Stant Litore

This is, hands down, the best book I've ever had the pleasure to read on worldbuilding. I have an MFA in creative writing (fiction) and have read countless books on the subject over the years, but this is the first one I've found that is written in clear, accessible language, with amazing current examples, and exercises that facilitate learning. Litore writes with a joy that is apparent from page one. The language is playful, and often an invitation to rethink key concepts we, as writers, have learned over the years.

If I had this book when I was still teaching at the University, I would have considered it a "must have" bible for each of my students!

Definitely pick this up and give it a read, and share it with all the aspiring writers and teachers you know. I promise you won't be disappointed!… (altro)

This is a really interesting and enjoyable book about reading the Bible, what we've lost in translation, and how the message of both the Old and the New Testaments has been altered by both the difficulties of translation between different languages, and different cultures. While Jews still read the Jewish Bible in Hebrew, Christians read it in translation. And while no translation can ever be perfect, in many instances in the Bible, the early translations, made at a time much closer to at least the New Testament, and with more communication between Christians and Jews who were often still part of the same communities, have continued to influence our translations as the meanings attached to critical words and phrases have changed.

One example is the phrase, "woman of virtue." The original, Litore explains, is closer to "woman of valor." "Virtue" is from the Roman word "virtu," which was much closer, thought not exact, to the sense of the original Hebrew.

When the first English translations were made, "virtue" still carried something of the more martial Roman meaning. But those early English translations, and especially the King James Bible, have continued to influence subsequent translations. "Virtue" remained in the phrase, while the meaning of "virtue" in English changed and lost its martial flavor. We read "virtue" now as meaning, especially as applied to women, chaste and faithful.

That's one example of how our translations have unintentionally misrepresented the role and status of women in both the Old and the New Testaments. It's a recurring point throughout the book.

Another recurring and important theme is that nothing in the New Testament reflects the harsh, judgmental approach of some of our more, I'll say politically vocal Christian sects. The New Testament in particular is all about welcoming the stranger, the refugee, the poor, the ill. It's about accepting people and helping them, not judging and excluding them. It's about joyous sharing, not about condemning people who live differently.

There's more, as a part of this, about the different way gender was understood and treated. Jesus and his disciples lived in the midst of a very Greekified culture, where homosexuality was pervasive, and never said a word about it.

I'm not equipped to write a truly knowledgeable analysis of this book, but I found it both enjoyable reading, and enlightening.

Recommended.

I bought this book.… (altro)

Having been raised Pagan, I was always told that Christianity was a large part of American culture and that I needed to understand it to make sense of my surroundings. So as a teenager I read the Bible. This only confused me as the Bible doesn't really line up with what I heard and saw from Christians.

Stant Litore is a Christian who became aware of the same thing. I'm not sure if there was a specific awakening for him, but his specialty is the study of the original languages of the Bible. Throughout this book he uses this knowledge to unearth a centuries old game of telephone tag that has been played throughout translations of the Bible.

Lives of Unforgetting follows an examination of specific words, concepts, and passages that often mean something completely different in their original languages. This follows his concept of "aletheia" or unforgetting, which guides his spirit of linguistic exegesis throughout the book.

Various specific topics are addressed with an overall theme that reveals what most would interpret as left-wing Christianity. The embracing of feminist concepts and LGBTQ+ positivity is backed up by exegetical readings of certain key passages. Often the same ones used against such concepts.

While I have no reason to doubt Litore's treatment of biblical passages, I can't help but wonder what is left out. The Bible is a large book (library) spanning many centuries and many cultures. While this book points out key issues with the contemporary practice of Christianity, I have a feeling that there are ways to further the more regressive practices via exegesis as well.

Overall I feel that Litore's treatment of the material is cohesive and very clear. This is a great book for anyone interested in Biblical exegesis or the nuances of translation in general. For contemporary Christians this is a great book for examining preconceived notions of your faith.

However, as I found out as a young Pagan reading the Bible long ago, I doubt this book will have the intended impact. There may not be a way to make contemporary Christianity Biblical again. Imagine telling people to spend time deeply examining a book they have never read. To take the hard route when they just want easy reassurance, and be told what to do. Screw contemplating, learning, and deeply investing yourself in your religion. Just do what someone on Sunday says to.

This is the central problem that no book can address. How to get people to want to examine their lives, their beliefs, and their assumptions? I applaud Litore's attempt to reform centuries of mistakes and mistranslations, but I fear that too few will hear the message to make an impact. Christianity chose the populist route long ago, as Litore points out with how culturally "Roman" many contemporary aspects are. For better or worse, after 1600 years I don't think it can change course. No matter how obviously off-course it currently is.… (altro)