The Vindictive Miracles and the Stoning of Steph
The Vindictive Miracles and the Stoning of Stephen is a play by George Bernard Shaw that explores themes of religion, morality, and justice. The story follows the life of Stephen, a man who is accused of blasphemy and ultimately stoned to death for his beliefs. Throughout the play, Shaw uses satire and irony to critique organized religion and its impact on society.
By George Bernard Shaw · First published 1936 · Genre: Religious Satire, Historical Fiction, Drama · 491 words
First lines
Take, for example, the miracles. Of Jesus alone of all the Christian miracle workers there is no record, except in certain gospels that all men reject, of a malicious or destructive miracle. A barren fig-tree was the only victim of his anger. Every one of his miracles on sentient subjects was an act of kindness. John declares that he healed the wound of the man whose ear was cut off (by Peter, John says) at the arrest in the garden. One of the first things the apostles did with their miraculous power was to strike dead a wretched man and his wife who had defrauded them by holding back some money from the common stock. They struck people blind or dead without remorse, judging because they had been judged. They healed the sick and raised the dead apparently in a spirit of pure display and advertisement. Their doctrine did not contain a ray of that light which reveals Jesus as one of the redeemers of men from folly and error.
What this Textopian page supports
The Vindictive Miracles and the Stoning of Stephen is listed on Textopian as an essay by George Bernard Shaw, dated 1936 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Essay
- Author: George Bernard Shaw
- Date: 1936 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Religious Satire, Historical Fiction, Drama, Philosophical Fiction, Literary Fiction
- Length: 491 words
- Structure: 1 section, 4 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Vindictive Miracles and the Stoning of Stephen by George Bernard Shaw
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering The Vindictive Miracles and the Stoning of Stephen?
- How does this essay by George Bernard Shaw fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Religious Satire first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
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Genres
- Religious Satire — The work critiques religious figures and events, using humor and irony to highlight perceived absurdities and contradictions in religious narratives.
- Historical Fiction — The narrative is set in a historical context, referencing biblical events and figures, while reimagining their actions and motivations.
- Drama — The text presents dramatic events and conflicts, such as the stoning of Stephen and the apostles' actions, with a focus on character interactions and moral dilemmas.
- Philosophical Fiction — The work explores philosophical themes, questioning moral and ethical aspects of religious practices and beliefs.
Tags
drama · theater · religion · miracles · historical · biblical · satire · philosophy · conflict · faith · persecution · martyrdom