We heard about how the politics and economics of the high middle ages fanned doctrinal differences into flame between Rome and Byzantium -- especially relating to the leavening of communion bread, the idea of Purgatory, and the use of icons. East needed the West's protection from burgeoning Islamic kingdoms, and instead got sacked by Italians. We did see loveliness in the idea that a rood screen, i.e., a wall of icons, can be a window.
Ecclesiastes and Job both seem to be bitter pills wrapped in sweetness, and we found the sweetness part less convincing. Still, knowing that life really doesn't work out the way promised in Proverbs, it was reassuring to us to find the reality in our scriptures.
We discussed how animal sacrifice is countermanded in Hebrews, but also ridiculed in Hebrew prophets. The ideas in Hebrews are part of a long tradition, though the other tradition seemed to dominate at the time of its writing. We noted that the idea of punishment and atonement, so strong in Hebrews, is not so strong elsewhere in our scriptures. One of us asked, "Did God change?" The answer seemed to lie more in the awareness of the worlds in which the Scriptures were written, where the priestly classes made their livelihood from traditions that predated the Exodus, and the political class benefitted from the same traditions.
Speaking for myself, as I re-read this, I can see Scripture as a rood screen: We have ancient politics, arcane traditions, and alien culture sometimes blocking a clear perception of God in Scripture, so that He appears to be changing from book to book; but we can often glimpse God through the iconic images among the flat wood panels.
The TRs are summarized on the TR page.
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