Christology around the Blogosphere

Last updated on: April 17, 2014 at 3:10 pm By James F. McGrath

Let me offer a round-up of the latest Bart Ehrman and Christology blogging. Ehrman shared the first and second parts of his interview with Dale Tuggy: Greg Carey writes: Most Christians, however, have no idea that Ehrman’s book represents a genuine conversation among informed scholars. This is unfortunate. Nothing Ehrman is saying would surprise a biblical scholar at even the most conservative theological school. This knowledge gap constitutes a failure of educational ministry in the churches. We Christians should be... Read more

Easter War on Information Literacy

Last updated on: April 17, 2014 at 10:45 am By James F. McGrath

It is always particularly disappointing when those who classify themselves as freethinkers and skeptics share nonsense. This image is making the rounds again in precisely those circles: Candida Moss has a great article on what is problematic both with such claims about Easter being borrowed/stolen in this way, and with the reverse, namely Christian claims that everything about Easter is unique, unprecedented, and unparalleled. The gullibility that allows one to fall for a meme like the one above without fact... Read more

The Theory and Practice of Oligarchical Capitalism

Last updated on: April 17, 2014 at 7:43 am By James F. McGrath

Talking about George Orwell's 1984, and the book within the book, is always interesting. But this semester the discussion took some turns that seem to me worth sharing. The book by Emmanuel Goldstein, The Theory and Practice of Oligarchical Collectivism, is an intentional parody of Marx and Engels' Communist Manifesto. It represents a plan to bring about something less like what Marx and Engels idealistically envisaged, and more like what Communism ended up looking like in Eastern Europe. Orwell's analysis,... Read more

Trusting Science

Last updated on: April 16, 2014 at 10:22 pm By James F. McGrath

OK, so I admit that this gif made me laugh: But with the recent eclipse, I am reminded of something nonsensical that I heard a preacher say once, it was around the time of a total solar eclipse, and the individual said that the eclipse was a supernatural event, because if it had been natural, it would have become dark and continued that way, without ever becoming light again, I am confidentbthat readers of this blog will recognize that assertion... Read more

Hebrew Cannon

Last updated on: April 16, 2014 at 8:36 am By James F. McGrath

Via George Athas. I haven't seen the distinction between canon and cannon illustrated quite this pictorially before! Read more

Classic Video Game Biblical Epic Art

Last updated on: April 16, 2014 at 7:51 am By James F. McGrath

It is hard to find one title that summarizes what Dan Hernandez's art incorporates and focuses on. So here is an example. Click through to see more of his series “Genesis 2014.” HT Gizmodo. Read more

Continuity Errors in Tim LaHaye’s Fiction/Theology

Last updated on: April 15, 2014 at 11:12 pm By James F. McGrath

Fred Clark continues his insightful and entertaining review of Nicolae: The Rise of Antichrist in the Left Behind series. Here is a key point in his most recent post on the subject, after noting a major blunder in the story's consistency: For the fans of these books, though, the stakes are even higher. They have to believe that this story makes sense because this story is a vehicle for the theology they rely on to make sense of their own... Read more

Beam Me Up, Lotty

Last updated on: April 15, 2014 at 12:23 pm By James F. McGrath

A commenter pointed me to a web site which suggests that Lot’s wife may have been caught in something like a Star Trek transporter beam, a “pillar of vanishing” rather than being turned into a “pillar of salt.” If you are going to bring in Star Trek, you could also have Lot’s wife become a Salt Vampire. (It will be no surprise that the approach on that website is indebted to Zecharia Sitchin). The interesting thing is that such approaches... Read more

Features of Fundamentalism Mnemonic

Last updated on: April 15, 2014 at 9:54 am By James F. McGrath

Paul Regnier shared the above useful mnemonic for remembering key features of fundamentalism. Here is his further explanation of the points: Science – Rejection of scientific views when they conflict with sacred texts. However, many fundamentalists have made effective use of modern technology to promote their message. Elect – The view held by some fundamentalists that they are part of a spiritual elite, chosen by God for a particular mission. In some cases, this may justify violence. Patriacrchy –... Read more

Tempted In Every Way As We Are

Last updated on: April 15, 2014 at 7:29 am By James F. McGrath

Hebrews 4:15 says that Jesus was “tempted in every way as we are – yet without sin.” I had someone mention to me a book which suggested that this must have included same-sex attraction, since otherwise Jesus was not tempted in every way the author was. This seems to take things too far – in what is itself at any rate a theological statement rather than something that can be considered historical fact. Could one really make the case that... Read more

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