A Ramble About Human Life. Or, The Question Within the Question Within the Question
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This past month, I sat for a meal with a few doctoral researchers – from astronomy to religious studies and French, each a curious mix of interests and cultures. Think of us with our heads bent over paper plates stuffed with pasta salad and humus and cheese, talking about graduate student life, and food. But mostly, we talked about Exodus, not in the framing of this letter, of course! But in the actual epic of Moses and the Egypt caught in the throes of frogs and hail. And then came the troubling contender, the death of the first-borns. At this point the conversation had acquired a pause, then reshaped itself into two questions: who deserves to die, and what is the value of a human life? It is not the first time that a Biblical victory has been inverted, pulled up like a rug and shaken vigorously, leaving its dust to settle like a cloud of doubt. It has always been my opinion that a good Bible and a good God can surely take a good question. But that is fodder for another letter.
A Ramble About Human Life. Or, The Question Within the Question Within the Question
A Ramble About Human Life. Or, The Question…
A Ramble About Human Life. Or, The Question Within the Question Within the Question
This past month, I sat for a meal with a few doctoral researchers – from astronomy to religious studies and French, each a curious mix of interests and cultures. Think of us with our heads bent over paper plates stuffed with pasta salad and humus and cheese, talking about graduate student life, and food. But mostly, we talked about Exodus, not in the framing of this letter, of course! But in the actual epic of Moses and the Egypt caught in the throes of frogs and hail. And then came the troubling contender, the death of the first-borns. At this point the conversation had acquired a pause, then reshaped itself into two questions: who deserves to die, and what is the value of a human life? It is not the first time that a Biblical victory has been inverted, pulled up like a rug and shaken vigorously, leaving its dust to settle like a cloud of doubt. It has always been my opinion that a good Bible and a good God can surely take a good question. But that is fodder for another letter.