I'm not sure that Daleks really work as a symbol of any sort of equality, which is why I made this (and made it my banner on Facebook): HT George Takei for the first two. Read more
I'm not sure that Daleks really work as a symbol of any sort of equality, which is why I made this (and made it my banner on Facebook): HT George Takei for the first two. Read more
Someone asked me if I could do a post indicating what, if anything, I appreciate about young-earth creationists. You may be surprised that this post is not just a blank page. The point of the request was in the spirit of the video that Brian McLaren made called “Reconciliation.” In the video, McLaren says the following: So I think the six-day creation people — I think they're wrong; I think they are misguided. I love them; I respect them. If... Read more
I am sharing a link to Maud Newton’s recent piece in the New York Times Magazine, not only because I am quoted in it, but because its subject matter is interesting – the move of Christian fundamentalism from anti-Judaism to something that at least looks rather different. Before you ask, yes, I’m disappointed that she got the title of my book wrong, and put it in quotation marks rather than italics! But I think you’ll agree nevertheless that the piece’s topic... Read more
Due to some sort of glitch on Amazon.com, my ebook The Burial of Jesus: What Does History Have to Do with Faith? (Patheos Press, 2012) was not available for purchase. I am not sure how long this was the case, but I thought I should announce here that it is available again, still at the low price of $2.99. It is also available in Nook format. The book focuses not only on the burial of Jesus, but uses that as an... Read more
A question about 2 Timothy 3:16 from a commenter inspired (pun intended) me to think about the text in a different light. One possible background for the rare term θεόπνευστος (theopneustos), sometimes rendered as “God-breathed,” is the story in Genesis 2, in which God breathes the breath of life into the human being he has made, and the human being becomes a living soul. If that is the background, then the analogy is interesting to explore. A human being without the... Read more
I thought I’d contribute to the meme that seems to have taken off featuring Brad Stevens’ facial expression at one point during the game against Marquette. For the background, see my earlier post about a campus religious group inviting a representative of the young-earth creationist organization Answers in Genesis to speak at their meeting on the Butler University campus. Read more
A young-earth creationist has offered a $10,000 prize to anyone who can demonstrate the scientific case for evolution before a judge. Each side puts up $10,000, and whoever the judge decides in favor of keeps the total. The only question is whether the judge will be well-informed about the methods of the natural sciences. But otherwise, it should be an open and shut case. Any takers? Read more
Those who formulate doctrines of Scripture tend to focus on some classic statements which sound like they can be turned quickly into dogmatic statements. Phrases like “All Scripture is God-breathed” in 2 Timothy 3:16 and the like. I think those who want to determine and define what the Bible is ought to spend more time looking at what these writings show themselves to be. One great example, which came up in my Sunday school class yesterday, is Hebrews 2:6. There... Read more
Today in my class on the Bible, we talked about the crucifixion. In my class on the Gospel of John, we are entering the passion narrative. And this is what the Butler University campus looks like today: It certainly creates a holiday mood…but not for the holiday I was expecting people to have their minds on when I made my syllabi! Read more
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