For the past few years a "surprise" hits the media outlets that seemingly challenges or undercuts the basic tenets of Christianity during Holy Week. Sometimes its an archeological artifact or "lost" gospel manuscript which later is shown to be either a hoax or not "new" information after all and sometimes it is a book with a controversial thesis.
So I'd been wondering what Holy Week Surprise we'd be treated to this year and was just about to conclude that the very early Easter date might interfere with this newly evolving "tradition" when I read on Ben Witherington's blog that Bart Ehrman's new book, titled God's Problem, may fit the bill. I haven't read the book yet but Witherington links to a reviewer that has, so you can check it out here.
So I'd been wondering what Holy Week Surprise we'd be treated to this year and was just about to conclude that the very early Easter date might interfere with this newly evolving "tradition" when I read on Ben Witherington's blog that Bart Ehrman's new book, titled God's Problem, may fit the bill. I haven't read the book yet but Witherington links to a reviewer that has, so you can check it out here.
The last Ehrman book I read suffered from the author's determination to make his research fit his thesis rather than allowing his research to shape his thesis. So I wouldn't be surprised to see this be once again more Ehrman's problem than God's problem. God's problem in this book is the problem of suffering--which is a profound theological question indeed. However anyone who has read the entire Bible knows that it teaches that believers will have suffering in this world but that God will be with us in that suffering.
As Witherington notes, Ehrman is continuing to react to his early religious background which was very conservative and literal in its interpretation of Christianity. A professor of religion at UNC-Chapel Hill, he is now an agnostic rather than a believer. I've listened to many of his lectures for The Learning Company and find that he is a talented lecturer and scholar. He's clearly still wrestling with Christianity, and I pray that at some Holy Week in the future Ehrman will surprise us again with a return to a newly understood faith.
As Witherington notes, Ehrman is continuing to react to his early religious background which was very conservative and literal in its interpretation of Christianity. A professor of religion at UNC-Chapel Hill, he is now an agnostic rather than a believer. I've listened to many of his lectures for The Learning Company and find that he is a talented lecturer and scholar. He's clearly still wrestling with Christianity, and I pray that at some Holy Week in the future Ehrman will surprise us again with a return to a newly understood faith.
We happened upon the middle of an interview with Ehrman on NPR the other day. We thought we were listening to Sam Harris or Richard Dawkins, and were surprised to find it was Bart Ehrman. I've enjoyed his past work, too, and I certainly agree with your prayer.
ReplyDelete