“If you were a Bible translator,” Sarai pitches without preface, “funded to translate just one book of the Hebrew Scriptures into a previously unwritten language, which book would you choose … Ms Tainui?”
“None,” snaps Hana. “There would be a greater need for other books — kids’ reading books, their own cultural stories, manuals on health, farming …”
“We get your drift,” Sarai interrupts, “and you have a valid point. Let me rephrase. If you were placed in solitary confinement for a month and could choose as your only entertainment one book of the Hebrew Scriptures, which would you choose … Ms Wakelin?”
“Job,” responds the Goth, with typical monosyllabic glumness.
“Ah, a woman with a taste for literature,” approves Sarai. “And what about you, Ms Tombs?”
“The Psalms,” answers Philippa. “Many New Testaments contain a Psalms addendum as they are considered the most inspiring section of the Old Testament.”
“And you agree the Psalms are inspiring?”
Philippa nods and Sarai turns her attention to Rochelle. “I was going to say Psalms,” Rochelle shares, then falters. “Do you want another choice?”
“I do. Something you, personally, find inspiring.”
Rochelle pauses briefly then offers, “Proverbs.”
“Good,” affirms Sarai. “Both Psalms and Proverbs contain passages that inspire. Throughout the ages many have found solace in the Psalms but …”
“Always a but,” Kat mutters to Jen.
“… others cringe at the vindictive petitions and violence projected onto Yahweh.” Sarai expounds her thoughts on Psalms for a good ten minutes before turning her attention to Proverbs. An increase in animation discloses her preference of the two.
“The Book of Proverbs contains accumulated folk wisdom. No, Ms Tombs,” Sarai addresses Philippa’s waving hand, “it is not the work of King Solomon, though it may well have had its genesis in his court as the work borrows theological concepts from neighbouring nations. Like much of the First Testament, this scroll received its final editing after the exile — sixth century BCE. What you need to bear in mind is that although it began as folk wisdom its final form is androcentric, directed at counselling young men. Dame Folly repeatedly presents as a trap for males. However, Dame Folly is balanced by Lady Wisdom. In Hebrew, the word wisdom is feminine.”
After discoursing her favourite wisdom passages Sarai moves to the final chapter. “In verses one to nine King Lemuel’s mother dispatches sound advice on justice and sobriety, advice neglected by Christendom in favour of the words that follow, a passage often read at weddings, funerals, and other services that permit male preachers to indulge their fantasies while believing they are extolling women. You know the extract as The Virtuous Woman — whose price is far above rubies. What you probably don’t know is its structure and purpose. It was written to teach men of substance what to look for in a wife. For ease of memorising, the checklist was constructed as an acrostic poem — each verse following the Hebrew alphabet in order.”
Sarai lets this information sink in before adding, “For next week compose for me a poem of 26 lines based on the English alphabet, extolling virtues you see as worthy in women of our time.”
The class does not receive this directive with enthusiasm. The one exception takes care not to let it show.
~ ~ ~ | ~ ~ ~
Sarai retires to her study and wonders why students bother to attend lectures. When she was young education was a passion. Women were realising tertiary education was as right for them as for young men. To prove it they worked hard and the men had to work harder. Now, she mulls, universities are bursting at the seams with more female students than male, but so few appear to actually enjoy knowledge. She sips a mug of cranberry tea and relaxes with her pen.
A Psalm of Sarai — Where is Wisdom?
The Proverbs suggest:
Tho’ Lady Wisdom can be found,
Dame Folly sits on every mound,
Calling, cajoling, laughing loud,
Her relish is to sway the crowd …
~ ~ ~ | ~ ~ ~
Darlene can’t wait to get stuck into Sarai’s assignment. Qualities befitting womankind — she makes a list, then fits her best picks to the alphabet. Letters with multiple qualities require thought, as do the gaps. What turns a list into a poem? She would like grand literary phrases to roll onto the paper — they don’t. Rhyme? Corny, she admits, but fun. She is sure Sarai does have a sense of humour. It’s not always obvious, but … Darlene opens a new file and taps at her keyboard.
Ode to a Good Woman
A good woman who can find? She is far more precious than gems,
Beauty is her being; from inner self the richness stems.
