In the country I live in, the vast majority of Christians (assuming one is willing to give that label to those who claim it, even if it seems not to affect their core values) are fundamentally compromised with the spirit of the age, with its values, with its aims and assumptions. Some are so compromised that they line up with the use of secular power to try to accomplish their aims – with the Romans who crucified Jesus rather than... Read more
Someone on Facebook shared this quote attributed to Bruce Lee… Be like water …Empty your mind, be formless. Shapeless, like water. If you put water into a cup, it becomes the cup. You put water into a bottle and it becomes the bottle. You put it in a teapot, it becomes the teapot. Now, water can flow or it can crash. Be water, my friend. I liked the sentiment, which is very Taoist. But I added in a comment something... Read more
The start of classes today went well. The only thing that did not go smoothly is that the bookstore ordered copies of a book by Freud as the textbook for my course on the Bible, rather than the one I asked them to. Is there an award for what is perhaps the most literal “Freudian slip” in the history of the term? Unless of course one counts this cartoon: Read more
One reason that some religious believers feel threatened by scientific advances is the belief that, as the mysterious becomes less mysterious, God’s existence or at least God’s involvement in the universe is disproved. But as those who’ve dug deeply into the mysteries of the universe, as we find answers, they lead on to new mysteries which ultimately lead sooner or later to the mystery of existence itself, why anything at all exists. That isn’t proof of God, but it does leave... Read more
A key point I emphasize in my classes is that, just because a range of views about a topic may be held by experts, that does not mean that all views are compatible with the evidence. Nor is it the case that, just because we are uncertain about the answers to some questions, everything is uncertain. The above image featuring a quote from Jerry Coyne makes the point well, I think, in relation to one specific topic about which denialists try... Read more
Today is the first day of classes in the new semester at Butler University. I’m teaching my course on the Bible, an upper-level course on the Gospel of John, and the second semester of my freshman core curriculum course on Faith, Doubt, and Reason. If you teach or are a student, what classes are on your schedule? Read more
Via Episcopal Memes on Facebook Read more
It is interesting to see what else has appeared in the blogosphere since I posted about conservative Christians' persecution complex this morning. Christopher Skinner shared the news today that Cedarville University is now apparently trying to rid itself of its philosophers, having successfully ousted Michael Pahl, much as other institutions recently did in the cases of Christopher Rollston, Anthony Le Donne, Peter Enns, and others. Meanwhile, an update on what such Christians consider “persecution.” Branson Parler at the blog Think... Read more
I find it both sad and laughable at the same time that both Protestants and Catholics are claiming that they are being persecuted when their views are no longer taken for granted by others, or they are not given access to a particular platform to promote their views. Having recently completed a study of the Book of Revelation in my Sunday school class, the persecution of Christians during the reign of Nero is the first of many instances of real,... Read more
Doctor Who, religion, and a bad pun. I couldn't not share it! Read more
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