On February 16, I had the pleasure of thinking aloud at Hamilton College. And a what great place to be! In the morning I guest taught in Brent Rodriguez-Plate's course, Religious Diversity in the USA. We looked at The Autobiography of Malcolm X as told to Alex Haley as a pilgrimage journal. This was especially … Continue reading Talking Malcolm, Haley, and Bible at Hamilton College
My take on Sir Ridley Scott's Exodus story. Featured in LancasterOnline's Faith and Values section.
I have never really felt comfortable with the presumed division between teaching and scholarship. The challenges and insights of my students inspire me to research. In fact, I do my best work after my ideas are have been vetted in the classroom. My primary area of study is the anthropology or social construction of scriptures. … Continue reading When Texts Sell
During my master's program, I did an independent study on the Parable of the Sower and its rich reception history. Though scholarly interpretations vary among historical, literary, and social-scientific critics, all camps agree that the story makes for a poignant commentary on the human condition. The theological promise offered by the Kingdom of God calls … Continue reading Con Los Ojos De La Maya: An Interpretation of the Parable of the Sower
During the nation’s bicentennial, a media phenomena captivated the attention of American reading and television audiences. Alex Haley’s award-winning work broached the contested role of black people in the United States. The novel and miniseries located blacks at the center of an American historical mythology and invited a redefintion of de facto American citizenship. The … Continue reading Glimpses of Alex Haley’s Scriptural ROOTS
