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God the Midwife: a repost with new format

May 1, 2012 No comments

With mothers’ day coming up it seems a good time to reissue an old post, with a new format and somewhat cleaned up audio. I briefly remind you of some of the passages that picture God as a midwife. The Hebrew Bible (Old Testament) regularly pictures Yahweh as intimately associated with forming in the womb and with birthing. In view of “his” role as midwife “he” can hardly have been thought of as a male god.

Remembering this stuff and celebrating motherly God (who is no god) is particularly appropriate as we approach mother’s day! Better for us than extra chocolate too ;) And it’s not un-topical here in NZ where the TV is showing a drama about Midwives just now, either.

God the Midwife [ 5:01 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
God the Midwife [ 5:01 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
Gender, Genesis, Jeremiah, Job, OT, Psalms, Theology none

Understanding contradictions: 1 Cor 14:34 (Part 2)

December 14, 2011 4 comments

Contradiction: Photo by topastrodfogna

 

 

In part one I drew attention to the problem that this verse seems to contradict what Paul himself approves and to some funny things going on in and around the verse. Here I’ll focus on my reason for mentioning this, how we should respond when a Bible passage seems to contradict what the same author says or does elsewhere…

 

Understanding contradictions: 1 Cor 14:34 (Part 2) [ 4:38 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
Understanding contradictions: 1 Cor 14:34 (Part 2) [ 4:38 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
1&2 Corinthians, Context, Gender, Textual criticism none

Understanding contradictions: 1 Cor 14:34 (Part 1)

December 13, 2011 3 comments

Photo by Chicago Man

Perhaps no Bible text illustrates the dangers of a simplistic reading of Scripture than 1 Cor 14:34.

If we tear this verse from its cotext,1 and then read it as if the Bible were “God’s instruction manual for life” and even worse read it also literally then we are in trouble! The verse (in the fairly literal NET)2 reads:

the women should be silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak. Rather, let them be in submission, as in fact the law says.

The verse is full of oddities.3 Not the least of which is that in 1 Cor 11:4-6 Paul assumes that both women and men will pray and prophesy, and in this same chapter 1 Cor 14:4-5 suggests the same thing, and that this is indeed in the public meeting (cf. v.4). Paul seems to be contradicting himself!

What is going on, and how should we interpret such passages?

 

Understanding contradictions: 1 Cor 14:34 (Part 1) [ 4:36 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
Understanding contradictions: 1 Cor 14:34 (Part 1) [ 4:29 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
  1. Or for a podcast. [↩]
  2. Even the NRSV is less literal here omiting the “the” before women, one of the oddities of this verse is that Paul seems to be talking about some particular women. [↩]
  3. Another is the way most English translations make the first sentence a run-on from the verse before, though many MSS mark vv.34-5 off from the surrounding texts. [↩]
1&2 Corinthians, Context, Gender, Textual criticism none

More on gendered text: Turning the tables

September 14, 2011 3 comments

When I searched for "my beloved among young men" (Song 2:3) this photo by Steve Punter turned up.

Gender is not (only) a Feminist issue!

I ended my double post Proverbs as a gendered text and Proverbs as a gendered text: Proverbs 31:10ff. with the question of where reading such (strongly) male texts left women readers. Sadly it has had little response, (though thank you Judy :)

So I’ll end this podcast with a reverse of the question with which I ended the one on Pr 31, and suggest there are parts of the Bible that heterosexual men can only read with the help of a little creative gender bending.

Let’s see what you make of my (literal) reading of Song 2:1ff.?!

More on gendered texts: Turning the tables

Gender, Reading, Song of Songs none

Proverbs as a gendered text: Proverbs 31:10ff.

September 6, 2011 4 comments

Proverbs 31-19 Weaving "She handles the distaff, and her hands support the spindle" (Proverbs 31-19) Work by Dvorit Ben-Shaul - Photo by zeevveez

The poem in Prov 31:10ff. has been read in various ways, by men and by women, as an oppressive and as a liberating text. I will suggest two clues to making sense of the poem. The first is to read it in the context of the book of Proverbs (and not as an isolated poem), and the second is to read it precisely as a gendered text.

This podcast was provoked by reading a short piece on this text by Ann Wansborough produced back in 1992 for the Uniting Church in Australia’s “Commission on Women and Men”. (Thank you Judy :)

BTW since Proverbs is a gendered text, and since I read it as a male, I offer an invitation to my women listeners to do a short (ideally 4-6 minute) female reflection on this text from a woman’s perspective to set alongside mine… Where/How do you find the Strong Woman?

Here’s the audio: Proverbs as a gendered text: Proverbs 31:10ff..

