Florala

Issue date: 2/18/10 Section: News

Media Credit: Shannon Wells BROADENING HORIZONS - Amy-Jill Levine challenged the UNA community to read parables, which, in her words, should "comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable."

Religious scholar and author Amy-Jill Levine spoke to students and faculty on Feb. 11 at 7 p.m. as part of the Distinguished Events Series at UNA.

A self-described "Yankee Jewish feminist who teaches in a predominantly Christian school in the buckle of the Bible Belt," Levine discussed religious parables and how they are used in contemporary American society.

"We try to bring performing artists, authors and scholars who have distinguished themselves in their particular area of interest," said UNA president William Cale. "Levine is provocative, humorous and deeply intellectually stimulating."

Levine is an E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter professor of New Testament studies at Vanderbilt University Divinity School and director of the Carpenter Program in religion, gender and sexuality.

In 2006, Levine published The Misunderstood Jew: The Church and Scandal of the Jewish Jesus, which stresses that Jews and Christians should try to understand each other.

"She is one of the most renowned scholars of the New Testament," Cale said.

During her speech, Levine described parables as stories that are meant to challenge and teach others. She believes that parables, like religion, should "comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable."

Levine regularly brought the audience to laughter with her quick, witty observations about the meanings behind religious parables.

"She delivered a very thoughtful and insightful outlook on parables that challenged your mind and made you broaden your horizon," said audience member Karen Rainwater.

An author of numerous books, articles and essays on religion, Levine has been awarded grants from the Mellon Foundation, the National Endowment for the Humanities and the American Council of Learned Societies.

An experienced speaker on biblical topics, Levine lectured about the significance of religious parables and how audiences should interpret them today.

"Like a poem, symphony or work of art, parables should inspire you to go out and do what it tells you to," Levine said. "If you read a parable and you think it's nice, read it again."

For more information about upcoming speakers in the 2010 UNA Distinguished Events Series, contact Debbie Chaffin at 256-765-4297 or dkchaffin@una.edu.

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