A good way to start publishing is by writing reviews, and well … critiquing what others have written. Here are a few of my more in-depth reviews. My online publications can mostly be found on CULTURESHOCK.
Kelly R. Iverson & Christopher W. Skinner (eds.), “Mark as Story: Retrospect and Prospect”
When Mark as Story by David Rhoads and Donald Michie came out in 1982, it wasn’t received well at first. Two decades later, it has become clear that the book helped lay the foundation for a new approach in biblical studies: stepping away from the historical-critical approaches to focus on the literary aspects of the New Testament documents. The book by Iverson and Skinner is a good summary of the current state of affairs and also pays the necessary tribute to the original. This review was published in Neotestamentica (47, no. 1, 2013).
Jan Masschelein (ed.), “De lichtheid van het opvoeden”
More and more, the field of education is flooded by instrumental approaches: a lot of talk on how to educate, but not on what to educate and by whom. Masschelein wants to challenge readers to understand the need for an inner drive for teaching and the importance of thinking about content. For this fresh and necessary voice, he gathered some similar thinking minds. This review was published in Pedagogiek (29, no. 2, 2009).
N.T. Wright, “Surprised by Hope”
N.T. Wright is known for his “new perspective” on Paul, but also is playing a major role in challenging contemporary thinking about the eschaton (the end of times). He points towards the new earth (and not heaven) as the end point, and focuses a lot on the practical implications of taking care of this world and everything on it in the here and now. Great read. This review was published in Ichtus Magazine (2009).
E.T. Alii, “Godsdienstpedagogiek: Dimensies en spanningen”
A group of Dutch scholars focusing on religious pedagogy compiled this work, showing the current state of affairs in their field and pointing towards the future. The book had a lot of promise, but it didn’t deliver entirely. This review was published in the Nederlands Dagblad on Oct 13, 2009.
Jan Krans, “Beyond What Is Written” [unpublished]
For a seminar in Historical Theology, we had to choose a scholarly book. I decided to look at Jan Krans’ PhD dissertation on the different approaches Beza and Erasmus, two contemporaries, had towards conjectures in the New Testament; alternative readings of the Greek text that have no backing in original manuscripts, but that make more sense than some of the manuscripts alternatives.
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