I still find it challenging to teach about the Bible in a context in which students who sign up for the classes have varying degrees of interest and prior knowledge, and extremely different assumptions about the Bible and likewise expectations from the class. One can’t assume either skepticism or faith, that students will assume the Bible is right or be open to questioning it. All I can assume in any given semester is that a range of viewpoints will be... Read more

I’ve been working on learning the keyboard solo from the Genesis Song Cinema Show. It is a fun solo to play, and I think it is coming along, although there are still some serious rough patches. Nevertheless I thought I’d share how it sounds so far with you. Maybe it’s because other bloggers I know have begun podcasting, and so I have an irresistible desire to join in and post something, anything, in audio format, however imperfect. Click here to... Read more

Being located in Indiana, I want to share this with clergy here in Indiana who might be interested in participating: Sojourners and Jim Wallis are hosting a call with faith leaders and clergy in Indiana to discuss the health-care debate next week — sign up today to join us. The toll-free call will take place October 14th at 10 a.m. CDT/11 a.m. EDT and will last about 45 minutes. RSVP now to be part of this important call and receive... Read more

My posting of a song by the Alan Parsons Project got a positive response, and so I thought I’d share another song of theirs that I particularly like, from the same album (Stereotomy). The song is called “Light of the World”. I’ll provide lyrics after the clip below. “Light of the World” by The Alan Parson’s Project I am just a stranger, in a promised landI am only learning a game with the rules I don’t understandGoing round in circles,... Read more

Stephen Colbert gave a “Tip Of The Hat” to Conservapedia’s plan to rewrite the Bible eliminating “liberal media bias” from its pages. He calls on his viewers to make him a Biblical character. Hilarious stuff! The Colbert Report Mon – Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c Tip/Wag – Conservapedia, Louvre & Honda Unicycle www.colbertnation.com Colbert Report Full Episodes Political Humor Michael Moore Read more

I apologize for the pun in the title, but today I’m teaching on Ezekiel, and had seen mentions before of “Ezekiel bread” and decided to look into it further. There really is such a thing, although the version featured in the picture is, I am guessing, a spoof. But of course, if I see it advertised on Conservapedia I may have to change my mind about that. If you want to make your own “Ezekiel bread” you can buy a... Read more

As we seem to have a theme going related to all things Deuteronom(ist)ic, I thought I’d challenge other interested bloggers to come up with a Deuteronomy theme song. I have just the piece of music for you to modify, since “Stereotomy” rhymes with “Deuteronomy”: Also of relevance is Steve Wiggins’ post on a famous doodle which probably has nothing to do with words written near to it, which mention Yahweh and Asherah. But one thing we can probably all agree... Read more

I’ve been reading some student assignments that discussed the story of Abraham and Isaac in Genesis 22, and am struck by how many are ready to say that Abraham did the right thing in being willing to kill his son. They say this, presumably, because the story is in the Bible, and so Abraham must have been right. What is missing from such readings of the story is any attempt to put themselves in Abraham’s shoes (or Isaac’s, for that... Read more

Proposition Fifteen of Walton’s The Lost World of Genesis One asserts that the current debates about Intelligent Design and fundamentally about purpose. Walton points out early on that there is no necessary contradiction between something being viewed as an “act of God” and yet also being subject to scientific investigation, since “Everything that exists and everything that happens is, in Christian thinking, ultimately an act of God” (p.126). It is not clear, however, whether at this point he is backtracking... Read more

A blog entry was drawn to my attention yesterday, entitled “Talking About Blogging in Tenure and Application Documents“. It is by Nels P. Highberg on the blog ProfHacker. Since there are many academic bloggers who are likely to read this, I thought I’d share it. There is on the whole a lot of interesting stuff on that blog for educators, so it is worth taking a look around while you’re there! Read more