Compassion is her companion; carefully she addresses wrongs,
Deep delight is her desire; for mutuality she longs …
~ ~ ~ | ~ ~ ~
‘Psalm to Sophia’ writes Sarai,
Sophia is my companion, I have no want.
We lie down in green pastures …
Sarai’s pen hovers over a possible amen. The mind controlling it decides against the embellishment. Don’t get carried away, dearie. Enjoyable as poetic writing is, you can’t honestly affirm this statement at this moment in time. You may have believed it once but it’s not how things are in the reality of One-Soul.
She gives a wry chuckle and fossicks for her hidden box of Turkish Delight.
~ ~ ~ | ~ ~ ~
Philippa, Rochelle, Hana, Iris and the Goth huddle over coffee in the Alibi. That Philippa has an agenda is clear; what she wants of them is not.
“Thanks for coming,” she opens, knowledgeable in the arts of meetings. “I appreciate that your time is valuable.” The Goth rolls her eyes, the others are gratified — being a student these days requires noses kept to the grindstone. They sip and listen. Philippa doesn’t ask them if they like Sarai, personally she can’t stand the pretentious woman and her disgraceful teaching methods. Her cool arrogance belittles dear-held beliefs. But Philippa knows some students warm to the old woman’s idiosyncrasies.
“I am concerned,” she says with earnest dignity, “that we are not being taught what the course outline led us to expect.” Rochelle looks if she is about to speak and Philippa hurries on. “This course comes under religious studies and is supposedly Bible-based. My expectation was it would deepen my understanding and appreciation of the Bible. A Bible-based course should be a faith course led by a Christian. Do you think Sarai is a Christian?” Glances and shrugs are exchanged along with “hard to tell” and “probably not”. Philippa looks straight at Rochelle. “Is being a Christian important to you?”
“Yes, yes very important,” declares Rochelle.
“Are you sometimes disturbed by things Sarai says?”
“Well, yes I am … but she is always interesting.”
“Being interesting is not what it’s all about. There is no disputing Sarai can talk, but she is hopelessly old-fashioned, it’s all talk, she never uses a PowerPoint presentation, just the OHP occasionally. What century is the woman living in!”
“She does use the odd visual aid to good effect,” supplies the Goth.
“Disgusting aids,” returns Philippa with feeling, and recovers herself. “What she teaches is the issue. If she is teaching untruths she needs to be called to account.”
“I don’t like the rubbish fuckin’ Sarai spews,” drawls the best groomed member of the group. Philippa is surprised to receive support from Iris Wong. In class she never speaks unless directly confronted, and out of class she appears ‘worldly’, not to put too fine a point on it. “As I see it,” Iris seems to enjoy the audience, “religion has its place in the scheme of things. It shouldn’t be mixed with politics, or life for that matter. Certainly not my life,” her eyelashes direct to her cleavage. “But the world can’t get by without fucking religion. It’s the basic element of all cultures. I decided I should know something about Christianity and I haven’t learnt a damn thing.” She raises a pencilled eyebrow at Hana.
“I’m only doing it because I saw it as an easy option,” divulges Hana when other eyes swivel in her direction. “I thought I would remember stuff from the wretched Sunday School I was forced to go to as a kid. If Sarai stuck to regular Bible stuff it would be a lot easier to get a decent pass mark.”
Question-mark eyes roll to the Goth. “I took the course to bug my parents. They’re atheists – free-thinkers they call themselves. I can’t afford not to live with them,” she explains defensively. “Mostly I ignore them but occasionally I get dragged into a conversation. Sarai hasn’t provided me with any suitably convincing Christian theories.”
They’re a bunch of philistines! Philippa knows she doesn’t have time to allow herself to be appalled. Rochelle is the only genuine Christian among them — she must get her on-side. “My worry is that some people come to a Bible course in good faith with an earnest desire to deepen religious understanding. Confronted by Sarai they risk having their faith irrevocably damaged. This shouldn’t be allowed, should it?” Her eyes bore into Rochelle’s. Rochelle is quick in adding condemnation to this possibility.
“We agree then, Sarai does nothing to support Christianity.” Philippa would like to add, and her teaching is old-fashioned, disturbing, and wrong, but knows unanimity is the best place to end such a discussion. She can report to her father that a significant number of students are dissatisfied with Sarai’s teaching.
~ ~ ~ | ~ ~ ~