Nearly Christmas

http://www.oculture.com/2007/07/free_podcasts_of_university_courses_75_courses_and_growing.html

has been the greatest revelation since my last entry. Thomas Sheehan's lectures on the Historical Jesus were pointed out to me by Peter Lawley. There are 10 * 90 minute lectures by a prof. from Stanford University, downloadable via itunes. The first four have already determined, in part, the upcoming revision of my Jesus chapter. Although Mr. Sheehan, unlike Albert Shweitzer, does not think that Jesus himself believed that the End of the World was near, he can see quite clearly how the canon of four gospels, plus the rest of the New Testament have led to, and continue to inspire, that conviction.

I will make no attempt to recreate the flesh and blood Jesus, still less to proclaim his true message; after all I have no Greek, no Hebrew, and no Aramaic. My story will still be the persistence of the myth of original perfection and the predetermined end of wickedness. Christianity is but one, albeit a powerful and enduring, purveyor of that myth.

Sheehan's is the most lucid account I have yet come across that cuts through myth to the history beneath. Further, he has persuaded me to buy, and fortunately they are cheap secondhand, a series of books which claim that even the Kingdom of David and Solomon, as well as the original temple, are themselves part of a larger Jewish myth. Did the Jews per se, and not solely their Resurrection and End of Days beliefs, only 'begin' with the Persian occupation of the Holy Land? There will be some clarity on this, in my mind, and on this blog, early in the New Year.

Christmas cards, save that to Franca and family in Miami, are now dispatched, so should arrive before the day. Some were distributed by hand at Monday's milonga. Katya is a most trusting partner; it is lovely to find someone with whom to speak Russian as well as to dance. Mondays can be quite polyglot as I exercise my French with Claire and even some Italian with Carima. Dancing with Anna, and, to my shame I have no 'ancestral' Polish to share with her, was a reminder of how much I need that 'tango mango'; my signals are, as yet, most indistinct.

Bilborough work has been welcome and has kept me from gathering holly and buying those few Christmas presents on my list. Before going dancing tonight I shall bash my Southwell Christmas notes and run through my jazz chord exercises. 2008 will see an increase in 'electric' pupils, the building of a residual income, the publication of my first book as well as real competence and confidence in tango.