Monthly Archives: October 2008

Which Source Is Earlier?

Posted on October 31, 2008 by jamesbradfordpate

Sources: Jacob Neusner’s Introduction to Rabbinic Literature, and Judith Hauptman’s “Mishnah As a Response to ‘Tosefta,’” which is in Specific Problems in Rabbinic Literature. What influenced what? That seems to be where Neusner and Hauptman disagree. According to Neusner, the … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Books, Comps, Fishbane, Life, Rabbinics, Religion, School | 2 Comments

Pity and Plato

Posted on October 31, 2008 by jamesbradfordpate

Source: Martha C. Nussbaum, “Philosophy and Literature,” The Cambridge Companion to Greek and Roman Philosophy, ed. David Sedley (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2003) 226. “[Plato’s] Republic x takes an even stronger stance against tragic poetry…Once again, the ethical objection raised … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Comps, Desperate Housewives, Greco-Roman, Joan of Arcadia, Movies, School, Star Trek, Television | 5 Comments

Halloween 2008

Posted on October 31, 2008 by jamesbradfordpate

Today is Halloween. To read my Halloween reflections for last year, see Halloween 2007. I’d like to spend tonight watching horror movies, but I checked out some more Joan of Arcadia DVDs, and I want to watch those before they’re … Continue reading →

Posted in Highway to Heaven, Holidays, Joan of Arcadia, Life, Little House, Michael Landon, Movies, Quantum Leap, Television | Comments Off on Halloween 2008

Barack’s Infomercial

Posted on October 30, 2008 by jamesbradfordpate

I wrote a post yesterday about Barack Obama’s infomercial, but it got lost. I hate it when that happens! Basically, I said that Obama tried to present himself as a new Ronald Reagan. He didn’t use those exact words, mind … Continue reading →

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Harmonizing on Sanctuary

Posted on October 30, 2008 by jamesbradfordpate

Source: Michael Fishbane’s Biblical Interpretation in Ancient Israel (New York: Oxford, 1988) 251-252. Exodus 20:24 states: “You need make for me only an altar of earth and sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and your offerings of well-being, your sheep … Continue reading →

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Neusner on the Substance of the Mishnah

Posted on October 30, 2008 by jamesbradfordpate

Source: Jacob Neusner’s Judaism: The Evidence of the Mishnah, page 282. “The Mishnah’s evidence presents a Judaism which at its foundations and through all of its parts deals with a single fundamental question: What can a man do? The evidence … Continue reading →

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Pre-existent Souls?

Posted on October 30, 2008 by jamesbradfordpate

Source: A.A. Long, “Roman Philosophy,” The Cambridge Companion to Greek and Roman Philosophy, ed. David Sedley (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2003) 210. “Tertullian in his work On the Soul draws heavily on Stoicism, aligning himself against Plato with the Stoics’ … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Comps, Ecclesiastes, Greco-Roman, Life, Religion, School | 3 Comments

An Addition in Exodus 22:25-27: Part 2

Posted on October 30, 2008 by jamesbradfordpate

Source: Michael Fishbane’s Biblical Interpretation in Ancient Israel (New York: Oxford, 1988) 175. Here’s Exodus 22:20-27. I’ve colored in blue the most important verses for this discussion, and in red what Fishbane deems to be a later addition: “20 Whoever … Continue reading →

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Unclean Exile

Posted on October 30, 2008 by jamesbradfordpate

My source today is Jacob Neusner’s Judaism: The Evidence of the Mishnah. I’m not in the mood to look for the date. Here are a few sentences that intrigued me: “Uncleanness, which above all endangers the cult and must be … Continue reading →

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Whom to Imitate: Adults or Kids?

Posted on October 29, 2008 by jamesbradfordpate

Source: Jacques Brunschwig and David Sedley, “Hellenistic Philosophy,” The Cambridge Companion to Greek and Roman Philosophy, ed. David Sedley (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2003) 161. “Unlike Aristotle, who looked to the mature adult as the best judge of what is … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Comps, Greco-Roman, Life, Religion, School | 3 Comments