This Halloween, it's been 491 years since that German Monk named Marty grabbed his hammer and changed the history of christendom. It took less than a hundred years for the Roman authorities to admit he was right. Today, neither protestants nor catholics believe you can pay a special fee to get into Heaven. Hooray! Three cheers for Martin Luther!
In honor of "Reformation Day", George Barna is offering a sale on copies of Pagan Christianity. Barna helped Frank Viola revise the book, which says that most of what Protestants do, that they claim is purely based on scripture, has other origins. Once again, it may take a hundred years before institutional christendom is able to deal with this. So why not be ahead of the curve? :) Get the book, if you haven't already. And share it with your friends.
I've said it before and I'll say it again. It's fine with me if christians stay in organized religion. But believers should at least find out the truth about why we all do what we do... because it just isn't honest or true to say certain things are "scriptural" (when they're not).
And now, with that said, I return you to your costume carnivals and candy fests. ;)
Gadara & Gerasa: Text & Geography
I discovered tonight that Zondervan's Archaeological Study Bible has a pretty good article (on page 1635 called "Gergesenes, Gerasenes or Gadarenes?") about the geography surrounding certain textual differences in Mark 5:1, Luke 8:26 & Matt 8:28. Yeah, it's an ancient manuscript thing... but the Geography is solid. So I'm thinking: "Why don't the translation committee's give way to that context and put "Gadarenes" (or maybe "Gergasenes"?) into the main text, leaving the more common but least likely "Gerasenes" for the footnotes?" Except that just shows you how out of touch I am with some scholars' mindset: The text is all there is!
Okay, maybe the word "Gerasenes" shows up in more manuscripts of Luke and Mark. But if you believe the account is factual (which I assume most translation committees do) then it seems silly to go with the word that's by far the least likely to be accurate IN FACT! From all I can tell, Biblical scholars agree on the geography, but it seems the translators go with the textual critics for their text and leave the practical scholarship for their footnotes. And all I'm saying is, why can't that be the other way around? (partial hat tip to jps on the footnote reversal idea) Oh, well. The rest of the Biblio-world can argue about translations. I'll just keep doing my Synopsis! :)
Oddly enough, classical scholarship once had it's own controversy over Gadara & Gerasa. Josephus said Aretas the Nabatean attacked Herod Antipas at "Gamala". Many scholars thought that didn't work, and suggested emending the text to "Ga"-something. Gadara & Gerasa were leading candidates until Glen Bowersock pointed out that Gamala was actually the most likely situation to have happened IN FACT... for reasons which previous scholars had apparently overlooked. That's almost a fairly similar situation. But, to be fair, I don't recall if there was much manuscript divergence on the Josephus text.
(Hat Tip to Michael Halcomb for nudging me into "Gerasene" waters tonight!)
Okay, maybe the word "Gerasenes" shows up in more manuscripts of Luke and Mark. But if you believe the account is factual (which I assume most translation committees do) then it seems silly to go with the word that's by far the least likely to be accurate IN FACT! From all I can tell, Biblical scholars agree on the geography, but it seems the translators go with the textual critics for their text and leave the practical scholarship for their footnotes. And all I'm saying is, why can't that be the other way around? (partial hat tip to jps on the footnote reversal idea) Oh, well. The rest of the Biblio-world can argue about translations. I'll just keep doing my Synopsis! :)
Oddly enough, classical scholarship once had it's own controversy over Gadara & Gerasa. Josephus said Aretas the Nabatean attacked Herod Antipas at "Gamala". Many scholars thought that didn't work, and suggested emending the text to "Ga"-something. Gadara & Gerasa were leading candidates until Glen Bowersock pointed out that Gamala was actually the most likely situation to have happened IN FACT... for reasons which previous scholars had apparently overlooked. That's almost a fairly similar situation. But, to be fair, I don't recall if there was much manuscript divergence on the Josephus text.
(Hat Tip to Michael Halcomb for nudging me into "Gerasene" waters tonight!)
Faith and History
The current hot topic in Biblioblogs is about the Resurrection and History, sparked by James McGrath's new book. I haven't read the book, but I read this review, and I liked what David Ker said. I've read McGrath's blog in the past, and we've had some conversation online. I certainly don't agree with his position on the Lord's Resurrection, but I'm not going to debate it. He can think what he wants! ;)
However, I will say this. You can't find a diamond ring in a cracker jacks box. You can't get to China by digging a hole. And you can't find Faith through the historical critical method. At best, you can only find "probably". On this, James and I agree. But here's where I think we may differ.
