Ryan Alan
@foodicide.bsky.social
Co-Host of Don't Wreck Yourself (@wreckyourpod.com) and designer of Roll Buckaroo, a Western TTRPG. I have food opinions and the weirdest resume ever. Star Trek is better.
Let me know whenever you need half-baked hot takes on long dead historical figures who can’t defend themselves against my imagination. I’m sure by many modern standards Paul sucked, but he is likely the only author in the Bible who isn’t a fan-fic impersonator and that makes him easier to humanize.
November 19, 2025 at 11:53 AM
Let me know whenever you need half-baked hot takes on long dead historical figures who can’t defend themselves against my imagination. I’m sure by many modern standards Paul sucked, but he is likely the only author in the Bible who isn’t a fan-fic impersonator and that makes him easier to humanize.
All of this is to say: buy her book, it's a great read focused on the contemporary culture of Paul's writings, and her perspective basically throws the legalistic interpretations of him into a wood-chipper.
And maybe don't be so quick to judge Paul by the reposts of his out of context old tweets.
And maybe don't be so quick to judge Paul by the reposts of his out of context old tweets.
November 19, 2025 at 4:43 AM
All of this is to say: buy her book, it's a great read focused on the contemporary culture of Paul's writings, and her perspective basically throws the legalistic interpretations of him into a wood-chipper.
And maybe don't be so quick to judge Paul by the reposts of his out of context old tweets.
And maybe don't be so quick to judge Paul by the reposts of his out of context old tweets.
Those translations effectively offer contradictory conclusions. There's a big difference between "We have no other practice" and "We have no such custom". Only the latter makes sense with what comes next.
I don't think Paul gave a shit whether women wore a veil as long as they believed.
I don't think Paul gave a shit whether women wore a veil as long as they believed.
November 19, 2025 at 4:43 AM
Those translations effectively offer contradictory conclusions. There's a big difference between "We have no other practice" and "We have no such custom". Only the latter makes sense with what comes next.
I don't think Paul gave a shit whether women wore a veil as long as they believed.
I don't think Paul gave a shit whether women wore a veil as long as they believed.
Her translation aligns with King James (All versions).
NIV: If anyone wants to be contentious about this, we have no other practice—nor do the churches of God.
NKJV: But if anyone seems to be contentious, we have no such custom, nor do the churches of God.
NIV: If anyone wants to be contentious about this, we have no other practice—nor do the churches of God.
NKJV: But if anyone seems to be contentious, we have no such custom, nor do the churches of God.
November 19, 2025 at 4:43 AM
Her translation aligns with King James (All versions).
NIV: If anyone wants to be contentious about this, we have no other practice—nor do the churches of God.
NKJV: But if anyone seems to be contentious, we have no such custom, nor do the churches of God.
NIV: If anyone wants to be contentious about this, we have no other practice—nor do the churches of God.
NKJV: But if anyone seems to be contentious, we have no such custom, nor do the churches of God.
That is far less prescriptive than he seems to be at the beginning. Then in 11:16 things get interesting depending on which translation you're using. I'm comparing New International to New King James here, but Ruden used the Nestle-Aland original Koine Greek text to come to a similar conclusion.
November 19, 2025 at 4:43 AM
That is far less prescriptive than he seems to be at the beginning. Then in 11:16 things get interesting depending on which translation you're using. I'm comparing New International to New King James here, but Ruden used the Nestle-Aland original Koine Greek text to come to a similar conclusion.
He plays with arguments about the relative nature of men and women. Women came from men (McRibs!) but then he says all men come from women. By 1 Corinthians 11:13, he kind of gets to the point. "Judge for yourselves: Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered?"
November 19, 2025 at 4:43 AM
He plays with arguments about the relative nature of men and women. Women came from men (McRibs!) but then he says all men come from women. By 1 Corinthians 11:13, he kind of gets to the point. "Judge for yourselves: Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered?"
First, understand that this is a letter to a congregation, a sort of sermon in absentia. In the beginning of the letter he stakes out a pretty extreme claim: men should be bare-headed and women covered. Then he proceeds to dismantle the argument by pointing out the inconsistencies of its logic.
November 19, 2025 at 4:43 AM
First, understand that this is a letter to a congregation, a sort of sermon in absentia. In the beginning of the letter he stakes out a pretty extreme claim: men should be bare-headed and women covered. Then he proceeds to dismantle the argument by pointing out the inconsistencies of its logic.
She does address this passage, so I'll be mashing her ideas with my own. I just want to give credit since I'm hardly an expert, the book is a fun read, and I'll surely steal from her.
That said, I think Paul is using a rhetorical device, maybe even sarcasm at the beginning of 1 Corinthians 11.
That said, I think Paul is using a rhetorical device, maybe even sarcasm at the beginning of 1 Corinthians 11.
