Colloquium: Dr. Alan Lenzi (Manteca)

About the Topic

Two ancient poems — the biblical Book of Job and the Babylonian Ludlul Bel Nemeqi (composed 800 years earlier) — amid all of their differences, display several striking similarities and share a common theme.

The common theme in both texts is the necessity for humans to accept the inscrutable sovereignty and decisions of the god who caused the suffering.

Dr. Lenzi will argue that these two texts (http://files.meetup.com/1517415/Lenzi%20Colloquium%20Ludlul%20Bel%20Nemeqi%20Lenzi_s%20Translation%20SAACT-7.pdf) (PDF) ultimately are about silencing religious criticism and dispelling doubts about the religious status quo in their respective communities (a function the Book of Job carries on to this day).

About the Speaker

Alan Lenzi (PhD, Brandeis University) is an associate professor in the Department of Religious and Classical Studies at University of the Pacific. He works in the field of first millennium ancient Near Eastern religious traditions, especially Babylonian and Assyrian.

He has published books on secrecy in Mesopotamian and biblical religious texts, the Babylonian "Job," and ancient Akkadian prayers and hymns. He is editor of the ancient Near Eastern section of the online journal Religion Compass.

http://pacific.academia.edu/AlanLenzi

About the Free Event

This is a free event, open to the public, at the Manteca Library. Those of all worldviews and faiths are welcome.

Donations to support this and future Colloquiums are appreciated.