Although the limits of "probably" should absolutely bind our scholarship, those limits should not always bind our belief. There are many things I cannot prove that I will always believe. For believers, scholarship compliments faith. For unbelievers, scholarship alone will never produce it.
However, I will say this. You can't find a diamond ring in a cracker jacks box. You can't get to China by digging a hole. And you can't find Faith through the historical critical method. At best, you can only find "probably". On this, James and I agree. But here's where I think we may differ.
Although the limits of "probably" should absolutely bind our scholarship, those limits should not always bind our belief. There are many things I cannot prove that I will always believe. For believers, scholarship compliments faith. For unbelievers, scholarship alone will never produce it.
Why I Am A Believer
Why do I believe? First and foremost, I believe in Jesus Christ because of the people in my life who believed. My relatives have been Catholics, Episcopalians, Presbyterians, Methodists and Non-denominational evangelicals. All believed. My Dad wasn't a big talker, but he attended church and spoke well of Billy Graham. The people who've influenced me most have all been believers. I had one level of faith at age 8 and another at age 18.
Sure, my faith has been challenged. But mostly, it's been encouraged. I've been encouaged by history, by apologetics and by the incomplete logic of athiest arguments. I've been encouraged by church members, when I was fortunate enough to be part of a healthy church family. But most of all, more than anything else on this list, I've been encouraged by God.
Yes, you read that right. I said my faith has been encouraged by God Himself. In countless ways, some big some small, some common, some rare. He encourages my faith in Him. In some way, if not always the same way, I find God every day. And along the way, I've had enough really powerful experiences to know for certain that God IS.
Some things God uses to encourage my faith don't seem to do it for others. Some of the things God has done to encourage my faith are things I dearly wish everyone could experience. But it doesn't work like that. I sometimes wish it did, but it just doesn't.
Faith doesn't usually come from a few meetings or from a few conversations or (especially not) from a few good arguments. Faith comes when someone tells you the truth and you believe it. That's it! That's all that has to happen. You hear and you believe.
The moment of faith seems to come differently for people. It may or may not include historical evidence. It may or may not include rational argument. It may or may not include spiritual encounter. But it came, and you believed. And then - many days, weeks, months and years later, when you struggled to believe, you rememberd something (or felt something) that helped you continue to believe.
The best of all is when you can feel GOD every day, but that doesn't always happen. Some days, all I've been able to find is the memory of faith... but at that point, I believe again!
For whatever reason, for better and for worse, God has seen fit to make MAN the authority on Earth... and - God help us - like fools, we listen to each other! So in some ways, I admit I've simply been blessed to know men and women who believed. And I believed them. And I sought out more like them. And they encouraged my faith.
Not only do I sincerely believe, but I want to believe! And so I seek out believers. With them, because of them, despite them and sometimes even IN them... I find God. And thus, I continue to believe.
Sure, my faith has been challenged. But mostly, it's been encouraged. I've been encouaged by history, by apologetics and by the incomplete logic of athiest arguments. I've been encouraged by church members, when I was fortunate enough to be part of a healthy church family. But most of all, more than anything else on this list, I've been encouraged by God.
Yes, you read that right. I said my faith has been encouraged by God Himself. In countless ways, some big some small, some common, some rare. He encourages my faith in Him. In some way, if not always the same way, I find God every day. And along the way, I've had enough really powerful experiences to know for certain that God IS.
Some things God uses to encourage my faith don't seem to do it for others. Some of the things God has done to encourage my faith are things I dearly wish everyone could experience. But it doesn't work like that. I sometimes wish it did, but it just doesn't.
Faith doesn't usually come from a few meetings or from a few conversations or (especially not) from a few good arguments. Faith comes when someone tells you the truth and you believe it. That's it! That's all that has to happen. You hear and you believe.
The moment of faith seems to come differently for people. It may or may not include historical evidence. It may or may not include rational argument. It may or may not include spiritual encounter. But it came, and you believed. And then - many days, weeks, months and years later, when you struggled to believe, you rememberd something (or felt something) that helped you continue to believe.
The best of all is when you can feel GOD every day, but that doesn't always happen. Some days, all I've been able to find is the memory of faith... but at that point, I believe again!
For whatever reason, for better and for worse, God has seen fit to make MAN the authority on Earth... and - God help us - like fools, we listen to each other! So in some ways, I admit I've simply been blessed to know men and women who believed. And I believed them. And I sought out more like them. And they encouraged my faith.
