PODCAST · religion
Solomon's Bookcase
by Steven Griffin
Presenting Christian exegesis and thought through the lens of progressive and courageous academic scholarship. Our podcast is ideal for Christians who are struggling to grasp the relevance of their faith and beliefs, as well as former Christians who have become disillusioned at the seeming lack of critical discourse and input into their spiritual life.
Episodes
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St Boniface and the Legend of the First Christmas Tree
In our fourth annual Christmas installment, an Oak Tree grove dedicated to Thor, the northern European god of thunder, is visited by Saint Boniface in 723 CE. Boniface takes it upon himself to dispose the world of this oak, and in its place, anoint a small evergreen as the "new" symbol of...
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The Spaces Between: Intertestamental Theology on Angels and Demons
With the vast majority of what would call the "Old Testament" composed and edited, and with Judea under continual military and political threats from outside, the Jewish theological literature did not simply freeze in place. In these last few centuries leading into the 1st c. CE, scrolls such as…
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The Year of the Hermit - Academics Reflect on Covid-19 and Isolation
A session at the 2021 American Academy of Religion's Annual Meeting, consisting of 3 papers, reflected on the ancient wisdom that might be found from the period of late antiquity in regards to isolation. How did the early hermits of the Christian faith view their lives of isolation and...
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A Christmas Coronation Gone Wrong - William the Conqueror
After the Battle of Hastings in September of 1066, William the Conqueror was in a tremendous hurry to consolidate his power, and thus elected to arrange his coronation ceremony on Christmas Day of that same year. The chaos that ensued was certainly not according to plan!
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Ancient Flying Serpent Seraphs and You: A Primer
Angels are often portrayed as messengers, yet the prophet Isaiah describes a very different type of "angelic" encounter with 6-winged flying creatures bathing in smoke. Isaiah doesn't even seem that surprised to see them - perhaps there's a reason for that? Oh, and we'll talk about the Angel of...
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How Do You Talk to an Angel? Gideon's Commissioning
Judge-to-be Gideon, a resistance fighter under oppression by a foreign army, is visited by a divine messenger. Gideon has some pretty direct questions for his angelic visitor, and remains somewhat unconvinced that his commissioning as a deliverer of his people is in fact legit. Books: 1. Tammi...
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The Exorcist, Strange Happenings, and Washing Clothes in Holy Water
Following from the previous episode, we dive into the real-life inspiration behind The Exorcist, and remind you that there was kind of a big deal in the 80s and 90s called the Satanic Panic. We talk about playing Led Zeppelin tapes backwards and washing your clothes in holy water. We end with…
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So You Want to be an Exorcist? And the Tragic Case of Anneliese Michel
Kicking of a multi-part series on Demons and Angels, here we explore the concept of exorcism in the Catholic and Evangelical frameworks. We survey some early Church history and discover some of the attitudes and assumptions surrounding exorcism in those early centuries following Christ, and we...
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The Roman-Era Persecutions of Santa Claus
For this year's Christmas season episode, we visit the history of the church father Saint Nicholas and the body of legends (and real-life torture at the hands of Emperor Diocletian) that lead us to the modern-day Santa Claus. Show Notes: Music: Scott Buckley. Undertow. www.scottbuckley.com.au…
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...Who's the More Foolish?
One of the central motifs of the Book of Proverbs is the comparison of the wise and the foolish. We examine the power of paradox and how the artistry and skill of the ancient authors prevent us from using the Scriptures as a simple "rulebook for life." Plus David Brent from The Office makes an...
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...And A Tumbleweed Shall Rule Them
A man named Abimelech (lit. "my father is king") sweet-talks his way into the hearts and minds of an ancient Israelite territory. Ambitious and ruthless, he will eventually turn against the very people he was meant to rule. A cautionary tale of choosing poor leadership. Show Notes: Artwork: "A...
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The Deathless Cry of Murdered God (Atonement Part 8)
We conclude our series on the atonement of Christ by recapping the question with which we began: why does the public execution of Jesus have anything to do with our salvation? Show Notes: 1. Elizabeth Johnson. Creation and the Cross: The Mercy of God for a Planet in Peril. Maryknoll: Orbis, 2018....
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A Grace-Filled Catholic Atonement (Atonement Part 7)
Why are infants baptized? Why is a Catholic required to confess to a priest in the confessional? Turns out, the answers to these and many other Catholic-specific questions tie directly into the concept of Grace, and the role that Grace plays in Catholic atonement theology. What must a Catholic do...
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Can't Get No Satisfaction: Abelard and Anselm (Atonement Part 6)
In the 11th and 12th centuries CE, pushback increased against the dominant Ransom narrative of Christ's atoning work. Step into the soap opera that is Abelard's life, and admire Anselm's life as a participant in history, all while we examine their unique contributions to our understanding of our...
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December 25th - Happy Festival of the Unconquered Sun!
To celebrate the Christmas season and the culmination of Epiphany, this episode presents a brief digression from our Atonement series to discuss that all-important date of December 25th. It's become popular to view this date with cynicism and a deconstructionist perspective, as we learn more…
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The Art of the Deal: Ransoming Jesus (Atonement Part 5)
The early and medieval Church held to a model of atonement called "Ransom" or "Christus Victor". Hand over the briefcase, Jesus...but slowly, keep those hands where we can see 'em. In this episode, we outline the Ransom model of atonement using Satan's tempations of Jesus in the Judean wilderness...
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Lighting Animals on Fire (Atonement Part 4)
The New Testament writers are very concerned with presenting Christ as a "living sacrifice" - but since most of us aren't in the habit of sacrificing animals anymore (or we've sworn it off at the strong urging of our sponsor), this episode presents an overview of the Ancient Near Eastern...
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The Romans Road (Atonement Part 3)
Perhaps the most common Evangelical presentation of our need for Christ and his sacrifice comes from a theological model called "The Romans Road" (also referred to as "The Four Spiritual Laws"). Is God's wrath something which must be appeased and satiated, and is Jesus thus our "escape valve"…
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Crucifixion in Context (Atonement Part 2)
Most listeners will be familiar with the crucifixion of Jesus. Was this type of execution rare, an especially sadistic and cruel punishment reserved for only the few? Or was crucifixion a common feature of life in the Roman Empire before and after Jesus' earthly life? This episode makes a cursory...
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The Atonement of Christ - Introduction
When Jesus was crucified, did his disciples understand the significance of his death? Was it even reasonable to expect them to? Should Christ's atoning death be obvious to us today, or do we benefit from assistance by Church tradition, academia, and contemplatives?
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Presenting Christian exegesis and thought through the lens of progressive and courageous academic scholarship. Our podcast is ideal for Christians who are struggling to grasp the relevance of their faith and beliefs, as well as former Christians who have become disillusioned at the seeming lack of critical discourse and input into their spiritual life.
HOSTED BY
Steven Griffin
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Solomon's Bookcase have?
Solomon's Bookcase currently has 20 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Solomon's Bookcase about?
Presenting Christian exegesis and thought through the lens of progressive and courageous academic scholarship. Our podcast is ideal for Christians who are struggling to grasp the relevance of their faith and beliefs, as well as former Christians who have become disillusioned at the seeming lack of...
How often does Solomon's Bookcase release new episodes?
Solomon's Bookcase has 20 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Solomon's Bookcase?
You can listen to Solomon's Bookcase on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Solomon's Bookcase?
Solomon's Bookcase is created and hosted by Steven Griffin.
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