2 Jesus’ Wife

Last updated on: September 19, 2012 at 12:55 pm By James F. McGrath

The announcement by Karen King about the Coptic fragment which has Jesus mentioning “my wife” is, unsurprisingly, continuing to get much attention and generate much discussion. Rather than keep updating yesterday’s post on the topic, I thought that a follow-up post would be more appropriate, rounding up the blogging and media reporting of the “Gospel of Jesus’ Wife” since then. Hence my calling this post “2 Jesus’ Wife” – following the Biblical mode of reference in tongue-in-cheek fashion. NBC offered... Read more

Genesis – Blood on the Rooftops

Last updated on: September 19, 2012 at 9:00 am By James F. McGrath

Someone managed to combine video footage of Steve Hackett playing live with the recording of the original album version of the Genesis song “Blood on the Rooftops” from the album Wind & Wuthering, together with images that (for all the corniness of some of them) manage to convey the meaning of this classic song to a contemporary audience, to good effect (click the links I've embedded to get to the separate sources). The song focuses on a subject that both... Read more

Coptic Text Mentions Jesus’ Wife

Last updated on: September 18, 2012 at 3:00 pm By James F. McGrath

The New York Times, the Harvard Gazette, The Huffington Post and other media outlets are breaking the news that Karen King, a scholar well known for her work on the phenomenon usually referred to as “Gnosticism,” has come into possession of and has been studying a Coptic papyrus fragment which is likely to be authentic, dates from around the 4th century, and has Jesus mention his wife. UPDATE: King has posted online a pre-publication version of an article she has... Read more

This is the Word of the Lord

Last updated on: September 18, 2012 at 2:19 pm By James F. McGrath

The God Box

Last updated on: September 18, 2012 at 10:19 am By James F. McGrath

David Hayward drew and shared the above cartoon, and also some wise words on the topic: We must agree…that the Mystery, the Source, the All-in-all, is certainly beyond the limitations of what we believe. Assuredly! If your god is trapped within your ideas and words then you have nothing more than an idol. Period! Read more

Scooby Doo vs. Doctor Who

Last updated on: September 18, 2012 at 7:43 am By James F. McGrath

It has been observed that some science fiction stories seem to make the opposite point to the one made in the classic cartoon series Scooby Doo. This image highlights the contrast well, using Doctor Who as the specific example: We can all appreciate stories that explore scenarios in which aliens visited our planet in the past and/or continue to do so in the present and future. The issue seems to be treating such entertaining storytelling options as though they are... Read more

The Right to Not Be Offended?

Last updated on: September 17, 2012 at 10:41 pm By James F. McGrath

Ismail Mohamed, a religious scholar and former an imam, is quoted in today's New York Times as saying, “We don’t think that depictions of the prophets are freedom of expression. We think it is an offense against our rights.” I don't think anyone has the right to never be offended. Indeed, I think the claim that one has the right to never be offended is just an attempt to avoid saying what is really in view: a claim to have... Read more

Review of Seven Glorious Days, by Karl Giberson

Last updated on: September 17, 2012 at 6:41 pm By James F. McGrath

There are many books about the early chapters of Genesis, and many books introducing readers to the scientific understanding of the cosmos and our place in it. But there are few which actually try to combine the two aims into one. Karl Giberson’s book, Seven Glorious Days: A Scientist Retells the Genesis Creation Story, and I am grateful to have the opportunity to participate in the Patheos Book Club discussion of this book. The book opens with a brief presentation... Read more

September 2012 Biblical Studies Carnival: Call for Submissions

Last updated on: September 17, 2012 at 12:53 pm By James F. McGrath

Tim Bulkeley will be hosting the next BS Carnival on his blog Sansblogue, and he has issued a call for submissions. Please submit links to him about any posts you’d like to see in his round-up at the end of the month, whether they are on this blog or any other. Read more

Christ of Jerusalem Lost the Election

Last updated on: September 17, 2012 at 10:08 am By James F. McGrath

The New York Times has an article today about the tendency of candidates in Brazil to adopt creative and at times outlandish pseudonyms. From that article I learned that “Christ of Jerusalem” lost an election back in 2008, while Batman and a couple of James Bonds are currently on various ballots. The appearance of a “Christ” on the ballot got me thinking. There are plenty of people who say that their true allegiance is to Jesus, and they will even make... Read more