Bye Bye, Google Reader Sidebar (Hello Free Bible Versions and The Center for Unintelligent Design)

October 31, 2011 By James F. McGrath 9 Comments

Google Reader has changed, and since one can no longer share items from Google Reader to a sidebar widget, that feature has been removed from this blog. I’m sorry to see it go. I will continue to share items of interest via Google+, Facebook and Twitter, so please do connect with me in one of those places, if you haven’t already.

In the category of good news, there are some things to share. Until the end of the day today, one can download for offline use a variety of Bible version via the YouVersion Bible app.

There are also a couple of amusing takes on intelligent (and unintelligent) design. Via the British Center for Science Education I learned of the Centre for Unintelligent Design. And via Jason Rosenhouse I learned of a rather sarcastic piece in the Huffington Post about why Darwin was right and Michelle Bachmann is wrong about Intelligent Design, and why there should be no doubt about that if you are over 50.

Filed Under: evolution, Intelligent Design Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , 9 Comments

The Real Reason Some Christians Oppose Halloween

October 31, 2011 By James F. McGrath 15 Comments

Internet Monk indicated that the roots of the anti-Halloween movement are in a deception. But why was and is the nonsensical idea that children dressed in costumes are the front line of a war with the forces of evil taken seriously?

I think the reason is because American Christians want to be deceived in this way. It is a self-deception.

Christians are reminded time and again by their Scriptures that they are to be at war with evil. But most American Christians are too intricately entwined with the roots of the problem, and too far away from those in need of a solution, and much too comfortable, to ever really engage evil: injustice, oppression, poverty, starvation, human trafficking, war. Tackling such real problems and offering real solutions would take a sacrificial investment of time, energy and money that most Christians in the United States are not willing to give.

I think that is why so many gravitate towards treating things that are or should be non-issues as though they are Satanic ploys. It allows us to persuade ourselves that we are “fighting the good fight” while the real scary monsters are allowed free reign.

The image on the left is what should scare us. And because it scares us so much, we put it out of our minds and pretend the real enemy is in the image on the right, not the causes of the suffering in the image on the left.

Shame on us if we do that.

Filed Under: Christianity, fundamentalism, politics Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , 15 Comments

Mythicism Miscellanies

October 31, 2011 By James F. McGrath 3 Comments

Here are a few posts relevant to mythicism from around the blogosphere.

From Tom Verenna, two posts on “Defining Mythicism,” one of which addresses the appeal to Galatians 1 as though Paul’s words there give a clear indication one way or the other about Jesus’ historicity, while the other post emphasizes that an all-or-nothing approach to the figure of Jesus as depicted in ancient sources is unhelpful.

Also related to this subject, Neil Godfrey has a post in which he writes that “For Paul there is one central focus of his faith and that is Christ crucified” and emphasizes that this negates the need for an elaborate and detailed mythological system. Of course, those who accept mainstream scholarship will know that something similar has been said for a very long time in relation to Paul as most scholars understand him. On the one hand, the crucifixion of the person believed to be the Davidic Anointed One cried out for explanation. On the other hand, the belief that he had been raised from the dead (and not merely returned to mortal life) meant that the end of the ages had arrived. Is it any wonder that Paul’s theology focused most of its attention on those moments and only rarely turned its focus elsewhere?

Godfrey’s post emphasizes the present experiential nature of Paul’s religion, and that too helps account for Paul’s focus being on what it is, and not on other things – whether details of a celestial myth, or details of an earthly life.

Filed Under: mythicism, Paul and his letters Tagged With: , , , , , , , , 3 Comments

Millions of Pumpkin Seeds Suddenly Cried Out in Terror

October 31, 2011 By James F. McGrath 2 Comments

HT Hacking Christianity

Filed Under: humor, Star Wars Tagged With: , , , , 2 Comments

Happy Wholloween!

October 31, 2011 By James F. McGrath 1 Comment

On the occasion of Halloween, for Doctor Who fans, let me draw attention to a set of blogs dedicated to the making of Doctor Who costumes. This one focuses on the making of a suit like that worn by David Tennant (with detailed information about his ties):

http://tennantsuit.blogspot.com/

In the sidebar you’ll find links to blogs about the making of costumes of other Doctors’ outfits. Apparently all one needs to do to make the 7th Doctor’s clothes is buy this T-shirt:

….and then don the appropriate hat and jacket over them.

Happy Who-lloween!

(For those who question the celebration of Halloween, I direct you to Internet Monk’s helpful “rant” on the topic. Mike Warnke was a key figure in getting Christians to reject the practice, and even though he was exposed as a fraud, the attitude to Halloween that he promoted has remained nonetheless.)

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Filed Under: Doctor Who Tagged With: , , , 1 Comment

It’s Finally Here: The AAR/SBL App for iPhone/iPad!

October 30, 2011 By James F. McGrath 16 Comments

The app for iPhone and iPad that has been designed for those attending the AAR/SBL 2011 Annual Meeting has finally been released. Click here to get it on iTunes!

Stephen Cook spotted its appearance even before we received notification from AAR or SBL, and I am grateful that he shared the fact that he had done so on his blog!

I will be exploring what the app can do (I understand it has maps of the conference venues and the program, and perhaps more). But wanted to spread the word right away that it is available. If you are going to the American Academy of Religion and/or Society of Biblical Literature conference in San Francisco in November, and you own an iPad or iPhone, you are bound to want to install this app!

Filed Under: American Academy of Religion, Society of Biblical Literature Tagged With: , , , , , , , 16 Comments

Attack of the 50ft Undead October 2011 Biblical Studies Carnival

October 29, 2011 By James F. McGrath 3 Comments

Tom Verenna has posted the October Biblical Studies Carnival early, to be here in time to strike terror laughter into the souls of bibliobloggers everywhere for Halloween. Be afraid entertained. Be very afraid entertained.

Filed Under: Biblical Studies Carnival, biblioblogging Tagged With: , , , 3 Comments
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