Jimmy Kimmel got a man dressed like Jesus to read actual quotes from candidates in this year’s presidential primary elections. I think it makes a useful point to those who think they are supporting candidates because they are followers of Jesus. Read more
I had the above video of a roundtable discussion of “Jewish Christianity and the Origins of Islam” drawn to my attention. It took place at last year’s ASMEA conference. Apparently the topic will be a focus again next year, and so there is a call for papers that is currently open that some of you may be interested in. The keynote address at the conference was on “The Fate of the Middle East Christians,” and will also be of interest: Read more
It is common for theists to speak of God’s artistry in creation. But that image sits awkwardly with a number of purported beliefs of classical theism. Artistry involves challenge and accomplishment, but an omnipotent God cannot overcome obstacles in any meaningful sense. Artistry involves choosing colors or melodies, but classical theism has asserted that God always “chooses” what is “best” – which doesn’t seem like a choice at all. The Onion recently had a piece which depicts a God who could meaningfully create... Read more
This paraphrase of Jeremiah 14:14 is striking. I’m often in two minds about The Message. What do you think of its rendering of this particular text? Read more
The video above is from the latest in this year’s Religion Seminar public lecture series, co-sponsored by Butler University, Christian Theological Seminary, and the Desmond Tutu Center. It features Elizabeth Shakman Hurd, with Edwin Curtis and Frank Thomas as respondents. Read more
This was a great episode, of the satirical and self-parodying sort that the X-Files regularly offered throughout its history. Early in the episode, Mulder reflects on how much of the unexplained has been explained since he previously worked on the X-Files, often in terms of pranks by college students. He uses a phrase from the New Testament as he considers that perhaps, as a middle-aged man, it is time to “put away childish things.” The individuals who claim to have... Read more
I love this. I hope that the experience of students is that, early on, we problematize simplistic ideas of good vs. evil, but also that by the end of their studies, we have helped them identify the genuine evils that are much more pernicious and pervasive, and which cannot be eliminated by killing “bad guys” since they are within each of us, and inspired them to find ways of overcome them and so make the world a better place. What do you... Read more
A nice quote from the Alison Bernstein, better known as “MommyPhD.” Read more
For those who live in an area where disclaimer labels are added to science textbooks, you might find a way to protest by asking that some of the additional stickers below be added to a variety of textbooks, including but not at all limited to those dealing with evolution. These come from Colin Purrington’s blog. Read more
It never ceases to amaze me, when I talk to Jesus mythicists online, how eagerly they embrace and defend Christian orthodoxy. They do not accept that Christian orthodoxy is true, of course. But they accept that it gets the facts right – an odd stance for such so-called skeptics to accept uncritically, never mind do battle about. But they do indeed fight in defense of the claims of historic Christian (and often specifically Roman Catholic) orthodoxy, insisting that Jesus was God in our earliest... Read more
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