Why do you read? Or: Was God married?

Mar 14, 11 • Gender, Reading6 CommentsRead More »

Dr Stavrokopoulou holding a replica of the Kuntillet Ajrud ostracon (from the article on which I am commenting)


Video version here.


The Daily Mail (a UK tabloid newspaper) carried an article “Why the BBC’s new face of religion believes God had a WIFE” (( Yes, the capitals were in the original, for some reason… )) It caused a flurry among the Twittering classes, and on Facebook, and even among the biblioblogs (though in the latter group most dismissed the article saying: What can you expect from a British Tabloid?)

Actually the article is by Dr Francesca Stavrakopoulou a member of the Society for Old Testament Study with a DPhil from Oxford and a job at Exeter University. So in this podcast I’ll take her article seriously, but use it to ask whether and how it matters why one reads.

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6 Responses to Why do you read? Or: Was God married?

  1. […] you are interested inWhy do you read? Or: Was God married? and Are you an idolater? (Not – Was God married? Part Two) I claim Yahweh definitely had a wife […]

  2. […] series of podcasts exploring the deeper issues of why one reads the Bible in the first place (part one, part two, part three, part […]

  3. Patrick Hepburn says:

    A rather interesting and thought provoking blog. Dr Francesca Stavrakopoulou is undoubtedly a prolific historian and presents compelling arguments at first glance but in truth her platform is that of historicity and not Theology (a study of god) which requires much more than and academic perspective. Please inform me of the follow up blog when it is available and extend my thanks to Tim Bulkeley. Excellent!

  4. […] This is the video version of a post whose original audio only version is here. […]

  5. […] See: Tim Bulkeley, “Was God married? Part two: the death of the goddess“ Tim Bulkeley, “Why do you read? Or: Was God married?“ […]