Dr. Mary Youssef is Assistant Professor of Arabic Literature in the Department of Classical and Near Eastern Studies at Binghamton University. Her research areas include Modern and Contemporary Arabic Literature, Postcolonial Studies, World Literature, Genre Studies, Migration Studies, Gender Studies, Arab Women’s Writing and African Literature. She is currently working on a new book: Rethinking…
Category: The Bible as Literature
Cloud of Witnesses
Is each generation an improvement on the previous one? Are people living today the apex of human progress? In practical terms, most of us intuit the problems of western idealism. Even so, we continue to cling to assumptions about human progress that cripple our ability to hear the wisdom handed down to us in the…
Who’s Your Daddy?
When people think of meaningful passages in the Bible, the many lengthy genealogies found in Genesis and elsewhere rarely if ever, come to mind. Yet, it is exactly one such passage–the genealogy in the Gospel of Matthew–that holds significant meaning for the Christmas season. Who are the people listed in the opening verses of Matthew’s…
Playing All Sides
In this week’s episode, Richard explores the Lord’s counter-intuitive stance in Ezekiel, in which judgment falls on all sides and no human being finds favor in God’s sight. Why would the story present God as the one who brings evil against Israel? Why would he use Israel’s enemies only to bring more evil against them,…
The Apostle Paul’s Book Club
Does it matter which book of the Bible you read or which testament it comes from? Where should beginners start? Are some books more important than others? What is the purpose of the New Testament? Is the concept of grace a new idea, or was it part of the story all along? How do the…
Society of Biblical Literature
This week, Richard talks about his presentation at the Society of Biblical Literature gathering in San Diego, where he explored the various ways in which the study of language and poetry can enhance our understanding of the biblical text. The conversation sheds light on the broader goal of this podcast series: to hear, read and…
The Dead Shall Hear the Voice of God and Live
Preachers often adapt themes from popular books and movies to make their sermons seem relevant for children and teens. But what happens when the content of the Bible is so nuanced that even C.S. Lewis can’t capture it in a popular story? What happens when popular Christian themes are out of step with biblical meaning?…
Torah to the Gentiles
Richard interviews Fr. Marc about his new book, Torah to the Gentiles. The letter to the Galatians offers a brief but demanding exposition of the teaching of the Older Testament for a gentile audience. Highlighting the Bible’s struggle against idolatry, power, and human identity, St. Paul’s letter exposes Jerusalem’s fatal misreading of biblical circumcision: a…
I, Paul
In a culture that thrives on positive messages and expects praise from everyone for just about everything, it is easy to assume that St. Paul’s use of praise in his letters is a gesture of kindness. Unfortunately for Philemon, a word of praise isn’t always praise; kindness is not always kind; and useful blessings come…
Do Not Feed Thyself
Richard and Fr. Marc continue their discussion of the biblical functions “shepherd” and “sheep,” exploring these roles in context of Ezekiel 34. Ezekiel’s critique exposes the corruption of Israel’s shepherds, but also undermines common assumptions about the role sheep play in the life of the flock. Do sheep have a career path? I’ll give you…