I like reading blogs that challenge rather than reinforce my views (not that I don’t also like someone to agree with me, at least from time to time). One such blog is Debunking Christianity. Atheists like to challenge Christians by pointing out that they are atheists about almost all gods, and atheists just go one god further. That challenge could be reversed. I agree with atheists about a great many things, even in most cases rejecting many of the same... Read more

I’m seriously thinking about putting something like the following on my syllabi this semester. Let me know what you think… Midterm exam: 20%Final exam: 35%Term paper: 35%Attendance: 10%Doing the assigned reading and coming to class prepared to talk about it: priceless. Read more

Having left the question of the antichrist’s identity unanswered in my last post, I’m glad Matt Dabbs came to the rescue and presented the evidence that Big Bird is the antichrist. Read more

Because of all the speculation about Obama being the antichrist, we’ve been distracted from the obvious truth: not only is he not the antichrist, but he is the rightful Pope. Using methods that have been proven effective in YouTube videos and other internet venues, but using them better, I’ve uncovered the following: First, it is clear that “Barack” is not from the same root as the Hebrew word baraq which means “lightning”. As many have pointed out, Jesus would have... Read more

My blog’s feed is linked to my Facebook profile so that new posts appear as “notes” on Facebook. And there a recent post started a discussion between two friends who are also New Testament scholars. Here are the highlights: “Ah how quickly our revelation becomes THE revelation.” (John Byron) “…Some things never change, other things improve with age, and … Read Morelots of new ideas on the block, as the plethora of shifts and changes in late 2nd Temple Judaism... Read more

I’m proud of the state I live in once again today, as I learned that Indiana was one of a relatively small number of states that was awarded an “A” for its science standards by the National Center for Science Education. Read more

It is always nice when one’s expertise in a particular field is appreciated and you get linked to. 😉 [winks at Jim West] Read more

Any Biblical scholar who has never read the article “New Directions in Pooh Studies: Überlieferungs- und religionsgeschichtliche Studienzum Pu-Buch” by D. J. A. Clines is missing out on a classic that is highly entertaining. It is available online, so you have no excuse for not reading this gem! Read more

David Ker tagged me with a creative meme. In a recent post, he discussed how Christians might make sense of, and preach on, the story in 2 Kings 2:23-24: “From there Elisha went up to Bethel. As he was walking along the road, some youths came out of the town and jeered at him. “Go on up, you baldhead!” they said. “Go on up, you baldhead!” He turned around, looked at them and called down a curse on them in... Read more

I just discovered another great work that can be read online: Kenneth Bailey’s Poet and Peasant & Through Peasant Eyes, which includes his famous discussion of the cultural background to the parable traditionally known as “the prodigal son”. Read more