I know I've previously vowed not to promote other blogs, and I've violated that guideline quite a few times in recent weeks, but still...this is good.
Over on Slate.com, writer David Plotz is "Blogging the Bible." It's a great read.
Bringing an ignorant but intelligent perspective to the Big Book, Plotz basically just recounts his observations on each chapter. He's irreverant, and I'm sure he's taking more than a few jabs from the Christian Right, but it's hard to argue against the points he makes.
Here's his take on the Genesis section where Jacob stages a con to steal his father's blessing from his dumber, stronger brother, Esau:
This story is enthralling and troubling for several reasons. First, I don't think I've ever read anything that's so grim on the relationship of brothers as this first half of Genesis. Cain and Abel, Ham, Shem, and Japheth, Isaac and Ishmael, Esau and Jacob, and soon Joseph and his brothers. The relationship of brothers is purely antagonistic: They battle for inheritance, for God's love, for their father's respect. They conspire against each other, narc on each other, murder each other. There's not a single act of love or kindness between brothers so far. Brothers are only enemies. Was nomadic life so difficult that only one son in any family could hope to prosper?
It's good to get in on reading this while he's still trudging through Genesis. It makes for a nice reading break once a day or so.
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