A Suggestion

Following the thread entitled The Synoptic Problem it is clear that the participants in this groups, although some of them "read the Bible through in one year," don't even know what the Bible says. They certainly have far different readings in the commentaries on the Bible.

So here is a suggestion.

This is Librarything. Those unfamiliar with the facts might think that the discussions in this and other forums are (gasp) about books.

There is a plainly written short book that came out several years ago regarding Paul. It is written by a Christian scholar who teaches and has taught at middle of the road schools of theology. This scholar is considered by many as THE recent expert on Paul. The book is very inexpensive, particularly if purchased in electronic form or used. It is arranged topically. Paul: A Very Short Introduction

Why doesn't everyone buy a copy and we can go through it by chapter and sub-chapter, one by one. There will then be a common basis for the discussion. Everyone can express his or her own view according to a common text that clearly and briefly expresses its own perspective. Since the text in question continually cites to the Bible, each person can also state their own interpretation of what the Bible REALLY MEANS in the passages being cited to by this author.

I think from what I have read about this author and his new perspective on Paul this will end up bringing up quite a bit of disagreement, however, that being said, here is a link so that anyone who wants to participate in this can read the book for free:

http://www.questia.com/library/book/paul-a-very-short-introduction-by-e-p-sander...

I am not sure how much I will be able to participate, but I think it is an intriguing idea.

I assume that you, lawecon, will be the facilitator. Is this correct?

I am in. Terry, thanks for the link to the free version. I do not think I have that book by Sanders.

I am not quite sure how to facilitate the discussion. Tim has provided us with a facility. We can all type, and I'm certain that most will be better able than I am to code their posts to use bolding, italics, etc. so that their typed words will be less ambiguous than mine.

I do recommend that we encourage those who have not actually read the book, and, perhaps, checked out the authors references, not to participate. The whole idea is to have a common basis from which we can have a discussion. If there are those who don't want to develop even this very modest common basis, then they shouldn't be a part of the discussion.

Perhaps there is some way I am not familiar with to allow those who want to "sign up" to be participants to participate and to exclude those who don't want to "sign up." In any case, I would like to defeat the notion that the the only thing that can go on in these forums is uninformed and baseless "chatter," where we each just "state our opinions."

>4 lawecon: I'm certain that most will be better able than I am to code their posts to use bolding, italics, etc.

Look here for a lot of help with such things - http://www.librarything.com/topic/35356

Os.

Count me in; I own the book.

I will also be sure to read it.

Excellent. Thank you all. Would you like to make a date certain the "deadline" for opening comments on, say, Chapter 1?

I will need a couple weeks to really be active. I am finishing up leading a 4 week Sunday School study. BTW that class will begin a 10 week study of Karen Armstrong's The Great Transformation, if anyone would like to read along. We could parallel that class on LT.

The Paul discussion though should not wait for my convenience. I will catch up.

I think making deadlines and such is pretty much part of the facilitator's responsibility.

I'd like to participate, and have already begun reading, but my participation will be on and off as my job hunt demands (meaning, I hope it's mostly off - that would be a sign of real opportunities taking up my time).

Look forward to it. It's hard to find a Sunday School class where people are happy to share their own personal heresies!

Os.

I've also already begun reading the online version but my participation will depend on travel and internet access (often I don't have a good enough internet connection to read page after page online).

~8

I would enjoy that if I can find my copy. I recall reading this book and it had many many merits and a few flaws.

Personally, I am not thrilled about this discussion without your active participation. Let's make it two weeks (say July 30th) and the first two chapters. (The thesis of the first chapter is pretty straightforward, in any case.) People can certainly post their comments on the first chapter before then, but the discussion of that first chapter should be considered to remain open.

There, Ambrithill, you have your facilitator, although I am not comfortable in this role.

The online one let me read as far as page 11 and then demanded that I register. Ah well, count me out for the time being as there's no way I can get hold of a hard copy within a reasonable time frame.

You are doing great lawecon!