Readers will remember the interesting multi-blog exploration of the story of Elisha and the she-bears that was sparked off by David Ker on his blog Lingamish. Well, here’s a video I happened across that tackles (in places, quite literally!) that same story: I don’t think I’ll ever be able to read that story again with the bears doing Power Rangers moves and using Force lightning! Read more

The Butler University library staff continue to work on making digital resources available, including undergraduate honors theses and graduate theses, on a range of topics in the natural sciences, the fine arts, and the humanities – including religion. Among the latter is the thesis Eugene Boring wrote for his MA at Butler back in 1963, on “The Aspect of Freedom in Paul’s Theology.” This is both exciting and sobering – the latter because it may be harder nowadays to relegate... Read more

At SBL this year, I suggested to Mark Goodacre that NT Wrong ought to be maintained not as a single mysterious individual but more like a “franchize.” In a manner comparable to the famed Dread Pirate Roberts, the mantle of being Wrong could be something that might pass from individual to individual. That way the mystique of wondering who NT Wrong might be could be carried forward, and the saying might then prove to be true, that while all of... Read more

Today I learned of another review of The Only True God: Early Christian Monotheism in Its Jewish Context. This one is by Maer dos Santos on his blog Ancient Wisdom Today. I also learned that Canadians can buy the book on Amazon for far less than their neighbors south of the border in the US. Read more

I just finished reading Dan Simmons’ novel Hyperion and my only complaint is that I did not know sooner that the book was going to end with a cliffhanger, necessitating the reading of the sequel, The Fall of Hyperion (which I’ve started reading). I don’t necessarily mind an author doing that – but I do like to know beforehand to expect it! Be that as it may, the novel is fascinating science fiction with lots of exploration of religion and... Read more

I know it has already been cancelled, but tonight’s two-part episode of Dollhouse was the best so far. It had surprising twists and turns, revelations that led to new questions, as well as humor. It will be sad to see it go, but what remains before then promises to thrill and to entertain. And don’t even get me started on the God-talk in the episode… Read more

This will surely be relevant to some readers: In its efforts to promote education, Gorgias Press offers annually the Gorgias Book Grant. This program offers outstanding graduate students grants in the form of Gorgias Press publications. Grants consist of books in the value of $500.00 per grant. Each year, two such grants are distributed. 2010 Grant Field: Any field within the scope of Gorgias Publications Application Deadline: January 31, 2010 Eligibility * 1. Candidate must be enrolled in a graduate... Read more

I am going to offer what I believe are some intelligent perspectives on topics like evolution, creationism, intelligent design and science education. But I don’t think any of them makes the point quite as poignantly as the front page of The Onion Magazine: The so-called controversy about evolution (not about the relationship and relative importance of various mechanisms, the pace, or other such details, but about whether biological evolution has in fact occurred) is the scientists versus some actors and... Read more

Experimental Theology shared this eloquent speech by New York State Senator Diane Savino and I had to share it. Many of the points made have been made before, but I’ve rarely if ever heard them made as succinctly, as clearly, as powerfully, and as entertainingly in a single short video. Read more

Following up on my post about the Bible, scholarship, and a recent blog post by Dan Wallace about liberal openness as a “myth,” Doug Mangum offers a post that highlights the tension between Dan’s motto (“go where the evidence leads”) and the penchant for heresy trials and excommunications at conservative institutions, which clearly send the message “if the evidence leads you there, you’re out of here.” Also related is Jim Linville’s take on how to deal with the multiplying of... Read more