This is just a reminder that the deadline for the call for papers for both the American Academy of Religion and the Society of Biblical Literature is March 5th. I think that means that you have until the end of the day today, rather than the end of the day tomorrow (UPDATE: The AAR deadline is 2pm tomorrow afternoon). If you are still looking for a venue, and your work would make it natural for you to submit a proposal... Read more
Episcopal Cafe shared the above lecture delivered at Westminster College by the presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church USA. It touches on subjects of creation, science, and meaning. Read more
This cartoon came to me via God of Evolution on Facebook. It looks to me more like “If the God of Genesis had Shopped at IKEA.” The world we see around us looks more like the work of creation was contracted out to natural processes, including life to a process of evolution. Read more
Ken Ham has tried to make a distinction between historical and observational science. He ought, therefore, to accept that we must make the same distinction in theology, if he is to be consistent, don’t you think? And yet we find he himself quoting the Bible as though it can simply be assumed to provide evidence about the past. If he were being consistent, he would have problems with those who quote the Bible the way he typically does, and every... Read more
Richard Carrier is quite the character, and he has written what he calls a “critical review” of Maurice Casey’s recent book about mythicism, Jesus: Evidence and Argument or Mythicist Myths?. Anyone who is used to reading his “reviews” will know what to expect – they are typically lengthy attempts to discredit, picking at minor details which can be criticized in the hope that none of his blog readers will ever read the book and find out what the substantive points... Read more
The quote above is based on something TrevorN said in a comment, which was in turn derived from what nameless others had said. And so it didn’t seem possible to attribute a clear quotation to any particular person. But the sentiment seemed to be worth sharing. Read more
Heather Wax was one of a couple of people to draw my attention to the launch of a new peer-reviewed journal, Science, Religion, and Culture. The first issue includes contributions from scholars like Keith Ward and Gregg Caruso. Read more
I recently had an article, “Future Faith,” published in Phi Kappa Phi Forum. I had no idea how widely that periodical is read and subscribed to, until I suddenly found myself getting e-mails and Facebook messages from former students and colleagues. And so, if you subscribe but have not looked at the latest issue, there’s a piece in there by me! Read more
Bob Cargill drew attention to this mash-up video, illustrating just how many of the issues raised long before in the Non-Stamp Collector video turned up again in Ken Ham’s part of the recent debate. Some young-earth creationist sites have lists of arguments that their adherents should not use. The problem is that the list of dubious arguments and claims is much, much longer than those lists. And so perhaps this video needs to be more widely circulated? Read more
The answer, of course, to the question posed in the title is obviously “yes.” People of every possible view get persecuted in some way in every society, especially if one defines persecution broadly enough to include things like “being called stupid by a complete stranger on Facebook.” But since by that definition every category of people is persecuted, then clearly Christians are not being singled out. We could easily add that there are liberal to moderate Christians who find themselves... Read more
Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In