We crossed over into Bethlehem this morning, passing through the ghastly and lamentable Israeli security fence, with its prison-like guard towers and its aura of Cold War Berlin.   After some time at a Christian gift shop — they specialize in olive-wood carvings, icons, and jewelry, and it pleases me to support the struggling and beleaguered Palestinian economy (especially for the Christians) — we went to the traditional site where the angels appeared to the shepherds to announce the... Read more

    http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865604980/Why-was-Peter-in-Rome.html   Posted from Jerusalem     Read more

    Thanks to Helen Condon for calling this article to my attention from nearly two decades ago:   http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB882911317496560000   Posted from Jerusalem     Read more

    A non-Mormon who once taught for a couple of years at BYU comes to the University’s defense in a current controversy:   http://theweek.com/articles/621249/defense-byus-honor-code   Posted from Jerusalem     Read more

    ‎”If there is no God, then man and the universe are doomed.  Like prisoners condemned to death, we await our unavoidable execution.  There is no God, and there is no immortality.  And what is the consequence of this?  It means that life itself is absurd.  It means that the life we have is without ultimate significance, value, or purpose.” William Lane Craig   Posted from Jerusalem     Read more

    We began this morning with a short drive from our hotel in Jericho to the traditional site of John’s baptism of Jesus.  I like the site.  I think it’s likely very close to the real place.  (It’s far better than Yardenit, the popular baptismal location further north, at the lower end of the Sea of Galilee.  That site simply cannot be authentic.  Besides which, the schmaltzy gift shop through which one must exit Yardenit, which is owned and... Read more

    http://www.plonialmonimormon.com/2016/04/ancient-book-of-mormon-studiesa-futile.html   Posted from Jerusalem     Read more

    A really interesting little piece about skepticism about scientific skepticism, including an allegation that Charles Darwin was a liar and a plagiarist as well as a quotation from BYU’s own Cody Carter:   http://fivethirtyeight.com/features/who-will-debunk-the-debunkers/   Posted from Jerusalem     Read more

    A thought or two on the central and unique doctrine of Christianity:   http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865591818/Pleased-as-man-with-men-to-dwell.html   Posted from Jerusalem     Read more

    One of the most famous songs of and about Jerusalem, a song that I love:   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=72QC8EGnxTw   Posted from Jerusalem   Read more