Here’s the first of several short videos of hummingbirds at our feeder that I’m in the process of uploading to YouTube. Read more

A 2,000 year old stone tablet has (once again) been making news headlines because of its possible reference to a Messiah who rises after 3 days. Of course, the truth of the matter is that there are numerous difficulties involved in reading and then interpreting the text. Help for those trying to make an informed judgment about the text is provided by The Aramaic Blog, who have helpfully posted images of the transcribed text, as well as a link to... Read more

I’m always on the lookout for resources related to the Mandaic language, primarily its ancient classical form, but also the modern spoken version. (If anyone ever comes across a copy of the Drower and Macuch Mandaic Dictionary, please let me know!) Today I came across “Mandaean school lessons in English“, in fact a single lesson in a Word document. The early pages of this online lesson are confusing, with what seems like it should be an introduction to the Mandaic... Read more

My colleague Chad Bauman’s forthcoming book on conversion to Christianity in India is now listed on Amazon and on the publisher’s web page. Here are the details: Chad Bauman, Christian Identity and Dalit Religion in Hindu India, 1868-1947 (Studies in the History of Christian Missions) (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2008). Congratulations, Chad! Read more

It is the 4th of July, and in the United States, we often find people mixing Christianity and nationalism in ways that are at best ironic, and at times downright contradictory. The 4th of July is thus an appropriate day for reflection on Christianity, nationalism, and what might have been different had the colonies in the New World not fought for their independence. First, we should remember the ways that Jesus challenged the nationalism of his time. There has been... Read more

OnePlusYou Quizzes and Widgets Read more

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Scientific theories are tested by scientists, whether in labs or in real-life scenarios that relate to the theory. Taking measurements, creating laboratory scenarios, painstakingly eliminating extraneous influences in a controlled environment, making repeated observations – all that is the stuff of science, the way science proceeds. The proponents of “Intelligent Design” (or cdesign proponentsists, as they are also known) has chosen to promote its “theory” (thus showing it to in fact be an ideology) before the court of public opinion.... Read more

OK, let me see if I’ve got this straight. There are scarcely any resources readily available to enable one to learn Mandaic, and most of the resources that have ever existed are out of print and, if one can even find a copy, very expensive. Yet there are apparently enough people who know Mandaic for there to be a market for these “I Can Be You Mandaic Teacher” T shirts on amazon.com. Hmm… If anyone else is working on the... Read more

At the recommendation of several of my students, I watched the Family Guy – Blue Harvest, the Family Guy Star Wars parody episode. Although there was a fair bit of rude humor and other aspects that are not for the faint hearted, some of it was so well done as to deserve a recommendation. Among the funniest moments were these [SPOILERS ALERT]: Princess Leia trying to save her message for Obi-Wan, and R2D2’s interface is like Windows. The menu says... Read more