"I wonder, then, if there are any models of the kind of religious
rhetoric that we would call "true rhetoric" that we can bring out and
use to demonstrate the difference to students. (perhaps not fy, but
maybe in upper level courses?) Any sugestions? --Phyllis"
I'd suggest much of the Biblical scholarship that has been going on
recently related to Gnostic Gospels, Nag Hamidi, the Dead Sea Scrolls,
and even the very question of Jesus. Like the work done by the Jesus
Seminar headed by Funk? Even Bloom gets into the act in his Book of
J, I think, where he argues using the text and the context that
Genesis was written by a woman! There is lots of good complete
scholarship/rhetoric related to the Bible and its history and context,
etc. Its just that is doesn't seem to get much play in religion or
church.
I would call this religious although you might not. Although I find
Thomas to be pretty persuasive in his gospel. And I think Thomas is
real accessable even for fy students. This stuff deals with the Bible
in a very different way than traditional religious writing or
preaching or rhetoric. That is why I find it compelling. Its folk
taking the texts and all that we know about them and trying to get to
some truths. What's "real"(original) and what got added later? Great
stuff. Might bring scholars and those of the faith together with some
common ground. (And no I'm not suggesting one cannot be a scholar and
faithful too.)
Mike Hamende
hamendem@cts.db.erau.edu