Not only do I sincerely believe, but I want to believe! And so I seek out believers. With them, because of them, despite them and sometimes even IN them... I find God. And thus, I continue to believe.
Power and Glory
One of the themes that impresses me the most as I work through the first century is that men are constantly struggling for authority & control while God keeps looking to display Himself to whoever is ready to See. It's not only something I feel is an important part of learning the New Testament Story. It's a really good reminder while I'm working on it.
Focusing on getting my way (at work or home) eventually winds up frustrating me more than anything.
Focusing on Jesus Christ is the only thing that ever brings me true peace.
And – believe me – that ain’t just whistlin’ Dixie!
Focusing on getting my way (at work or home) eventually winds up frustrating me more than anything.
Focusing on Jesus Christ is the only thing that ever brings me true peace.
And – believe me – that ain’t just whistlin’ Dixie!
Annas & Gamaliel
By my personal count, 20% of the entire New Testament tells us about the events of 33 AD. Of course, the Gospels in 33 all focus on events before Pentecost, while Acts picks up with events from Pentecost and after. So – for one thing – we never think of Annas the High Priest and Gamaliel the Pharisee serving on the Sanhedrin together, even though we know they did.
It's a fascinating contrast. Here’s Annas the wealthy Sadducee, jockeying for power and keeping it, through his sons, for nearly all of 30 years. Meanwhile, Gamaliel spends that entire time just like his mentor Hillel – almost entirely away from the pages of history but famously devoted to the study and teaching of God’s Law.
Christians tend to like Gamaliel because he stood up for God’s will after Pentecost. Also, we know he was Paul’s teacher. But we never think of Gamaliel being on the same Sanhedrin that condemned Jesus! And long-term, we never think of Gamaliel being around since 10 AD or so, which is about when his mentor Hillel retired (or died). For another thing, I just realized how interesting it is that Hillel’s protégé outlasted him by over 23 years. If Gamaliel was the top Rabbi of all Hillel’s following from the year 10 onward, then he probably sat on the Sanhedrin for all those years, not just in 33 AD.
I seriously doubt Annas would have minded. On the contrary, Hillel and Gamaliel were both so laissez faire about politics and events, they were probably the model Pharisees any politically minded chief Sadducee would naturally prefer to have as head of the minority party in Jerusalem’s Council. All of which leads me to one more fascinating consideration:
Was it Gamaliel’s providential attitude that helped him survive in that mix with such prestige for so long? Or was it the need to survive under Annas (& his sons) that helped Gamaliel hold onto that attitude? With no disrespect at all to the laudible law-lover, I’d have to guess it was at least a little of both.
What else can we glean by considering Annas & Gamaliel togther, from 10 to 33 AD?
It's a fascinating contrast. Here’s Annas the wealthy Sadducee, jockeying for power and keeping it, through his sons, for nearly all of 30 years. Meanwhile, Gamaliel spends that entire time just like his mentor Hillel – almost entirely away from the pages of history but famously devoted to the study and teaching of God’s Law.
Christians tend to like Gamaliel because he stood up for God’s will after Pentecost. Also, we know he was Paul’s teacher. But we never think of Gamaliel being on the same Sanhedrin that condemned Jesus! And long-term, we never think of Gamaliel being around since 10 AD or so, which is about when his mentor Hillel retired (or died). For another thing, I just realized how interesting it is that Hillel’s protégé outlasted him by over 23 years. If Gamaliel was the top Rabbi of all Hillel’s following from the year 10 onward, then he probably sat on the Sanhedrin for all those years, not just in 33 AD.
I seriously doubt Annas would have minded. On the contrary, Hillel and Gamaliel were both so laissez faire about politics and events, they were probably the model Pharisees any politically minded chief Sadducee would naturally prefer to have as head of the minority party in Jerusalem’s Council. All of which leads me to one more fascinating consideration:
Was it Gamaliel’s providential attitude that helped him survive in that mix with such prestige for so long? Or was it the need to survive under Annas (& his sons) that helped Gamaliel hold onto that attitude? With no disrespect at all to the laudible law-lover, I’d have to guess it was at least a little of both.
What else can we glean by considering Annas & Gamaliel togther, from 10 to 33 AD?
Nuthin To Say
But I will again. Maybe soon. In the meantime, why not subscribe, so you'll know when I post? It's better than checking again and again. (Click the link below my picture for a tutorial.)
Wait, I can say one thing. Thank you, God, for the blood of Jesus Christ.
I need You so much...
