The highlight of visiting Camaldoli in Italy this summer (other than the Enoch Seminar academic conference itself) was the visit to the hermitage higher up on the mountain, and seeing some of the precious old books in their library. I shared some photos when I was there, but without explanation, and so here are some highlights with commentary and clarification, to let you catch a glimpse of what I had the privilege of seeing there. I am going to focus... Read more
Usually things I have to say flow from the blog to Facebook rather than vice versa. But occasionally the flow reverses, and this is one such occasion. Since I finally received my print copy of the NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible, which I blogged about recently, I thought I would show it to friends and followers on Facebook using the Facebook live video feature. You can watch the video here: And if you’re not already connected with my page on... Read more
IO9 had a fascinating article recently about the growing number of people who list themselves as “Jedi” on the Australian census. Some atheists have started a campaign to discourage this, because they regard these self-declared Jedi as in fact non-religious people who, by answering “Jedi” instead of “none,” are making Australia seem more religious than it is. Here’s a poster they created for their campaign: You can read more about the issue, and the campaign, in the Brisbane Times. But is this... Read more
Hemant Mehta shared the SMBC comic below. It makes a good point, don’t you think? If not, you probably stopped reading before the last panel… Read more
I blogged previously about Daniel Kirk’s new book, A Man Attested By God. It is still listed on Amazon as available for pre-order. But Daniel received his copies and tweeted about it today, and so here is the photographic evidence that the book exists and that if you order it, you will get your copy soon: Click through to see my earlier post which featured my blurb as well as excerpts from the book. I have to add something more. When... Read more
This meme came my way via God of Evolution on Facebook, and I have been meaning to share it for some time. Read more
Hemant Mehta shared the image above. What strikes me most is that the change seems striking to him, just as it would seem controversial to many religious fundamentalists. And so the most interesting question, for me, is whom you think that a change like this would be most helpful for – the people who claim to be literalists among religious believers, or the people who reject the literal meaning of the Bible and religion along with it and yet cannot seem... Read more
I just rewatched the science fiction movie The Black Hole, to introduce my son to it. I was particularly eager to see what I myself thought of the ending, and indeed whether it meant what I had interpreted it to mean when I watched it in my youth. And I wondered what my son would make of it, including whether the special effects that were so impressive in 1979 would have stood the test of time. Religious themes permeate the... Read more
The blog Pictoral Theology shared the above image, seemingly in response to posts of mine which emphasized that God is not an answer, God is a question and a mystery. I know there are some who will appeal to “mystery” in a self-serving way, to avoid scrutiny or excuse blatant contradictions in their thought. But for others, talk of mystery is not an attempt to escape when backed into a corner, and judging one’s neighbors is likewise rejected on principle. For us,... Read more
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Zondervan eBook Gospel Commentaries Sale
For those who want to add some Evangelical New Testament commentaries to their ebook collection, Zondervan currently has a sale which begins today and runs until the end of the week: 80% off the usual price of select commentaries. Take a look and see if any of them interest you. Below are some of the ones that I think are most interesting. The sale price applies on Amazon.com, and if you buy them by clicking on the covers below, not only... Read more