Biblical Hebrew Forum

[fred burlingame <tensorpath AT gmail.com>]

Hello George:

Thanks for your comments.

I understand the forum policy that forbids theology. Discussion of the
latter point frequently provokes non-productive emotional response.

I do not understand however, how:

a. an effective discussion of language can arrive;

b. when such language becomes expressed exclusively in the context of "truck
transmission manuals;"

c. and yet the purpose and character of truck transmissions cannot be
discussed; rather only the "nuts and bolts" that comprise the transmission
can be ventilated.

It seems like this forum cures "cures the cancer," but loses the patient in
the process.

In other words, how can you access the true meaning of words that describe a
Person; and yet not discuss that Person?

I cannot imagine any reasonable discussion of middle english
language expressed in canterbury tales proceeding in this manner; or
shakespeare, etc.

Regards,

fred burlingame



On Thu, Oct 28, 2010 at 12:58 AM, George Athas 
<George.Athas AT moore.edu.au>wrote:

> Fred,
>
> Your example involves a single text: Homer’s Odyssey. The exercise you
> described would simply be a study of characterisation. If we are talking
> about how the book of Isaiah characterises Yahweh, then fine, no problem.
> But the examples you gave range across a number of biblical texts. Yes,
> these texts are all part of an accepted canon, and I can see why you would
> choose to work within the entire canon as a parameter. However, you seemed
> to be using this as a platform to make a theological statement—again,
> understandably so, but still different to a literary study of a character
> within a biblical text (which is how you portrayed the study of Odysseus in
> The Odyssey). I hope you can see the difference between your example and
> what your early post said.
>
> I’m all for using the Bible to make absolute statements on theology. Just
> not on B-Hebrew.
>
> GEORGE ATHAS
> Moore Theological College (Sydney, Australia)
> www.moore.edu.au
>
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