The Bible & the English Major
All Articles & Episodes
Maren's articles marry her love of stories and her fascination with living connected to a God who loves us. The Bible and the English Major examines Bible stories the way an English major would, through multiple methods of interpretation presented in fun, accessible bites.
Visit “The Bible and the English Major” page to learn more about specific seasons, guests, and what people are saying.
The Road to Rebekah, Part 1: Permission Granted
Amidst global heartache, I turn to exploring of the struggles and triumphs of book writing. It's about embracing imperfection and finding the courage to 'suck' at something new. Let's navigate these challenges together on the Road to Rebekah.
I'm Baaaaaaaack!
Good news, Bible and the English Major fans! The podcast is back with new episodes starting in January. Find out what's coming by giving a quick listen here!
The Woman Caught in Adultery, Part 4: Conversations With a Friend: Jennifer Garcia Bashaw
We conclude this series on John 8 with a conversation with Dr. Jennifer Garcia Bashaw about her book, "Scapegoats, the Gospel through the Eyes of Victims." She helps us understand better ways to read the Bible and why English majors are the best. Those are her words, I promise!
The Woman Caught in Adultery, Part 3: Stoop, Stand, Speak, Repeat
Have you noticed Jesus' moves yet? He shows them off with the Pharisees and Teachers of the Law first. Then he repeats them for the accused woman. Individual results vary, but Jesus makes his point, and it's all about justice.
The Woman Caught in Adultery, Part 2: Such a (Greek) Tragedy
Noticing the Greek tragedy structure of this story shines a dramatic spotlight on its central theme. All the tragic goodness, including the crisis, climax, and fatal flaw, lies with the Pharisees and not with the woman, leaving the theme that usually distracts us backstage.
The Woman Caught in Adultery, Part 1: What a Terrible Title
The story’s title has made the woman caught in adultery the infamous star of the show. But when we do a little grammatical analysis, we see she functions far more like a prop for the Pharisees than a leading lady. How then, has she become the title character?
The Gospels are Raining Men, Part 3: So What?
Of the privileged men in the Gospels, Jairus is one we can learn from. We're circling back to Mark's sandwich story of Jairus and the hemorrhaging woman because the theological meat in this story is not only faith but privilege. Who knew the Bible talked about such scandalous stuff?
The Gospels are Raining Men, Part 2: But Why?
Jairus, Nicodemus, and an unnamed lawyer all take their places in the Gospels to show us how blinding privilege can be. Wanna see Jesus? Look where he's looking: at the pain of the marginalized ones. For their own reasons, Mark, Luke, and John use the men to help us focus on the fringes.
The Gospels are Raining Men, Part 1: But One is Missing
The Samaritan Woman at the Well reports that her privileged male counterpart has gone missing. Could it be the Pharisee, Nicodemus? Investigate John's use of juxtaposition through characterization, plot, and mood to find her foil.
Martha's Story, Part 6: Conversations With a Friend: Inés Velásquez-McBryde
We conclude our Martha’s Story series with a conversation with Pastora Inés Velásquez-McBryde from The Church We Hope For. She talks about the ethics of who gets centered both by the words of the storytellers and by the actions of Jesus. In God’s upside-down kingdom, the margins become the middle.
Martha's Story, Part 5: Biblical Fanfiction
Inspired by the Midrash of the ancient rabbis, Maren takes a crack at Biblical Fanfiction. What do you imagine the lawyer thought about Jesus' Good Samaritan parable? What if Martha heard it, too? And the bottom line question: can creativity can also be a tool in biblical interpretation? You decide.
Martha's Story, Part 4: The (Blank) Samaritan
Are we so familiar with the "good" Samaritan parable that we're too comfortable with it? Maren offers three readings that provoke the usual interpretation and point to the kingdom of God. Warning: the author has been walking around convicted for weeks. She hopes you'll join her.
Martha's Story, Part 3: The Genre of Provocation
A properly read parable has never caused a case of the warm fuzzies. Parables were meant to confuse and disturb, to help the audience question the ways of this world and engage in the counter-cultural kingdom of God. Find out how the lawyer, so certain of his righteousness, responds to a good tweaking.
Martha's Story, Part 2: Characters in Context
Martha has suffered too long in her sister Mary's shadow. Let's compare her to the 70 followers Jesus sends out and the self-righteous lawyer also found in Luke 10. What light can a good character foil shine?
Martha's Story, Part 1: To Serve or to Pray? What a Boring Question
Luke’s story about Mary and Martha has left scholars debating for centuries, leading to character analysis paralysis. Let’s get past the heroine/villain question to figure out Luke's bigger point.
Martha's Story, Introduction: Confessions of an English Major
Welcome to a new season on a couple of sisters, Martha and Mary! Maren confesses how she used to see this story, and offers an apology. In the beautiful words of Mary Oliver, "Congratulations if you have changed."
From "To Begin With, the Sweet Grass" by Mary Oliver
Woman at the Well, Part 6: Conversations With a Friend: DanaLee Simon
We conclude our series on John 4 with a conversation with Pastor and Spiritual Director DanaLee Simon. DanaLee and Maren use their spiritual imaginations to explore the mysteries of the Samaritan woman's story. Then DanaLee introduces us to spiritual direction practices to help us soak up some good Living Water.
Woman at the Well, Part 5: Living Water Flows Where She Flows, Baby
An angelic tour guide takes the prophet, Ezekiel, on a trippy journey through a restored temple gushing with Living Water. John clearly digs the imagery because he uses it over six centuries later in his story of the Woman at the Well to reveal God's groovy side. Right on, Holy Spirit!
Woman at the Well, Part 4: Jacob and Rachel, Sitting in a Tree
Gospel writer John knows a thing or two about romance. His Woman at the Well story contains the same juicy narrative elements as Rachel and Jacob's betrothal in Genesis 29. Scandalous, you say? Just like the extravagant love of God.
Woman at the Well, Part 3: The Messiah Who Sees
Hagar and the Samaritan woman talk theology at a watering hole and discover they share intriguing similarities. To find out why, we'll eavesdrop on their conversation, inspect John's motives for writing, and even uncover an ancient (chiastic) pyramid. Get ready to dig.