Since my last post, I've mainly spent my time reading.
I finished Editors on Editing a long time ago (which I still think that everyone should read), and have read The Elements of Style, as well. I would post my notes from the book on my "book list" page, but my jump drive is now deceased, along with everything on it...
The next book, Shakespeare and the Bible, focuses more on analyzing the Bible from a literary perspective. It takes note of the poetry, history, and epic genres within the different books and illustrates, through Shakespeare, how the Bible has permeated our culture. It's a little dry, but it's very interesting.
The author, Steven Marx (ironic, huh?), does a great job of pointing out how the Bible really is the foundation of all aspects of our lives. When we read Shakespeare, most of the time we don't even notice how much he actually references the KJV Bible.
In fact, some literary professionals suggest (but not highly) that Shakespeare helped translate the KJV because the new Bible and his first collection of great works were published only 12 years apart. Also, did you know that King James ordered the translation of the KJV simply for his own personal devotionals?
Anyways, perhaps the most intriguing topic in the book, so far, is the debate of whether or not we should actually look at the Bible as literature that should be analyzed. In the Renaissance Era, some greatly opposed the action of reading the Bible simply for its poetry. God addresses the same situation in Ezekiel 33:32-33,
" 31 My people come to you, as they usually do, and sit before you to hear your words, but they do not put them into practice. Their mouths speak of love, but their hearts are greedy for unjust gain. 32 Indeed, to them you are nothing more than one who sings love songs with a beautiful voice and plays an instrument well, for they hear your words but do not put them into practice. 33 'When all this comes true—and it surely will—then they will know that a prophet has been among them.' "
I think that it is fine to read the Bible as a literary text - as long as we don't forget that it is true, right, just, prophetic, and that it will all come to be, soon, if it hasn't already. We can't just sit by and NOT read the Scriptures; I think that it would be wrong not to. When we do, however, we MUST take them for truth. They are not more fables; they are the living, breathing words of God.
Marx makes numerous other points that even though Shakespeare was considered a secular author, his works support his works through his tragedies and comedies. I guess we'll just have to see when I finish...
