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 sporadic feature, 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 the former, skip the next paragraph. Otherwise, read on. In the original Advanced Dungeons and Dragons Dungeon Masters Guide, Gary Gygax provided a large number of appendices, from random smells to reputed magical properties of herbs and gemstones. Appendix N was a bibliography of works that inspired him. Back in 1982 when I first got hold of this book, there were only a couple of items on there that I’d read, and only a few other authors that I’d even heard of. Many years later, after much reading, I returned to Appendix N expecting to have added greatly to the works on there that I’d read; but actually, there were still very few. Many of the authors were obscure or out of print authors of, for want of a better expression, golden age pulp; the kind that featu

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 off f

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: the s