“If you’ve got a religious belief that withers in the face of observations of the natural world, you ought to rethink your beliefs — rethinking the world isn’t an option” (P. Z. Myers on Pharyngula) [HT Jeff the Fish. See also the quote Mike Beidler shares at Creation of an Evolutionist] Read more

Those who subscribe to the Biblical Archaeology Society’s e-mail updates will already be aware of the resource Find a Dig, which provides information about opportunities to volunteer and participate in archaeological digs in various parts of the world. Personally it is something I hope to find the time to do one day… Read more

Thoughts on Antiquity is hosting this month’s Biblical Studies Carnival. If you are looking for something more than a carnival – say a full-blown Biblical Studies amusement park, you might want to try A Guy In The Pew, who has this: Read more

Butler University has been in the news lately because of a question asked by Butler journalism student Evan Strange to Chelsea Clinton, who recently visited our campus. Evan Strange apparently asked Chelsea how she would respond to those who accuse her mother of displaying weakness in her response to the Monica Lewinsky scandal, in a way that had potential ramifications for her having the strength required of a president. “Wow, you’re the first person actually that’s ever asked me that... Read more

By the twisted logic of Storms’ “Academic Freedom Act,” what is to prevent teachers from telling students – because they feel like it – the Holocaust never happened, or that the 1969 moon landing was nothing more than a Hollywood sound stage hoax, or that Barack Obama is a Muslim? That’s not “Academic Freedom.” It’s sanctioning intellectually dishonest scholastic anarchy. (Daniel Ruth, “Her ‘Academic Freedom’? Not Free, Just Dumb”, in Tampa Bay Online) HT Thoughts in a Haystack Read more

There is a post relating to Greta Vosper and her recent book on Andrew Krystal’s blog. I have yet to read Vosper’s book, but it is clear that the most fundamental disagreement between progressive Christians and fundamentalist ones is on the human character of the Bible and the church. That’s why I decided to have a little fun with the Church sign generator (as you’ll see on the right). This is how a fundamentalist would see the claims of progressive... Read more

Quidam has given his previous creation competition with this one featuring “Benna the Stein“. Captions he has suggested include: “This evolutionist is my kind of scum…”“You mean carbonate isn’t the same as carbonite?”“No sneaking into OUR movie”“You weak-minded fool, he’s using an old evolutionist mind trick! “ but perhaps the best is Kristine’s… “There will be no bargain, young JediDarwinist. I shall enjoy watching your theory die.” Read more

I am impressed that my own story about unfair expulsion and censorship is still up at the Expelled web site. I wonder if PZ has thought about posting his story about being “expelled” on the movie’s own web page, to see what happens. Only one person has answered my “photoshop this” challenge so far. Well done Quidam! Hopefully others will join in. Anyone? Anyone…? Read more

The funniest April Fools jokes are the ones made by people trying to be serious. The folks promoting the movie Expelled are billing its release as “Freedom Friday”. But the funniest part is that the promotional e-mail suggests renting a theater for a local showing. Why is this hilarious? Because last I heard, the movie’s promoters were paying people to see it. Now suddenly the public will be renting theaters to see it? Definitely April Fool’s Day… I wish I... Read more

I received word yesterday that I will be presenting a paper in Boston in November at this year’s annual meeting of the Society of Biblical Literature. It will be in the Jewish Christianity/Christian Judaism program unit, and the paper will be entitled “Mandaean Polemic against Jews and Christians as Evidence about the Origins and Setting of Early Mandaism”. On a related subject, I’ve found that Lidzbarski’s German translation of the Ginza is available for download as a PDF file from... Read more