Gender, Proverbs none

Proverbs as a gendered text

September 3, 2011 3 comments

Old Babylonian Queen of the Night (Ishtar?) Photo by seriykotik1970

While it is quite clear that Proverbs is a gendered text, the way it speaks of women is interesting. For a text coming from an ancient patriarchal society human women who serve as aspirational models are a surprise.

No doubt any real Feminist would instantly switch into “pedestal” mode, but I think it’s worth pausing and noticing what’s going on, and maybe as I’ll suggest in a follow-up podcast finding inspiration for contemporary spiritualities…

Here is the audio: Proverbs as a gendered text

 

Gender, Proverbs none

Humour in the Bible Book 7 Judges: Gender Bending

May 2, 2011 No comments

Barak the son of Abinoam from Kedesh in Naphtali, was a military general in the Book of Judges in the Bible. "Promptuarii Iconum Insigniorum" Published by Guillaume Rouille (1518?-1589) Wikimedia

Judges is one Bible book where it has been common to recognise humour. Ehud killing the fat and oppressive king Eglon in the toilet has been a popular example, though  I’ll pretty much leave the scatology to David and others who appreciate it ;)

I’d rather focus on gender.

In Judges relationships between men and women are either funny or horrible.

The story of Deborah (Judges 4) may provide examples, but the humour in the poem (Judges 5) is much clearer. It shows all nine of my diagnostic signs of humour. And develops some powerful (and this being Judges disturbing) gender bending humour. Though after the harsh laughs of the role reversals it is with a pleasant smile that we notice the delight Sisera’s womenfolk take in their imagined looted finery with “divers colours of needlework on both sides” (Judges 5:30) with its gender stereotyping ;)
So, here’s the link to the audio:  Humour in the Bible Book 7 Judges: Gender Bending

Gender, Humour, Judges none

Yahweh: God the midwife

March 18, 2011 No comments

Giotto di Bondone (1267-1337), Cappella Scrovegni a Padova, Life of Christ, Nativity, Birth of Jesus - detail with midwife Salome. (Image from Wikipedia)

In this podcast I’ll briefly argue that since the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament) regularly pictures Yahweh as intimately associated with both forming in the womb and birthing, and particularly since “his” role is often as midwife “he” cannot be thought of as a male god. Rather “he” is God and as later (though very early since several key Patristic fathers say it) in God there is no gender, God is not part of any group (gender).

The primary passage I’ll discuss is Psalm 22:9-10 (MT 10-11). This is discussed more fully in the section Yahweh and the womb of my online discussable book Not Only a Father.

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Gender, Genesis, Job, Psalms, Theology , , , ,

Was God married? Part two: the death of the goddess

March 17, 2011 2 comments

The massive gate honouring the goddess Ishtar was an impressive featuree of ancient Babylon, it has been rebuilt in Berlin's Pewrgamon Museum (Photo Tim Bulkeley)

Francesca Stavrakopoulou closed her article “Why the BBC’s new face of religion believes God had a WIFE” saying:

I can’t help but wonder what the world would be like had the goddess remained.

Let’s explore the evidence and try to answer her speculation. This evidence comes mainly from surrounding peoples, though the Bible has some contribution to make, so this podcast can squeak into a series called 5 Minute Bible ;)

Most of ancient Israel’s neighbours had pantheons which included prominent goddesses alongside gods. In Egypt Isis was particularly important, while in Mesopotamia the gate named after Ishtar was a hugely impressive archaeological feature. In Ugarit, Anat the sister and wife of Ba’al had an important role to play in restoring the king of the gods to life.

Could Israel have benefitted from a female companion for Yahweh?

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Gender , , ,

Are you an idolater? (Not – Was God married? Part Two)

March 15, 2011 No comments

Image from a pot found at Kuntillet Ajrud above the inscription mentioning "Yahweh of Samaria and his Asherah" (from Wikipedia)

I know I promised two sequels to yesterday’s podcast. But I think I need first to explore the theme of the gender of God (Yahweh) in the Old Testament, and the evidence for Yahweh’s wife, a bit more first. Bear with me and we will get to “Why do you read? Part two: The genocide of the Canaanites” and “Was God married? Part two: the death of the goddess” just be patient ;)

PS: In the Mail article Stavrokopoulou says that the Kuntillet Ajrud pithos is lost, yesterday Hershel Shanks published a piece in the Jerusalem Post saying it has been recovered. (HT Claude Mariottini)

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Right-click here to save the podcast for this audio

For now more on the evidence for Yahweh-God’s wife…

Gender, History, Theology none
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