I was going to call this something like “Taking another Luke at the Synoptic Problem”, but I thought I might have reached my pun quota already. But I’ve often wondered why the possibility that Matthew might have used Luke’s Gospel as a source is rarely even mentioned in books on and discussions of the Synoptic Problem. Perhaps it is simply the fact that Luke is traditionally dated relatively late, or perhaps it is the fact that Luke’s reference to “many”... Read more

I saw this on Scotteriology. He saw in it a useful example of an aspect of hermeneutics. I just thought it is amusing… Read more

LOST has one season left, and clues, set photos and interviews with the producers all point to the next season featuring characters we’ve come to know and love living in an alternate timeline, one in which the plane never crashed on the island. A major question which is as yet unanswered is whether that means that the “losties” who are on the island, and who “reset” the universe, have now vanished from it, or whether the island is a sort... Read more

A young-earth creationist speaker is coming to Butler’s campus this Wednesday. His name is Willie Dye. I hope that students will take the time not merely to glance at his web site but to take a close look at his CV. He lists multiple PhDs, all from unaccredited institutions. Getting your information from someone who seeks to give the impression of expertise by purchasing letters after his or her name, rather than doing actual academic research at an accredited institution,... Read more

There’s an interesting article in USA Today about those who usually put down “none” when asked about their religion. Apparently most aren’t atheists, nor are they New Agers. According to the article, the majority are more akin to Deistic rationalists in the heritage of Thomas Jefferson or Thomas Paine. They are mostly people who would affirm the existence of God but not adhere to a single denomination, creed or dogma. Personally, if the article is right about this, I take... Read more

Thanks to the ambiguities and double entendres of the English language, I just realized that I can affirm my adherence to “Mosaic Authorship of the Pentateuch”. I do indeed believe that the Pentateuch in its present form is best characterized as a mosaic, created from the work of multiple authors… Just to be clear, I don’t think that’s what this Mosaic Bible is about, though it does look pretty cool too. Read more

I just have to share this video (HT Pharyngula). For those with no tolerance for even the slightest vulgarity, I warn you that it includes the expression “BS” spelled out as a phrase (in this context not “Biblical studies”). But the maker of the video, a Romanian named Cristina, seems to understand how democracy and freedom of religion work in the United States far better than Ray Comfort and Kirk Cameron. Watch it and decide for yourself For those who’ve... Read more

Those who have been awaiting the return of their favorite science fiction shows, and have thus not been watching much TV, may need reminders that Heroes returns on NBC tonight at 8pm, and Dollhouse returns on Fox this Friday at 9pm. Read more

Butler’s Digital Commons site has added a few more of my older publications, including a piece I published in Irish Biblical Studies while still a graduate student. It is entitled “Prologue as Legitimation” and pays particular attention to the significance of relating the parallel sections of the prologue when it is viewed as having a chiastic structure. Read more

Daniel O. McClellan “crashed” a Bible movie meme and then had the audacity to inflict this meme upon others. But I think it is useful to make recommendations, and so I decided what I’ll do is mention some particularly useful Bible-related documentaries that I think are worth watching and even showing to one’s classes: (1) ABC News Presents The Search for Jesus: Peter Jennings visits the Holy Land and talks with Marcus Borg, John Dominic Crossan, Paula Fredriksen, Jerome Murphy-O’Connor... Read more