Last Week at Tov Unleashed
We began the week with a good discussion about the Bible’s authority.
Is the Bible “authoritative”?
Mike Bird contends the issue today is not the inerrancy or infallibility debate but the authority debate, and by authority he focuses on its normativity. We are discussing his new helpful and fruitful book, Seven Things I Wish Christians Knew about the Bible.
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I turned on Tuesday to a book recommended to me by a colleague about the hyperactive hivemind and the problem with email, DMs, Messenger, and social media. It was a good read and one I would recommend:
Cal Newport, in his stimulating book A World Without Email, contends the digital revolution – email, DMs, text messages, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook – has created “the hyperactive hivemind” that demolishes down time needed for concentration and focus and creative work, stirs up the demand to stay conversant with the hivemind conversations, and causes constant checking of email.
Beth Barr shows that evidence confirms that complementarianism as taught in the so-called “biblical womanhood” movement is a version of Christian patriarchy:
So while experience shapes my perspective of complementarian teachings, evidence from my research as a scholar, my teaching as a college professor, and my professsional and personal study of the Bible has led me to abandon these teachings.
Evidence shows me how Christian patriarchy was built, stone by stone, throughout the centuries.
Evidence shows me how, century after century, arguments for women’s subordination reflect historical circumstances more than the face of God.
Evidence shows me that just because complementarianism uses biblical texts doesn’t mean it reflects biblical truth.
Evidence shows me the trail of sin and destruction left in the wake of teachings that place women under the power of men.
Evidence shows me, throughout history, the women who have always known the truth about patriarchy and who have always believed that Jesus sets women free.
It all depends, eh?
Finally, on Friday I sketched what the NT means by being a “witness.”