Wait, I can say one thing. Thank you, God, for the blood of Jesus Christ.
I need You so much...
Finally! 14 AD!
It's about time. And if I may speak Texan for a moment, it's about durn time! ;) The yearbook to 14 AD is finally finished! Please save the fanfare until we see how long 15 takes me! In hopes of wheting some apetites, here are a few excerpts from the yearbook, which begins with a certain mysterious 20 year old Nazarene, whom we all know and love. After that it cuts to Rome for a dramatic Senate Debate and to Europe for some military intrigue... but we tie it all up at the end. Enjoy!
**********
Despite his low profile, Jesus left good impressions on everyone. He honored his Father God by loving his neighbors. He acted justly, but he loved mercy too. He forgave debts. He repaid debts. He did what was right.
Every. Single. Time.
No one had ever lived so perfectly before. No one has ever done it since. And – perhaps most amazing – nobody even noticed at the time!
That is, nobody but One.
Jesus wasn’t just living blamelessly in the sight of all Nazarenes. Jesus was living righteously in the eyes of his Father. He was growing in favor with God just precisely as he was growing in favor with man. ...
... This was the primary mission of Jesus on Earth – for 40 years, from 7 BC to 33 AD. It was simply and purely one simple thing.
Jesus Christ was living to please his Father. ...
... The Father and Son loved one another in Nazareth, in 14 AD. And God – through Jesus – walked quietly among his people in Nazareth, loving them.
This Life of Jesus was the seed of what God wanted on Earth. And God was pleased to let Life keep growing in Galilee, for several more years. ...
***************
Tiberius and the Senators knew the funeral events would take a while. They knew Tiberius had absolute power. They knew Rome’s future was secure and stable.
There was only one question on everyone’s mind.
What was Tiberius actually going to DO???
***************
The Roman Army in Pannonia was in full revolt!
***************
The Empire had grown too big, now. Even the Senators knew Rome had to be ruled by one man. ...
Tiberius thought just holding his position would be enough to maintain security. He wanted the Senate to do the business of government. But the Senate wanted their ruler to actively rule them. They knew the Empire Augustus built had to have an Emperor.
... Tiberius had all the power in the world. And the only thing he wanted to do was retire.
***************
Germanicus was extremely popular, but still extremely unfit to be Emperor. Tiberius didn’t like him. But Tiberius needed him. The old General wanted the new General to grow up as quickly as possible.
***************
... the same eclipse Drusus saw in Pannonia also appeared in Israel at about 2 AM. ...That morning of September 26th happened to be the first day of Tabernacles in Israel. ... We can only wonder whether Jews in Israel felt superstitious about these coincidences, this year. But one man in Jerusalem already knew he had reasons for concern. ...
... Annas the High Priest had to wonder if this was his last chance to preside over the Festival of Booths.
***************
We can catch up with North Israel in 15 AD. For now, let’s go up to the Far North of Europe!
***************
Germanicus was busy becoming more popular when the news came to Belgium. Legions I, V, XX and XXI were in full revolt! ...
... Germanicus thought all was lost. At this point, the young General had to be saved by his wife, Agrippina!
This granddaughter of Augustus and daughter of Marcus Agrippa had been in Germany most of the year. Every bit as bold as her bloodline, Agrippina came up with a plan to put herself on the front line of danger!
... the soldiers all loved the littlest Caesar, who she always dressed in a tiny soldier’s uniform. This year, the Legions had even nicknamed the two-year old “Little Boot” - Caligula. So it was thanks to Agrippina and her “Little Boot” that the new uprising ended in less than a day.
Then it broke out again. ...
... To wash away the guilt and stain of Roman blood, Germanicus now took all four Legions over the Rhine for a chance to spill some German blood!
***************
Tiberius was secretly furious that Agrippina – a mere woman, in his view – had been able to stop the mutiny when the use of the Caesar’s Imperial name had failed.
By this time, Drusus and Sejanus were back from Illyricum. Drusus, the natural son of Tiberius, did a far better job this year than Germanicus, the adopted Caesar. But Tiberius couldn’t say so in public.
And this is when the prefect Aelius Sejanus begins his long, slow power play. ...
***************
Augustus wasn’t the only member of his family who died this year. ...
... Shortly after August 19th, 14 AD, on the island of Planasia, the soldiers guarding Agrippa got word that Augustus was dead. Their commanding Centurion had a standing order to kill the Exile at that point.[37] So he did. ...
