources include an RTF document with the text of all the New Testament Sophia texts mentioned by Borg, as well as links to the Gospel of Thomas, and a liturgy with Sophia themes.
WEEK SIX: Sunday, 27 Oct	We begin Borg's treatment of the New Testament with "Reading the Gospels Again" (ch 8). In this chapter, Borg will focus on two major threads: The gospels as thematic constructions (pp. 192-205) Selected texts: metaphorical narratives (pp. 205-18) The additional materials include links to the Common Sayings Tradition, to notes from an important essay by Elizabeth A. Johnson, and various other historical Jesus resources.
WEEK SEVEN: Sunday, 3 Nov	In "Reading Paul Again" (ch 9), Borg makes no secret of his admiration for Paul, who he understands as a Jew with a Christ-centered mysticism. The key threads in this chapter seem to be: Paul's personal religious experience Paul as Christian missionary and leader Paul's interpretation of Jesus At this stage the additional materials only include a link to my essay, "What did Paul know about Jesus? from The Fourth R 12/1 (Jan/Feb 1999). Other links should be added before long.
WEEK EIGHT: Sunday, 10 Nov	"Reading Revelation Again" (ch 10) seems a fitting way to conclude the book and this series. After a brief introduction to the book and its genre, Borg devotes most of the chapter to the following issues: Alternative ways of reading revelation (pp. 273-79) Major theme: a clash of empires (pp. 279-91) The additional materials provide a link to the dramatic oral performance of the Book of Revelation by David Rhoads. We will also look at Borg's concluding remarks in the Epilogue.

Online Book Discussion

Marcus J. Borg

Reading the Bible Again for the First Time.

Taking the Bible Seriously but not Literally.

SCHEDULE Links to Additional Resources from RBAFT Study Guide 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12

SCHEDULE

Links to Additional Resources from RBAFT Study Guide

SCHEDULE

Links to Additional Resources from RBAFT Study Guide

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12