Tag Archives: Judaism

The Gift (and Curse) of Asher Lev

Posted on October 28, 2019 by Brenton Dickieson

The Gift of Asher Lev by Chaim Potok My rating: 5 of 5 stars The Gift of Asher Lev is a lovely, evocative book. It is my first time reading the sequel to My Name is Asher Lev, which I … Continue reading →

Posted in Reviews, Thoughtful Essays | Tagged art, Chaim Potok, Charles Dickens, Charlotte Brontë, Fyodor Dostoevsky, holocaust, Jane Austen, Judaism, My Name is Asher Lev, New York City, Shoah, The Gift of Asher Lev, Theology of Culture, vocation | 19 Comments

A Call for a Silmarillion Talmud

Posted on April 10, 2017 by Brenton Dickieson

Though we live in a digital age, we are sometimes artificially constrained by older technologies. Like modern cars and trains that are largely designed according to the size of Roman cart paths, our reading is still shaped by a time … Continue reading →

Posted in Reflections | Tagged Bible, Corey Olsen, Discworld, J.R.R. Tolkien, Judaism, literature, Mishnah, Narnia, Reading, storytelling, Talmud, technology, The Silmarillion, writing | 30 Comments

Why Religion Matters: A Mini-Vlog Series

Posted on October 4, 2016 by Brenton Dickieson

One of the trade-offs of my recent vacation and research trip to the U.K. was that I had to miss the first week of classes. In our “Inquiry Studies” class we were simply doing introductions, so I joined the class … Continue reading →

Posted in Original Research | Tagged Chester, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, religion, religious studies, Stonehenge, Teaching, theology, United Kingdom | 16 Comments

From Golgatha to the Gallows: On the Crucifixion of Elie Wiesel (1928-2016)

Posted on July 4, 2016 by Brenton Dickieson

Jewish people have a deeply difficult relationship with the cross. Once a Roman instrument of torture and oppression, the Christian transformation of that symbol brought Jewish people no relief. Racial antisemitism begins in Europe beneath the symbol of that cross. … Continue reading →

Posted in Reflections | Tagged American Gods, Anna Fisk, Chagall, Chaim Potok, crucifixion, Death, Elie Wiesel, feminism, François Mauriac, holocaust, Judaism, Moltmann, My Name is Asher Lev, Neil Gaiman, Nietzsche, Night, Shoah | 37 Comments

The Roots of the University: An Oxford Vlog

Posted on October 1, 2014 by Brenton Dickieson

I have just finished up two very intense days doing research at the Bodleian library. The Bodleian is surrounded by the ancient colleges of Oxford. The Radcliffe Camera draws the eye, a circular science library in the midst of quadrangles … Continue reading →