... After swearing he did not murder his former step-son, Agrippa, Tiberius turned right around and killed Agrippa’s mother Julia, the Emperor’s own ex-wife! ...
...Only Agrippina and her children still survived to carry on the Julian line.
So the Imperial family was now almost all from the bloodline of Tiberius.
***************
Now, before we close this very busy Year Book, we must return to the most important question of all.
How does all this affect a certain 20 year old Nazarene Carpenter and his very Jewish world?
***************
That's all for the excerpts! The last question gets answered at the end. You can read it here! :)
This is the start of the online draft for Jesus, Herod and Caesar: Year-by-Year, Volume Two (14 to 37 AD). Maybe when I finish 37 AD, I'll start getting Volume One ready for print publication. You can also read a summarized preview to Volume Two that I posted in August. God willing, there'll be much more to come. And hopefully soon...
Thanks for keeping up, y'all. And you know who you are! ;)
**********
Despite his low profile, Jesus left good impressions on everyone. He honored his Father God by loving his neighbors. He acted justly, but he loved mercy too. He forgave debts. He repaid debts. He did what was right.
Every. Single. Time.
No one had ever lived so perfectly before. No one has ever done it since. And – perhaps most amazing – nobody even noticed at the time!
That is, nobody but One.
Jesus wasn’t just living blamelessly in the sight of all Nazarenes. Jesus was living righteously in the eyes of his Father. He was growing in favor with God just precisely as he was growing in favor with man. ...
... This was the primary mission of Jesus on Earth – for 40 years, from 7 BC to 33 AD. It was simply and purely one simple thing.
Jesus Christ was living to please his Father. ...
... The Father and Son loved one another in Nazareth, in 14 AD. And God – through Jesus – walked quietly among his people in Nazareth, loving them.
This Life of Jesus was the seed of what God wanted on Earth. And God was pleased to let Life keep growing in Galilee, for several more years. ...
***************
Tiberius and the Senators knew the funeral events would take a while. They knew Tiberius had absolute power. They knew Rome’s future was secure and stable.
There was only one question on everyone’s mind.
What was Tiberius actually going to DO???
***************
The Roman Army in Pannonia was in full revolt!
***************
The Empire had grown too big, now. Even the Senators knew Rome had to be ruled by one man. ...
Tiberius thought just holding his position would be enough to maintain security. He wanted the Senate to do the business of government. But the Senate wanted their ruler to actively rule them. They knew the Empire Augustus built had to have an Emperor.
... Tiberius had all the power in the world. And the only thing he wanted to do was retire.
***************
Germanicus was extremely popular, but still extremely unfit to be Emperor. Tiberius didn’t like him. But Tiberius needed him. The old General wanted the new General to grow up as quickly as possible.
***************
... the same eclipse Drusus saw in Pannonia also appeared in Israel at about 2 AM. ...That morning of September 26th happened to be the first day of Tabernacles in Israel. ... We can only wonder whether Jews in Israel felt superstitious about these coincidences, this year. But one man in Jerusalem already knew he had reasons for concern. ...
... Annas the High Priest had to wonder if this was his last chance to preside over the Festival of Booths.
***************
We can catch up with North Israel in 15 AD. For now, let’s go up to the Far North of Europe!
***************
Germanicus was busy becoming more popular when the news came to Belgium. Legions I, V, XX and XXI were in full revolt! ...
... Germanicus thought all was lost. At this point, the young General had to be saved by his wife, Agrippina!
This granddaughter of Augustus and daughter of Marcus Agrippa had been in Germany most of the year. Every bit as bold as her bloodline, Agrippina came up with a plan to put herself on the front line of danger!
... the soldiers all loved the littlest Caesar, who she always dressed in a tiny soldier’s uniform. This year, the Legions had even nicknamed the two-year old “Little Boot” - Caligula. So it was thanks to Agrippina and her “Little Boot” that the new uprising ended in less than a day.
Then it broke out again. ...
... To wash away the guilt and stain of Roman blood, Germanicus now took all four Legions over the Rhine for a chance to spill some German blood!
***************
Tiberius was secretly furious that Agrippina – a mere woman, in his view – had been able to stop the mutiny when the use of the Caesar’s Imperial name had failed.
By this time, Drusus and Sejanus were back from Illyricum. Drusus, the natural son of Tiberius, did a far better job this year than Germanicus, the adopted Caesar. But Tiberius couldn’t say so in public.
And this is when the prefect Aelius Sejanus begins his long, slow power play. ...
***************
Augustus wasn’t the only member of his family who died this year. ...
