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Debate: Old Testament vs New Testament

Apr 24, 2022

Guest

In a lively debate, Booker Prize-winning novelist Howard Jacobson and writer Anne Atkins champion the Old Testament, rich with iconic tales like Adam and Eve and Moses. Anglican priest Richard Coles makes the case for the New Testament, emphasizing the life of Jesus and its moral teachings. The discussion touches on the enduring impact of these texts on literature and culture, the intricate relationship between the two testaments, and personal journeys of faith, all offering a thought-provoking exploration of spirituality and belief.

34:46

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question_answer

ANECDOTE

Baddiel's Jewish Atheism

David Baddiel, despite being an atheist, identifies as Jewish.
He jokingly clarifies his belief system centers around Larry David, not God.

question_answer

ANECDOTE

Cursing in Literature

Howard Jacobson uses a quote from "The Bastard from the Bush" to illustrate the Old Testament's literary influence.
He highlights the "rascally exhilaration" in the Deuteronomy curse's language.

insights

INSIGHT

Pleasure in Displeasure

The Old Testament explores the paradox of finding pleasure in displeasure.
This paradox connects individual impulse with God-given law, creating moral stirrings.

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Echoes of the Old Testament

02:49 • 10min

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Exploring the Divergence and Interconnection of the Testaments

12:21 • 6min

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Contextualizing the New Testament

17:57 • 11min

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The Literary Spectrum of the Old and New Testament

28:30 • 4min

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#7530

• Mentioned in 4 episodes

Coriolanus

William Shakespeare

The play follows Caius Martius, later known as Coriolanus, a Roman general who is celebrated for his military prowess but despises the common people. After being nominated for consul, he is unable to win the people's vote due to his arrogance and contempt for them. This leads to his banishment from Rome, after which he allies with his former enemy, Tullus Aufidius, to attack Rome. However, his mother Volumnia persuades him to spare the city, leading to his betrayal by Aufidius and his eventual death. The play explores themes of power, masculinity, honor, and the complexities of political life in ancient Rome.

#957

• Mentioned in 24 episodes

King Lear

William Shakespeare

King Lear, written by William Shakespeare around 1604-1606, is a tragedy that follows the story of King Lear, who decides to retire and divide his kingdom among his three daughters: Goneril, Regan, and Cordelia. The division is based on the eloquence of their declarations of love for him. However, Lear's youngest and favorite daughter, Cordelia, refuses to flatter him and is disinherited. The play unfolds with Lear's descent into madness, the betrayal by his elder daughters, and the subplot involving the Earl of Gloucester and his sons. Ultimately, the play ends in tragedy with the deaths of Lear, Cordelia, and several other main characters, highlighting themes of deception, power, and the consequences of poor judgment.

#3728

• Mentioned in 8 episodes

The tempest

William Shakespeare

The Tempest, written around 1610-1611, is one of Shakespeare's last solo works. The play revolves around Prospero, the former Duke of Milan, who was usurped by his brother Antonio and left to die at sea with his infant daughter Miranda. They survive and find refuge on a remote island, where Prospero masters magic and enslaves the native Caliban and the spirit Ariel. When a ship carrying his enemies passes by, Prospero conjures a tempest to bring them ashore. The play explores themes of magic, betrayal, revenge, and forgiveness as Prospero manipulates the shipwrecked characters to rectify past wrongs and ultimately forgives them. The story also includes the romance between Ferdinand, the King of Naples' son, and Miranda, and ends with Prospero's decision to return to Milan and reclaim his dukedom.

#289

• Mentioned in 54 episodes

The God Delusion

Richard Dawkins

In 'The God Delusion', Richard Dawkins argues that the belief in a supernatural creator, God, is almost certainly false and qualifies as a delusion. He examines God in various forms, from the Old Testament to the Celestial Watchmaker, and critiques the major arguments for religion. Dawkins discusses how religion fuels war, fosters bigotry, and abuses children, and he advocates for atheism as a morally and intellectually fulfilling worldview. The book also explores the relationship between religion and morality, suggesting that morality can exist independently of religion, and argues against the teaching of religion in schools as a form of indoctrination.

The Finkler question

Howard Jacobson

The Finkler Question is a tragic-comedic novel that delves into the complexities of Jewish identity, friendship, and belonging. It follows Julian Treslove, a non-Jewish man obsessed with Jewish culture, and his relationships with his Jewish friends, Sam Finkler and Libor Sevcik. The novel explores themes of anti-Semitism, Zionism, and the challenges of modern Jewishness.

Live a Little

Howard Jacobson

In 'Live a Little', Howard Jacobson crafts a tender and humorous tale of unlikely love between Beryl Dusinbery, a feisty nonagenarian struggling with memory loss, and Shimi Carmelli, a recluse with perfect recall. The novel explores themes of aging, memory, love, and the complexities of human relationships, all set against the backdrop of North London.

#182

• Mentioned in 75 episodes

Crime and Punishment

Bibliophile Bibliophile Pro

Constance Black Garnett

FYODOR DOSTOEVSKY

Published in 1866, 'Crime and Punishment' is a psychological novel set in St. Petersburg, Russia. It revolves around Rodion Raskolnikov, an impoverished and intellectually gifted former student who formulates a theory that some individuals are morally justified in committing crimes for the greater good of society. Raskolnikov puts this theory to the test by murdering an old pawnbroker and her half-sister, leading to a profound exploration of his psychological and emotional struggles with guilt, paranoia, and the consequences of his actions. The novel delves into socio-economic disparities, moral dilemmas, and the psychology of criminals, making it a classic of Russian literature and existential thought.

#8602

• Mentioned in 4 episodes

Timon of Athens

Thomas Middleton

William Shakespeare

The play follows Timon, a wealthy and generous Athenian who hosts lavish banquets and gives away his wealth to his friends. However, when he falls into debt, his friends abandon him. Betrayed and disillusioned, Timon renounces humanity and retreats to a cave, where he discovers a cache of gold. He uses this gold to fund Alcibiades' revenge against Athens and to spread misery among his former friends. The play explores themes of friendship, betrayal, and misanthropy, culminating in Timon's death in isolation, despite the later recognition of his worth by Alcibiades and the people of Athens.

Adam and Eve, Noah’s Ark, Moses and the Ten Commandments, the parting of the Red Sea. These are a few of the stories from the Old Testament. And then there’s the New Testament, with its account of the life of Jesus, the Good Samaritan, the raising of Lazarus and the feeding of the five thousand. Whatever our creed or background, these stories are embedded in our consciousness. They inform our everyday speech and much of our art, music and literature. But which of these books is the greater? For this archive episode, we gathered expert voices to consider the question including writer and broadcaster Anne Atkins, Booker Prize-winning novelist and journalist Howard Jacobson, Professor of Theology and Culture in the African Diaspora Robert Beckford, and Anglican priest and presenter the Rev. Richard Coles. Hosting the discussion is broadcaster, comedian and author David Baddiel.

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