And the labor! Such labor, poring over those ancient oracles in the quest for some divine direction to guide us in our times! Think of the investment our society makes in terms of lives and labor in the hope of discerning the present import of that ancient word of God. Is it not an odd preoccupation for such a postmodern time as ours? Why is it that no one ever questions this investment of our energies in the study of these texts from antiquity? Why is it that such enchantment with these ancient writings never draws a smile or two?