... Shortly after August 19th, 14 AD, on the island of Planasia, the soldiers guarding Agrippa got word that Augustus was dead. Their commanding Centurion had a standing order to kill the Exile at that point.[37] So he did. ...
... After swearing he did not murder his former step-son, Agrippa, Tiberius turned right around and killed Agrippa’s mother Julia, the Emperor’s own ex-wife! ...
...Only Agrippina and her children still survived to carry on the Julian line.
So the Imperial family was now almost all from the bloodline of Tiberius.
***************
Now, before we close this very busy Year Book, we must return to the most important question of all.
How does all this affect a certain 20 year old Nazarene Carpenter and his very Jewish world?
***************
That's all for the excerpts! The last question gets answered at the end. You can read it here! :)
This is the start of the online draft for Jesus, Herod and Caesar: Year-by-Year, Volume Two (14 to 37 AD). Maybe when I finish 37 AD, I'll start getting Volume One ready for print publication. You can also read a summarized preview to Volume Two that I posted in August. God willing, there'll be much more to come. And hopefully soon...
Thanks for keeping up, y'all. And you know who you are! ;)
Context First
Evidently, study of the "Pastorals" continues to treat them as if they have no solid context in Paul's life. This is a major problem, and one of the top three reasons I'm eager to get into the 50's AD. Chronology matters. Geography matters. It's not that hard to get "First Timothy" into Acts chapter 20, but I can't spend any time on that today... unfortunately.
Better go finish 14.
Better go finish 14.
High School Algebra
The day job owns too much of my mind, so I may as well give it some of my blog!*
Intelligence is defined as the ability to reason abstractly. Any standard algebra course is supposed to include practical applications, but 90% of the curriculum is still complicated and theoretic. Students with very low aptitude need incredible effort to get it. Most decide Math isn’t worthy of being their religion. Teachers maximize the participation grade to help the poor dears out, but that doesn’t prepare them so well for the SAT.
Are we truly serving a kid with an IQ of 85 if we expect her to master college prep courses? Vocational programs are politically dicey, which is sad, because learning basic skills in a real life setting gives kids concrete reasons for lifelong self esteem. Compared to that, getting a “D” in Algebra and a 60% test score (propped up by some random guessing) isn’t much to feel proud of. In fact, many kids who pass the test act like they won the lottery, rather than a hard earned victory.
In theory, we’re giving all kids the maximum number of chances to get into higher education. But who said that was the best thing for everyone? I once thought liberals used to pride themselves on helping the little man, but this system creates far more dropouts through academic frustration than it lifts up long-shots through maximized opportunity.** Some districts let any vocational student decide to work his way back into college prep courses, but most districts never give them both options.
Anyone forced to meet unrealistic expectations will eventually find a way to fake it. School districts devoted to maximized academic opportunity may or may not realize this, but such lofty standards come at a very high cost. Far too often, we end up teaching our kids that an appearance of equality is more important than actual results. In this current financial crisis, I have to wonder how many of the book cookers, rule benders, fudgers, fakers, liars and outright crooks learned in school that false appearances were the key to success.
PS: This applies less, in general, to kids in honors classes.
*Professional disclaimer: this rant was not posted to reflect the great effort I put forth to meet our goals at my high school. I do everything within my power to help students succeed. And I’m glad for those we do help. I try to make each kid see the opportunity (singular) we’re placing in front of them. I just wish we had more kinds of opportunity to offer.*
** Clarification (10/24/08): Even if we get dropouts down to below 10%, we send less than half our graduates to college. So why did the other 40% need a college prep curriculum? Just in case? We sacrifice a lot of better options for these "best" principles.
Intelligence is defined as the ability to reason abstractly. Any standard algebra course is supposed to include practical applications, but 90% of the curriculum is still complicated and theoretic. Students with very low aptitude need incredible effort to get it. Most decide Math isn’t worthy of being their religion. Teachers maximize the participation grade to help the poor dears out, but that doesn’t prepare them so well for the SAT.
Are we truly serving a kid with an IQ of 85 if we expect her to master college prep courses? Vocational programs are politically dicey, which is sad, because learning basic skills in a real life setting gives kids concrete reasons for lifelong self esteem. Compared to that, getting a “D” in Algebra and a 60% test score (propped up by some random guessing) isn’t much to feel proud of. In fact, many kids who pass the test act like they won the lottery, rather than a hard earned victory.
