iggymcmuffin's review against another edition
1.0
So. Avalos's conclusions are bizarre. He thinks the solution is to "Retain biblical studies, but redefine its purpose so that it is tasked with eliminating completely the influence of the Bible in the modern world"
Not only is that just a completely unrealistic and impossible goal, but that sounds like the exact opposite of a scholarly discipline. Imagine if you replaced "Biblical" Studies with "Shakespearean Studies" or "Homeric Studies". It's just weird. Who would want to eliminate completely the influence of The Iliad in the modern world? Nobody.
Not once does he say he thinks this field of study should be interested in truth (if treated historically). And he argues vehemently against aesthetic (literary) studies because nobody can agree on what it means to be beautiful.
I... He... No.
He also has a strange view of academia as well, saying it's all top down dissemination of knowledge from a paternalistic professorship. But it really isn't. What happened to critical thinking? What happened to independent thought? I've always ALWAYS been encouraged to challenge my professors and not take them at their word.
Not only is that just a completely unrealistic and impossible goal, but that sounds like the exact opposite of a scholarly discipline. Imagine if you replaced "Biblical" Studies with "Shakespearean Studies" or "Homeric Studies". It's just weird. Who would want to eliminate completely the influence of The Iliad in the modern world? Nobody.
Not once does he say he thinks this field of study should be interested in truth (if treated historically). And he argues vehemently against aesthetic (literary) studies because nobody can agree on what it means to be beautiful.
I... He... No.
He also has a strange view of academia as well, saying it's all top down dissemination of knowledge from a paternalistic professorship. But it really isn't. What happened to critical thinking? What happened to independent thought? I've always ALWAYS been encouraged to challenge my professors and not take them at their word.
iggymcmuffin's review
1.0
So. Avalos's conclusions are bizarre. He thinks the solution is to "Retain biblical studies, but redefine its purpose so that it is tasked with eliminating completely the influence of the Bible in the modern world"
Not only is that just a completely unrealistic and impossible goal, but that sounds like the exact opposite of a scholarly discipline. Imagine if you replaced "Biblical" Studies with "Shakespearean Studies" or "Homeric Studies". It's just weird. Who would want to eliminate completely the influence of The Iliad in the modern world? Nobody.
Not once does he say he thinks this field of study should be interested in truth (if treated historically). And he argues vehemently against aesthetic (literary) studies because nobody can agree on what it means to be beautiful.
I... He... No.
He also has a strange view of academia as well, saying it's all top down dissemination of knowledge from a paternalistic professorship. But it really isn't. What happened to critical thinking? What happened to independent thought? I've always ALWAYS been encouraged to challenge my professors and not take them at their word.
Not only is that just a completely unrealistic and impossible goal, but that sounds like the exact opposite of a scholarly discipline. Imagine if you replaced "Biblical" Studies with "Shakespearean Studies" or "Homeric Studies". It's just weird. Who would want to eliminate completely the influence of The Iliad in the modern world? Nobody.
Not once does he say he thinks this field of study should be interested in truth (if treated historically). And he argues vehemently against aesthetic (literary) studies because nobody can agree on what it means to be beautiful.
I... He... No.
He also has a strange view of academia as well, saying it's all top down dissemination of knowledge from a paternalistic professorship. But it really isn't. What happened to critical thinking? What happened to independent thought? I've always ALWAYS been encouraged to challenge my professors and not take them at their word.
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