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.
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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.
Radical Inclusivity: Jesus, Jairus & the Bleeding Woman
With even more artistry, the writer of the Gospel of Mark uses juxtaposition, symbolism, merism, and a 6-foot party sub to make a very big point about Jesus' renewal of Israel and the faith lying at its heart. And you thought we'd discovered everything.
The Bleeding Woman & Jairus: Risk & Sacrifice
How do we best understand the Pharisees and scribes in the Gospel of Mark from a literary point of view? And what does the juxtaposition of one of their own with a desperate, bleeding woman tell us about taking risks, faith, and healing?
The Bleeding Woman & The Genius of Mark's Sandwich
Mark, the best cook among the Gospel writers, turns Mark 5:21-43 into a yummy literary sandwich full of plot twists, juxtaposition, and faith. Come taste the beauty of a Markan Sandwich and consider: Can art reveal things that science cannot?