Jim West writes an open letter to my mother

Over at Zwinglius Redivivus Jim has written to my mother to explain what he feels I am doing.

Dear Mrs. Boer,

While I can certainly sympathize with some of your feelings about Roland’s blog, I must insist that he is performing a dreadfully important service for the whole of Biblical scholarship. His rapier wit and his insightful ability to gouge out the rubbish of so much biblical studies nonsense is really necessary these days when journals are filled with absolute tripe and PhD students are writing dissertations that examine minutiae but which for that very reason are utterly worthless to anyone but themselves and their own mothers, maybe.

Roland’s program may seem counter productive but I assure you, he is calling many back to core issues and central questions- even if unknowingly (though I suspect, having met him, he knows exactly what he’s doing).

He may not admit it, and he may not even like it, but he is 100% Calvinist. And that may be the reason that he has no ‘academic’ position- for God has predestined him to something better and higher than simply occupying some staid ivory tower where the only person aggrandized is himself.

So, Mrs. Boer, you can be proud of your son. He’s doing God’s work.

Yours Most Humbly,

Jim

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steph Says:

10 May, 2010 at 12:19 pm

I second that and Roland is well respected internationally in this field as an intellectually sophisticated, broadly learned and independent scholar.

Bishop N.T. Wrong Says:

10 May, 2010 at 1:26 pm

Dear Roland’s Mom,

As the bishop of the Universalist Church of Durham, North Carolina, I would like to add to the growing chorus of acclamation concerning your son’s prodigious, compelling, and highly intelligent blogging and writing.

In the past I have been greatly encouraged by Roland’s sensitive and compelling interpretations of the scriptures. His sometimes naughty and titillating tidbits are but a foil for a discerning and innovative approach to the Bible. I for one have been greatly influenced by Knocking on Heaven’s Door, in which he greatly surpasses his peers in achieving a far deeper penetration into various and sundry passages.

Lastly, just in case you might have got the wrong end of the stick, Roland and I are old fishing partners, that’s all.

In him,
N.T. Wrong
Bishop of Durham, N.C.
Universalist Church

stalinsmoustache Says:

10 May, 2010 at 1:41 pm
I am humbled by your support, NT. You and Jim are real friends.

stalinsmoustache Says:

10 May, 2010 at 1:42 pm

And you too Steph …

John Lyons Says:

10 May, 2010 at 10:35 pm

I fourth that and, to misquote Steph, “Roland is hated internationally in this field as an intellectually challenged (so they say), too broadly learned (will the boy never focus!) and obnoxiously uncompliant scholar (he keeps telling us we are wrong)!”

And it is a bloody good thing too!

stalinsmoustache Says:

11 May, 2010 at 11:16 am
John, may I use that as a promo blurb for the next work, whatever it is.

1. John Lyons Says:
  
  11 May, 2010 at 5:03 pm
  Sure, Roland. Though I now realise I don’t mix well enough with the scholarly world these days to be absolutely sure that “hated” is the best word to describe the high regard you are held in. I am wondering about whether “despised” or “distrusted” is more accurate instead! Thinking about it a bit more, how about “feared”?

11 May, 2010 at 8:13 pm

I was once told that my arrival in Adelaide for a public lecture was anticipated, in some circles at least, with ‘fear and trembling’. Best PR I have ever had.

Fleshly Readings draft complete « Stalin's Moustache Says:

16 May, 2010 at 9:35 pm

[...] been wondering at the sober tone of my blog of late. Well, the reason is that my mother, who has reprimanded me already, still has access to the internet – until 20 June. But I can’t resist this post, for I [...]

A belated welcome to my mother « Stalin's Moustache Says:

10 February, 2011 at 9:36 pm

[...] last, my mother is a regular reader of my blog (and not an occasional reader, as before, even with Jim West’s open letter). You see, one of my nephews thought it was high time she had proper internet access. So what did [...]

STALIN'S MOUSTACHE