tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14261952.post113805829575009035..comments2024-03-25T13:40:30.747-04:00Comments on Faith and Theology: Essential plays for theologiansBen Myershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03800127501735910966noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14261952.post-1156492375221391502006-08-25T03:52:00.000-04:002006-08-25T03:52:00.000-04:00Please check out this prose-opera-liturgical drama...Please check out this prose-opera-liturgical drama:<BR/>The Mummery Book: a Parable of The Divine True Love<BR/><BR/>1. www.mummerybook.org<BR/>http://global.adidam.org/books/mummery.htmlAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14261952.post-1138205696449816182006-01-25T11:14:00.000-05:002006-01-25T11:14:00.000-05:00James,I agree that "anyone wishing to be a well-ro...James,<BR/><BR/>I agree that "anyone wishing to be a well-rounded member of Western Civilization" should know such plays as those on the list, which isn't "specifically" for theologians, rather it contains essential reading for theologians, who themselves should be well-rounder members of civilisation. Yes? We may live in Jerusalem, but it broadens the (theological) mind to commute to Athens. <BR/><BR/>The truly great theologians - e.g. the Alexandrains, the Cappadocians, Augustine,<BR/>Aquinas, Calvin, et. al., right up to Barth and a contemporary like Rowan Williams - have always known this, and have carried on their theological conversation not only <I>in</I> but also <I>ex cathedra</I>. <BR/><BR/>Barth said that the preacher should have the Bible in one hand and the newspaper in the other - and that includes the art section.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14261952.post-1138199483016913732006-01-25T09:31:00.000-05:002006-01-25T09:31:00.000-05:00Ben, Great lists. I was wondering what about thes...Ben, <BR/><BR/>Great lists. I was wondering what about these plays makes them essential for specifically theologians? To my mind, a good many here would easily fit on a list of "Essential plays for anyone wishing to be well-rounded member of Western Civilization." Thoughts?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14261952.post-1138142370364803862006-01-24T17:39:00.000-05:002006-01-24T17:39:00.000-05:00I agree, Fred: Tis a Pity, She's a Whore would hav...I agree, Fred: <I>Tis a Pity, She's a Whore</I> would have been a great choice for the list. From the same period, <I>The Revenger's Tragedy</I> is another good one.<BR/><BR/>I'm glad to hear you like Beckett, James. As you say, it would have been easy to fill half the list with Beckett. Still, <I>Godot</I> has always been my own favourite.Ben Myershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03800127501735910966noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14261952.post-1138130811939916172006-01-24T14:26:00.000-05:002006-01-24T14:26:00.000-05:00I agree with the deletion of the Passion plays- th...I agree with the deletion of the Passion plays- they are dreadfully anti-semitic and not very well written on the whole.Jimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16698562143972216357noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14261952.post-1138129137575906952006-01-24T13:58:00.000-05:002006-01-24T13:58:00.000-05:00Alas, no Thornton Wilder? And what of "Tis a Pity,...Alas, no Thornton Wilder? And what of "Tis a Pity, She's a Whore"?Fredhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01262662173303042998noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14261952.post-1138100971191598802006-01-24T06:09:00.000-05:002006-01-24T06:09:00.000-05:00Not a very learned comment but just got to say tha...Not a very learned comment but just got to say that I'm very glad to see Beckett there (a personal favourite so I'm biased. I'm sure a couple of Becktt's other plays could have graced the list in another world. Also good to see Arthur Miller and Harlod Pinter get the nod.James Crossleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10661575117163837659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14261952.post-1138088315480937622006-01-24T02:38:00.000-05:002006-01-24T02:38:00.000-05:00Anonymous, you've stumped me. But I looked it up....Anonymous, you've stumped me. But I looked it up. <I>The Physicists</I> is by the Swiss playwright Friedrich Dürrenmatt (1921-1990). He's described as a Swiss Roal Dahl. Sounds like fun!<BR/><BR/>Naomi, thnaks for the suggestions. I considered <I>Pygmalion</I> . . . As for <I>Hamlet</I> and Euripides, see my introduction!<BR/><BR/><I>Galileo</I> - good point, but you can't go wrong with <I>Mother Courage</I>.<BR/><BR/>Ben suggested a Seneca. I confess to ignorance.<BR/><BR/>And a Passion Play - I'm afraid I find them insufferingly boring. Mind, I haven't been to Oberammergau.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14261952.post-1138087404463623382006-01-24T02:23:00.000-05:002006-01-24T02:23:00.000-05:00Ben, you forgot Brecht's most theological play: Ga...Ben, you forgot Brecht's most theological play: Galileo. And if you like humour then B.Shaw's Pygmalion must top the list too. Surely Hamlet would warrant a mention. Then there's Cyrano de Bergerac. Maybe the Aussie David Williams could get some honours too, like his "Emerald City". And what about some ancient plays like Trojan Women by Euripides or Oedipus Rex by Seneca. Yes, and what about the Passion Play too??? Of course, I know you can only fit 20 in. I wait desperately for the top 20 musicals, I wonder if Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure: The Musical, will get a mention (note, it's true and I'm not joking, it became a musical).Naomihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03492511699731101193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14261952.post-1138084130395815712006-01-24T01:28:00.000-05:002006-01-24T01:28:00.000-05:00The play "The Physisists" should be on your list. ...The play "The Physisists" should be on your list. I don't recall the author however. I read it many years ago. A very thougtful text. Don S.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14261952.post-1138083970051251162006-01-24T01:26:00.000-05:002006-01-24T01:26:00.000-05:00I've just recently discovered your lists and wante...I've just recently discovered your lists and wanted to let you know how wonderful they've been! Keep doing these sorts of posts!Sharad Yadavhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12150204571738424517noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14261952.post-1138072036199494012006-01-23T22:07:00.000-05:002006-01-23T22:07:00.000-05:00I think his funniest is probably Waiting for Godot...I think his funniest is probably <I>Waiting for Godot</I>. Even funnier (and also bleaker) is his trilogy of novels, <I>Molloy</I>, <I>Malone Dies</I>, <I>The Unnameable</I>.Ben Myershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03800127501735910966noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14261952.post-1138071200280892322006-01-23T21:53:00.000-05:002006-01-23T21:53:00.000-05:00I'm sad to say I've never read him (or her- or who...I'm sad to say I've never read him (or her- or whoever). Care to recommend the funniest?Jimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16698562143972216357noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14261952.post-1138069817675721412006-01-23T21:30:00.000-05:002006-01-23T21:30:00.000-05:00What, Jim? You would even leave off Beckett? I'm s...What, Jim? You would even leave off Beckett? I'm scandalised! <BR/><BR/>Apart from everything else, I reckon Beckett is the <I>funniest</I> of all playwrights: no other writer has made me laugh more.Ben Myershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03800127501735910966noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14261952.post-1138058624580765962006-01-23T18:23:00.000-05:002006-01-23T18:23:00.000-05:00Speaking of Faust- you should take a look at Hans ...Speaking of Faust- you should take a look at Hans Hübner's <B>Goethes Faust und das Neue Testament</B>. Brilliant. Yours is a very nice list, of course, though I would replace everything from 14 on- leave them off altogether, and have a list of 13..... <BR/><BR/>;-)Jimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16698562143972216357noreply@blogger.com