November 19, 2025 at 4:43 AM
She does address this passage, so I'll be mashing her ideas with my own. I just want to give credit since I'm hardly an expert, the book is a fun read, and I'll surely steal from her.
That said, I think Paul is using a rhetorical device, maybe even sarcasm at the beginning of 1 Corinthians 11.
That said, I think Paul is using a rhetorical device, maybe even sarcasm at the beginning of 1 Corinthians 11.
As an atheist, I don't have a pony in this show... buuuut... whenever anyone brings up Paul as a legalistic text, I point them to an incredible piece of scholarship by classical scholar Dr. Sarah Ruden, "Paul Among the People" which places his writings within their literary and cultural context.
November 19, 2025 at 4:43 AM
As an atheist, I don't have a pony in this show... buuuut... whenever anyone brings up Paul as a legalistic text, I point them to an incredible piece of scholarship by classical scholar Dr. Sarah Ruden, "Paul Among the People" which places his writings within their literary and cultural context.
10-4 good buddy. Honk honk?
October 30, 2025 at 4:26 PM
10-4 good buddy. Honk honk?
I gave them nothing. No burnt offerings. Nothing for the great data vacuum in the sky.
October 30, 2025 at 3:22 PM
I gave them nothing. No burnt offerings. Nothing for the great data vacuum in the sky.
He should report Star Fleet to the authorities on Ferenginar. I think the commission on Diversification Equity and Interest will want to hear about this.
October 21, 2025 at 3:22 PM
He should report Star Fleet to the authorities on Ferenginar. I think the commission on Diversification Equity and Interest will want to hear about this.
Better make'em count.
October 21, 2025 at 3:20 AM
Better make'em count.
It's shameless cash grab with a low floor and a high ceiling. Adam Driver traverses the universe with an elderly Mandolorian aka New Boba Fett, and he could be friends with the new Yoda. Muppets will be in this. What? the director takes off his Scorcese mask? It's George Lucas. Enter Jar Jar. /scene
October 21, 2025 at 3:18 AM
It's shameless cash grab with a low floor and a high ceiling. Adam Driver traverses the universe with an elderly Mandolorian aka New Boba Fett, and he could be friends with the new Yoda. Muppets will be in this. What? the director takes off his Scorcese mask? It's George Lucas. Enter Jar Jar. /scene
That's space racism, and as Star Fleet Officers, they are aware their own bias. If Nog wanted the job, he could have acquired it.
October 21, 2025 at 3:05 AM
That's space racism, and as Star Fleet Officers, they are aware their own bias. If Nog wanted the job, he could have acquired it.
I don't know that people hated it. though I think I have a physical revulsion for the Bajoran operations uniform palette. Odo was an incredible amount of beige and pale. They dressed him as peanut butter and kept him in a jar.
October 21, 2025 at 3:00 AM
I don't know that people hated it. though I think I have a physical revulsion for the Bajoran operations uniform palette. Odo was an incredible amount of beige and pale. They dressed him as peanut butter and kept him in a jar.
And don't even get me started on Will Riker's transporter clone Tom, or how OCP figured out how bring Alex Murphy back as a RoboCop... umm just thinking... RoboCop Ben Solo would just be Darth Vader II. You'd think Vader II would be an easy green-light from the IP Milking Machine Operators Union.
October 21, 2025 at 2:51 AM
And don't even get me started on Will Riker's transporter clone Tom, or how OCP figured out how bring Alex Murphy back as a RoboCop... umm just thinking... RoboCop Ben Solo would just be Darth Vader II. You'd think Vader II would be an easy green-light from the IP Milking Machine Operators Union.
They green-lit bringing back the Emperor because... I don't know... force clones or whatever that was. But this was a bridge to far?
October 21, 2025 at 1:09 AM
They green-lit bringing back the Emperor because... I don't know... force clones or whatever that was. But this was a bridge to far?
Weird, and completely inexplicable.
October 21, 2025 at 1:02 AM
Weird, and completely inexplicable.
The mic drops, but does not land until before it is dropped.
October 15, 2025 at 1:23 AM
The mic drops, but does not land until before it is dropped.
I went through it fully for the first time about 3 years ago. Such an incredible accomplishment.
TNG-Enterprise was all REALLY good, and each was their own beast. DS9 was the beastliest beast.
TNG-Enterprise was all REALLY good, and each was their own beast. DS9 was the beastliest beast.
October 15, 2025 at 1:22 AM
I went through it fully for the first time about 3 years ago. Such an incredible accomplishment.
TNG-Enterprise was all REALLY good, and each was their own beast. DS9 was the beastliest beast.
TNG-Enterprise was all REALLY good, and each was their own beast. DS9 was the beastliest beast.
We should weep he has as much support as he does.
September 29, 2025 at 6:55 PM
We should weep he has as much support as he does.