2011-07-17T15:39:12-04:00

Last updated on: July 17, 2011 at 3:39 pm   By

What cranks truly crave is the exhilarating sense of independence, control, and superiority that come from declaring oneself a self-sufficient intellectual force. Conspiracism is a natural outlet for this craving since conspiracy theories always exist in opposition to come received truth that enjoys the blessing of experts, and because the associated claims are regarded as daring and controversial. — Jonathan Kay, Among the Truthers: A Journey Through America’s Growing Conspiracist Underground (New York: Harper Collins, 2011) p.190. Read more

2011-07-16T16:49:16-04:00

Last updated on: July 16, 2011 at 4:49 pm   By

Via AWOL I learned of this useful online collection of Neo-Assyrian inscriptions made available by the University of Pennsylvania. Duane Smith is also excited about it. Read more

2011-07-16T16:12:44-04:00

Last updated on: July 16, 2011 at 4:12 pm   By

Having posted a link earlier today to Thom Stark’s criticisms of something Mike Heiser wrote, I am happy to be able to pass on something by Heiser himself. He posted what he calls “Heiser’s Laws for Bible Study,” and among them was this sage piece of advice: “If, after you’ve done the grunt work of context-driven exegesis, what the biblical text says disturbs you, let it.” There is also useful discussion of Enlightenment, reason, and Biblical study at Scotteriology that... Read more

2011-07-16T16:06:07-04:00

Last updated on: July 16, 2011 at 4:06 pm   By

Scot McKnight mentioned the fact that the Harvard Classics can be found for free online in pdf format. Having come into possession of the print set a few years ago (for free!), the big question is, if you have the actual books, are they worth keeping now that the whole thing can be carried with you on your iPad or accessed online at whim? What do you think? Do you keep printed books after they become freely available electronically? Read more

2011-07-16T15:37:53-04:00

Last updated on: July 16, 2011 at 3:37 pm   By

Elsewhere on Patheos, as part of the ongoing symposium “What is Progressive Christianity?”, Rev. Susan Strouse shares her thoughts on the idea that Jesus is the only way. Read more

2011-07-16T13:23:35-04:00

Last updated on: July 16, 2011 at 1:23 pm   By

Thom Stark has posted a piece, responding to Michael Heiser, discussing a couple of key texts in the Bible that seem to reflect earlier pre-monotheistic beliefs of the Israelites. I was hunting around over the past few days for exactly the same sorts of texts he cites and refers to as background and comparative materials, as I am working on finishing an article on monotheism. It’s a pity we couldn’t have shared the labors! Read more

2011-07-16T11:29:27-04:00

Last updated on: July 16, 2011 at 11:29 am   By

HT Máire Byrne, who also shared a couple of other cartoons besides this one. Click through to see the rest. Read more

2011-07-15T22:32:44-04:00

Last updated on: July 15, 2011 at 10:32 pm   By

It suddenly struck me today that, contrary to my assumptions, today’s conservative Christians apparently embrace the notion that one can be transgender, and actively support the idea of sex change operations. How else can one account for their determination to turn Junia into a man? 🙂 [Inspired by recent posts by J. K. Gayle and Suzanne McCarthy] Read more

2011-07-15T16:00:03-04:00

Last updated on: July 15, 2011 at 4:00 pm   By

First, Bob Cargill shared the following motivational poster, with the heading “Why scholarship is important” and the additional observation that “Just because it’s simple, clever, or rhymes, doesn’t necessarily make it correct.” Scott Bailey, in addition to passing on the image above, also continued his discussion of whether higher criticism attempts to “destroy the Bible,” and (along with John Loftus) shared a video of Bart Ehrman which freezes him in a moment of quasi-religious ecstasy of the sort that scholarship... Read more

2011-07-15T10:28:50-04:00

Last updated on: July 15, 2011 at 10:28 am   By

The article “The Defeat of Flood Geology by Flood Geology” by Phil Senter is the centerpiece of the latest issue of Reports of the National Center for Science Education, available online. Read more

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