The Theology Mill

Steven E. Knepper and Ryan G. Duns, SJ / William Desmond and the Bible

Feb 6, 2024

01:00:58

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Steven E. Knepper

Ryan G. Duns, SJ

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Quick takeaways

The chapter discusses the tension between the tyrannical erotic sovereign and the agapeic servant in the Hebrew Bible, using the characters of Saul and David as examples.

Father Ryan G. Duns explores the transformative power of Jesus' parables and how they invite a reconfiguration of one's understanding of the world and the active enactment of charity.

Deep dives

Exploring the dichotomy between the tyrannical erotic sovereign and the agapeic servant in William Desmond's philosophy and its manifestation in First and Second Samuel

In the chapter co-written by Stephen E. Nipper and Robert Wiley, the dichotomy between the tyrannical erotic sovereign and the agapeic servant is examined. Drawing on Desmond's works and the biblical texts of First and Second Samuel, the authors highlight the tensions and ambivalence surrounding kingship in the Hebrew Bible. They explore how figures like Saul and David exemplify these contrasting tendencies within the narrative, offering a deeper understanding of their characters and their implications for political philosophy.

Introduction

2min

Introduction and Backgrounds

31min

Different Approaches to Interpreting Literary Texts

3min

Exploring William Desmond's Philosophy

15min

Uncovering the Depths: A Metaxological Reading of Jesus' Parables

5min

Upcoming Works and Projects

5min

Steven E. Knepper is Associate Professor of English and the Bruce C. Gottwald, Jr. ’81 Chair for Academic Excellence at the Virginia Military Institute. He is the author of Wonder Strikes: Approaching Aesthetics and Literature with William Desmond (SUNY, 2022), the editor of A Heart of Flesh: William Desmond and the Bible (Cascade, 2023), and the co-author, with Robert Wyllie and Ethan Stoneman, of Byung-Chul Han: A Critical Introduction (Polity, forthcoming 2024).

Ryan G. Duns, SJ, is Associate Professor of Theology at Marquette University. He is the author of Spiritual Exercises for a Secular Age: Desmond’s Quest for God (Notre Dame, 2020) and the forthcoming Theology of Horror: The Hidden Depths of Popular Films (Notre Dame, 2024).

PODCAST LINKS:

A Heart of Flesh: https://wipfandstock.com/9781666738452/a-heart-of-flesh/

Fr. Ryan’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/RyanDunsSJ

Steve’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/StevenEKnepper

Fr. Ryan’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/DunsSj

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SOURCES MENTIONED:

Bespaloff, Rachel. “On the Iliad.”