11 Comments

As I think I’ve commented before, I believe I’ve read Dr. Faustus earlier, but for some reason this reading is resonating so much with me. I think it’s because the person who is explaining it is doing such a good job! Reading scenes 5 and 6 were heartrending. It seems like there was a chance that he would repent, but he’s just not able to. I read Peace Like a River many, many years ago so now I want to go back and reread it. I’ve never read any other book of his so I look forward to looking into some of those, especially his newest one.

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This means a lot, Kirby! Thanks for letting me know. It’s good to be assured I’m not just typing into the void! 😅

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This made me refresh my knowledge of the difference between verse and prose. I probably should know this but over twenty years of thick dust are on that shelf of my brain.

Reading Satan's lies to Faustus made me think of the times I've heard them before. When things seemed hopeless. Yet they are not. Jesus will always redeem us when we call on Him.

I did get that the Seven Deadly Sins were supposed to be funny, so I'm moving up! Haha. I think it would be fun to see that part of the scene on stage.

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Thank you for mentioning not remembering the difference between verse (or poetry) and prose. This is what I miss about classroom teaching: it’s so quick and easy to ask a question or seek clarification. I love the way that guides the discussion. Oh well. We are doing the best we can here in this space!

I love that you got the comedy of the Seven Deadly Sins! Hooray! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 Reading well for the win!

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"On Reading Well" is on my nightstand waiting to be read. Soon.

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Re Leif Enger - my, you have such a treat in store when you get around to reading Virgil Wander! You might also then want to track down So Brave, Young and Handsome, another great read of his. I Cheerfully Refuse is somehow not yet released properly in the UK but the good ol' folks at Amazon US have agreed to wing it my way...

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Oh, I did not know about that title. I will look for it. Can’t wait to hear what you think about I Cheerfully Refuse, and I hope it arrives soon!

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Lincoln famously used the phrase "the better angels of our nature" in his first inaugural. To me that conjures up an image of a chorus of angels who are not divided into pure good and evil but have gradations similar to humans.

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Oh, that’s right! Excellent example. Thanks, David.

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I have seen the Good and Bad angels used in an ad recently, with the Good trying to persuade a person to use the product and the Bad saying the product wasn't needed. The trope has become a cliche.

I appreciated the clarity of the Gospel in this. The reassurance that Christ's salvation could even overcome even the willfull contract Faustus has made is quite profound. Marlowe had a sounder grasp of the power of Christ than many a modern conspiracy theory laden evangelical who talks of rumoured cabals as if the humans they think are involved have become half-demons beyond salvation.

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I’m kind of glad to know the trope is still around. I haven’t noticed it. But I suppose it’s mainly utterly trivialized as in the commercial you describe.

I agree: Marlowe captures some really crucial theology in this play. It’s one reason why I love this work so.

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