In theory, we’re giving all kids the maximum number of chances to get into higher education. But who said that was the best thing for everyone? I once thought liberals used to pride themselves on helping the little man, but this system creates far more dropouts through academic frustration than it lifts up long-shots through maximized opportunity.** Some districts let any vocational student decide to work his way back into college prep courses, but most districts never give them both options.
Anyone forced to meet unrealistic expectations will eventually find a way to fake it. School districts devoted to maximized academic opportunity may or may not realize this, but such lofty standards come at a very high cost. Far too often, we end up teaching our kids that an appearance of equality is more important than actual results. In this current financial crisis, I have to wonder how many of the book cookers, rule benders, fudgers, fakers, liars and outright crooks learned in school that false appearances were the key to success.
PS: This applies less, in general, to kids in honors classes.
*Professional disclaimer: this rant was not posted to reflect the great effort I put forth to meet our goals at my high school. I do everything within my power to help students succeed. And I’m glad for those we do help. I try to make each kid see the opportunity (singular) we’re placing in front of them. I just wish we had more kinds of opportunity to offer.*
** Clarification (10/24/08): Even if we get dropouts down to below 10%, we send less than half our graduates to college. So why did the other 40% need a college prep curriculum? Just in case? We sacrifice a lot of better options for these "best" principles.
How to Subscribe
Since school is busy, I'm posting less these days, I thought some of you might want to learn how to subscribe to a blog. I only learned how this summer, and we all need tutorials, right? It's this easy:
By the way, if you ever want to see which recent posts made me say "Hmmm" today, just scroll down my sidebar to where it says"Way too much cowbell." "Need More Cowbell?" And if you decide you need more cowbell of the Bill Heroman variety, well, just click on the orange button to subscribe! ;)
1) click on the orange button (at the bottom of the sidebar) by the word "Posts".That's it. You might have to sign up, but it's as easy as checking your e-mail to use. It works just like your inbox and cc's you on any blogs you subscribe to the moment they post. Naturally, subscribing gets much easier once you're into it. I get too many subscriptions these days, but they don't all post every day... and I'm getting re-he-heally fast at skimming for the posts I'm most interested in each day.
2) click on your choice of Google, Yahoo or one of the others.
3) Follow the instructions. (I like the Google Reader option.)
By the way, if you ever want to see which recent posts made me say "Hmmm" today, just scroll down my sidebar to where it says
Leadership and Oversight
Evidently, Ben Witherington III continues to find himself thinking about recent issues. I'm long since on the record that christians can be legalistic and authoritarian if they want to be, but one of the reasons I do what I'm doing is because I don't believe the early christians governed themselves with a hierarchical structure like most do today. Like Howard Snyder, I say let each of us follow the Lord, but quit abusing the New Testament with a false context.
Ben's post is here.Here is what I commented over there: Update2: Ah, you can read it over there. My point (here) was supposed to be that 'Overseers' in the NT didn't always provide 'Leadership'. Sometimes they just waited and watched! You'd think I could have just said that in the first place. ;)
As a final aside, if anyone else knows more about Clement, I'd love to hear about it in the comments. Or anything else you'd like to say, of course. :)
Update: Ben graciously responded and the conversation continues...
Ben's post is here.
As a final aside, if anyone else knows more about Clement, I'd love to hear about it in the comments. Or anything else you'd like to say, of course. :)
Update: Ben graciously responded and the conversation continues...
The Road to Germany
I’m trying to figure out how long it took Rome's Senators to reach Germanicus in October 14 AD. It’s been bugging me that the timeline is too quick, but it turns out the ancient road from Rome to Germany was almost all downhill or flat! Evidently, less than 11% of it was actually uphill, over the Alps.
The first 300 miles were up Italy’s West Coast, followed by 15 miles over the thinnest tip of the Apennines and a hundred miles across the Po River Valley. (All numbers close estimates.) The first 40 or 50 miles into the Alpine Pass is all Lake Shore and River Valley leading to a rough 20 miles crossing from the Aenus to the Rhine River. In that stretch, the road climbs to almost a mile above Sea Level, but it’s all downhill from there! Another 400 miles to Mainz [Mogontiacum]. Another hundred or so to Cologne [Ara Ubiorum]. Another 65-ish to Xanten [Vetera].
Over half the trip to Cologne was downhill along the Rhine and over a third of it was flat along Italy’s coast! There seems to be less than 30 miles of really steep climbing the whole way. My estimate for the trip in 14 AD is 978 miles from Rome to Ara Ubiorum. The long downhill parts more than cancel out the uphill, so if the Imperial Coach changed horses at every stop they could easily average 30 miles a day.
