Let me join the many other SBL members who have shared this on their blogs. The Society of Biblical Literature would like as many people as possible to complete a very brief survey related to their World of the Bible website project. Here is the information about the project which was sent out: The SBL has received an NEH planning grant to develop a website, “The World of the Bible: exploring people, places, and passages.” The site is intended for... Read more

Although potentially open to criticism by geometrical literalists, this video will be considered entertaining by most others (HT Experimental Theology): If after watching you still think you prefer 3D, Phil Plait shared that there is a Hubble movie that will be released in IMAX 3D. In my Religion and Science Fiction class, I thought about what it might be like to teach in an IMAX classroom… Read more

Yesterday I joined a chorus of voices pointing out that there are Biblical texts at odds with the spirit of Pat Robertson’s blaming of the earthquake in Haiti on things the Haitians presumably had done to deserve divine retribution. My point was not to say “Pat Robertson’s view isn’t the Biblical one, this one is instead” but rather to point out the fact that Robertson is “picking and choosing,” consciously or unconsciously choosing to be guided by certain texts in... Read more

I thought this bit of faux news from The Piety That Lies Between simply had to be shared with a wider audience. Enjoy! Read more

Pat Robertson seems to think he is wiser than Jesus. While Jesus is depicted in both the Synoptics and John as questioning a simplistic link between “worst suffering” and “worst sinners,” Robertson claims for himself the authority to interpret plate tectonics and thus seems to claim a wisdom and insight (and perhaps even an authority) greater than that of Jesus himself. Among other Biblical figures whom Robertson ignores are Ezekiel (who denied that children would suffer for the sins of their... Read more

+Wrong is back, reporting an important archaeological discovery, perhaps the most important archaeological discovery of all time: a letter David wrote to his mother soon after killing the giant Goliath. Those with trouble identifying satire may wish to refrain from clicking on the link. Everyone else definitely should and will enjoy the post! Read more

There’s clearly going to be a lot of geeky humor this semester within and around my religion and science fiction class – and I’m not going to be responsible for all of it. For instance, I had the following video pointed out to me today: it is lyrics about Star Wars sung a cappella to melodies by John Williams. Its official title is “Star Wars (John Williams is the Man)”: If that’s not your cup of tea, you can always... Read more

Both Nijay Gupta and Roger Pearse pointed to a list of the Loeb Classical Library volumes which are available online for free. Doug Mangum gives an update on the Khirbet Qeiyafa ostracon inscription. Biology in Science Fiction joins in the discussion about religion and sci-fi. Richard Dawkins answers the common creationist question (which shows a lack of understanding about evolutionary biology) “If we’re descended from monkeys, why are there still monkeys?” Read more

I just saw on the Biblicalist list-serv that the Khirbet Qeiyafa ostracon chronicle has been updated with new information and pictures. Read more

Thanks to Jim Getz for introducing me to the following video from Father Matthew. It presents the argument against inerrancy from a Christian perspective in a clear and at times humorous way. It deserves to get a wide circulation. On a related note, Joseph Kelly continues his series explaining why he is not an inerrantist. Read more