Dr Simon Reads...

Ecclesiasticus 41-45 Things Exist, Therefore God (But The Poetry Is Good). Welcome to the next instalment of An Atheist Explores Sacred Texts (Apocrypha version). In this series I work my way chapter-by-chapter through the Old Testament Apocrypha, commenting on it from the point of view of the text as literature and mythology. For more detail, see the introductory post http://bit.ly/3aEJ6Q5 For the online KJV I use, see here http://bit.ly/2m0zVUP Ecclesiasticus 41 “ Therefore be shamefaced according to my word: for it is not good to retain all shamefacedness; neither is it altogether approved in every thing” What should a man be ashamed of? That’s what this chapter mainly deals with. And it is a man specifically rather than a person of non-specific gender, since such things include not “ to gaze upon another man's wife ” or to be “ overbusy with his maid ”. Sexual impropriety aside, the verses range from matters of justice – “ Of an offence before a jud...

Ecclesiasticus 36-40 Your Greek Philosophy Is Showing. Welcome to the next instalment of An Atheist Explores Sacred Texts (Apocrypha version). In this series I work my way chapter-by-chapter through the Old Testament Apocrypha, commenting on it from the point of view of the text as literature and mythology. For more detail, see the introductory post http://bit.ly/3aEJ6Q5 For the online KJV I use, see here http://bit.ly/2m0zVUP Ecclesiasticus 36 “ Smite in sunder the heads of the rulers of the heathen, that say, There is none other but we” Bit of an odd one, this chapter. It starts more like a prayer, or a psalm, declaring “ Have mercy upon us, O Lord God of all, and behold us ” and going on to say in many words how great God is and asking Him to restore the tribes of Israel – “ Gather all the tribes of Jacob together, and inherit thou them, as from the beginning ” and to raise of Jerusalem – “ Fill Sion with thine unspeakable oracles, and thy people with thy glo...

Dr. Simon Reads Appendix N Part Eight: Lin Carter This is a new series that will feature sporadically, in which I explore classic fantasy and science fiction works. You will either know what I mean by “Appendix N”, or you will have no clue. If you don't, I suggest heading back to  the first part of this series  and reading on. Lin Carter Or, to give him his full name, Linwood Wrooman (sometimes spelled Vrooman) Carter. How great is that? So many of these SF/F writers have had great names.   Even better, Carter was a frequent collaborator with Lyon Sprague de Camp (in fact, I noticed that the two of them are responsible for quite a few Conan stories in my anthology. But that’s for later when we get to Robert E Howard). Carter was born in Florida in 1930, served with distinction in the Korean War and spent his later life in New York, another member of the “Trap Door Spiders” literary group. His first venture into professional writing came in 1969 and, by the so...

Ecclesiasticus 31-35 The Biblical Guide To Hosting A Party. Plus: Beat Your Servants, But Not Too Much. Welcome to the next instalment of An Atheist Explores Sacred Texts (Apocrypha version). In this series I work my way chapter-by-chapter through the Old Testament Apocrypha, commenting on it from the point of view of the text as literature and mythology. For more detail, see the introductory post http://bit.ly/3aEJ6Q5 For the online KJV I use, see here http://bit.ly/2m0zVUP Ecclesiasticus 31 “ Watching for riches consumeth the flesh, and the care thereof driveth away sleep” Ben Sirach now turns his attention to wealth, food and drink, and urges moderation in all things.   On gold, he suggests that it is not the having, or not having, of it that is the cause of trouble, but the desire to have wealth that makes a person unhappy. How very Buddhist. As for food and drink, Ben Sirach recommends not stuffing your face, partly out of good manners – “ Leave o...

Ecclesiasticus 26-30 Cherry Pick Your Wisdom: Be Generous, Keep Healthy, Oppress Women, Beat Your Children, Euthenasia Is Good. Welcome to the next instalment of An Atheist Explores Sacred Texts (Apocrypha version). In this series I work my way chapter-by-chapter through the Old Testament Apocrypha, commenting on it from the point of view of the text as literature and mythology. For more detail, see the introductory post http://bit.ly/3aEJ6Q5 For the online KJV I use, see here http://bit.ly/2m0zVUP Ecclesiasticus 26   “ A drunken woman and a gadder abroad causeth great anger, and she will not cover her own shame” There’s a motif running through this, and the last chapter, with verses that are structured along the lines of “There are [x number] of things that cause me [negative emotion], and an [X+1] that causes me [a greater negative emotion]”. For example, Verses 5-6, “ There be three things that mine heart feareth; and for the fourth I was sore afraid: t...