New oppotunities

Some new things have happened this week - it's amazing how life just keeps on dishing up new experiences. Mnnday evening, Ellen and I started a six-week course offered on Zoom, free of charge, by the Harvard Divinity School. It is called "Religion and the Legacies of Slavery." It is an in-depth look at the way religion has intersected with the history of slavery generally and in the U.S. in particular.

The first session focused on a dimension of that topic of particular interest to me - the Bible, with emphasis on the New Testament. There are slaves all through the New Testament, though you might not know it because often, the Greek word doulos is translated "servant," not "slave." Servanthood can imply voluntary service, but in the New Testament, these were slaves. Jesus frequently encounters slaves, they figure as characters in his parables, they are mentioned by Paul. The Letter of Philemon, is addressed to a slave-owner, and is about his slave, Onesimus. But the NT also uses the term doulos to describe Christians serving God, and even calls Jesus a doulos (Philippians 2). This enriches (some might say complicates) the meaning of the term and the history of slavery and its intersetion with religion. Of course we know that the New Testament has been appealed to both to support and to condemn slavery. We were ably led through this mine-field by Prof. Karen L. King, who joined the HDS faculty in 1997. In 2009, she became the first woman appointed as the Hollis Professor of Divinity, the oldest endowed chair in the United States (1721). She specializes in the history of early Christianity with particular interest in discourses of normativity (orthodoxy and heresy), gender studies, and martyrdom. This course should be an interesting and timely experience.

Prof. Karen L. King. ********************************* The other new thing is a connection with Angelina for body work - a gift from John and Cynthia for Christmas. (From her Website): "Angelina Diega Mantione was born of Sicilian parents and trained as an artist and dancer. Angelina has studied how the body works for most of her life. She is a certified Personal Trainer and Masters level Movement Therapist. Her background as a performer and educator has given her a unique perspective on the process of healing and strengthening the body, mind and spirit. During her twenty-five years in the healing arts, Angelina's work evolved into the East West Body Systems that it is today. An amalgam of hands-on modalities combining acupressure and deep tissue re-organization paired with exercise based in Yoga, Pilates, dance and Movement Therapy. It supports body awareness, emphasizing structural alignment and correct movement patterns. Functional, compassionate access to integrated, skillful movement promotes a joyful way of life. East West Body systems help reduce pain, improve strength and vitality, and develop body wisdom" I visited Angelina today in her little red A-frame in Putney, very reminiscent of the A-frame I built 60 years ago. We went up into her loft studio in the top of the "A" - very like the space where I had my little study back then - and she worked on my shoulder and neck, loosening up tight muscles, unfreezing bones and ligaments with gentle pressure, nothing dramatic or agressive, just creating space for movement. My body responded, it felt good, I think she can help me and I plan to go back. Bible study was very intersting this week - sort of different too. More on that later.