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 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.
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