Departing from Rome early on September 18th, the carriage might expect to reach Germanicus at Cologne in about 32 days, and thus on October 20th. Barbara Levick puts them in camp no earlier than the 7th, which would make a twenty day trip at 49 miles a day. That’s normal for Imperial Dispatch, but awfully quick for Senators in a Coach. Much later, though, and it’s hard to squeeze in the next chain of events. Much later, too, and it’s hard to squeeze in the previous chain of events. Maybe that long stretch down the Rhine was a bigger speed bonus than I can guess.
I’ll leave it to others to work with the Peutinger Tables and Milestone inscriptions. They probably have. I’m sure the hard facts and numbers are in some Library somewhere. For now, I’m satisfied with my Barrington Atlas and these close estimates of the terrain. This is good enough for my reconstruction on 14 AD.
One last note – I’d much rather travel north on that road than south! Wouldn’t you? When Tiberius walked in front of Drusus’ coffin – on foot – all the way back from the Elbe, it must have been 500 miles of gradual, consistent uphill climbing all the way! And knowing Tiberius, he’d be just that rare sort of man with the patience to see it through slowly.
Sometime soon I’ll have to go back and review 9 BC more closely, with these parameters. The timing of Drusus’ funeral is important to explaining why Nicolas of Damascus didn’t get a second chance to see Augustus that fall or winter. [And why a census of Israel as punishment to Herod was probably ordered before further info would have prevented it.] Point: A long, slow walk home for Tiberius makes a late funeral that much more likely, which is key, since Nicolas probably arrived in Rome in October.
Maybe 9 BC (in the back of my head) is what’s kept me from moving more quickly through this section of 14 AD.(?) Ah, well. It's always something!
And I always hope it’ll be worth it. ;)
The first 300 miles were up Italy’s West Coast, followed by 15 miles over the thinnest tip of the Apennines and a hundred miles across the Po River Valley. (All numbers close estimates.) The first 40 or 50 miles into the Alpine Pass is all Lake Shore and River Valley leading to a rough 20 miles crossing from the Aenus to the Rhine River. In that stretch, the road climbs to almost a mile above Sea Level, but it’s all downhill from there! Another 400 miles to Mainz [Mogontiacum]. Another hundred or so to Cologne [Ara Ubiorum]. Another 65-ish to Xanten [Vetera].
Over half the trip to Cologne was downhill along the Rhine and over a third of it was flat along Italy’s coast! There seems to be less than 30 miles of really steep climbing the whole way. My estimate for the trip in 14 AD is 978 miles from Rome to Ara Ubiorum. The long downhill parts more than cancel out the uphill, so if the Imperial Coach changed horses at every stop they could easily average 30 miles a day.
Departing from Rome early on September 18th, the carriage might expect to reach Germanicus at Cologne in about 32 days, and thus on October 20th. Barbara Levick puts them in camp no earlier than the 7th, which would make a twenty day trip at 49 miles a day. That’s normal for Imperial Dispatch, but awfully quick for Senators in a Coach. Much later, though, and it’s hard to squeeze in the next chain of events. Much later, too, and it’s hard to squeeze in the previous chain of events. Maybe that long stretch down the Rhine was a bigger speed bonus than I can guess.
I’ll leave it to others to work with the Peutinger Tables and Milestone inscriptions. They probably have. I’m sure the hard facts and numbers are in some Library somewhere. For now, I’m satisfied with my Barrington Atlas and these close estimates of the terrain. This is good enough for my reconstruction on 14 AD.
One last note – I’d much rather travel north on that road than south! Wouldn’t you? When Tiberius walked in front of Drusus’ coffin – on foot – all the way back from the Elbe, it must have been 500 miles of gradual, consistent uphill climbing all the way! And knowing Tiberius, he’d be just that rare sort of man with the patience to see it through slowly.
Sometime soon I’ll have to go back and review 9 BC more closely, with these parameters. The timing of Drusus’ funeral is important to explaining why Nicolas of Damascus didn’t get a second chance to see Augustus that fall or winter. [And why a census of Israel as punishment to Herod was probably ordered before further info would have prevented it.] Point: A long, slow walk home for Tiberius makes a late funeral that much more likely, which is key, since Nicolas probably arrived in Rome in October.
Maybe 9 BC (in the back of my head) is what’s kept me from moving more quickly through this section of 14 AD.(?) Ah, well. It's always something!
And I always hope it’ll be worth it. ;)
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