In what can only be a sign of the pending end of days, agnostic and very irreligious me has been asked to teach a Bible study class. Fortunately, it's the Bible as a work of literature and a historical, cultural, and social document, not the Bible as the revealed word of a geezer-in-the-sky. I'm on the fence on this one, although the organization asking me has made it clear that complete skepticism is a more than okay didactic approach.
But was there no-one else they could call?
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7 comments:
Totally weird.
I *really* wouldn't know where to start....
I took a class on the Bible as literature when I was at Duke. It was facinating! You can totally do this, AND have fun doing it. Try a comparison of The Egyptian Book of the Dead and the Bible for starters :)
"The devil can cite Scripture for his purpose. An evil soul producing holy witness Is like a villain with a smiling cheek."
[1596 Shakespeare Merchant of Venice i. iii. 93]
I trust the non-believers more than the faithful to teach accurately. My Bible as literature classes taught me the Southern Baptist Sunday school classes I had were completely screwed up.
Innana
Mr. Cat: Nah, really, it's a group of agnostics, atheists, and religious people who don't like dogma -- their version of Sunday school.
Kira: Middle school level, but we'll see.
Your Eminence: That's me, I'm sure.
Innana: You know how fondly I think of the organization at which I will be teaching, and they're not looking for someone to indoctrinate. They're apparently looking for someone to honestly say: "God tells Abraham to kill his son, and Abe gets ready to do that. Devout or demonic? You decide."
If they haven't already read it, teach them the book Jesus Interrupted. Just reading it now.
David
David: Well, this is 11 and 12 year olds, so we'll see. I'll look for the book at McKay's (Manassas) and the Book Alcove (Rockville) and the library (anywhere) though. Thanks.
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