First, I would argue, to hold that Shylock could take a pound of flesh but no blood is to adopt an interpretation of the contract that leads to an absurdity.

Theologians will debate exactly what it means to claim that Christ has risen, what exactly the meaning and significance of this occurrence is, and will give more or less sophisticated accounts of it.

Mr. Miller doesn't dispute Mr. Feinberg's account, and Mr. Dunne declined to comment for this article.