Thanks to Jeremy, IO9, and Jim (whose Star Wars Day picture is the best) for not letting me forget the occasion! Read more

I thought I should provide an update and say that Jim Linville has now posted this month’s Biblical Studies carnival. It has religion, sci-fi, and jazz humor. It has organization by date and by theme. It has mythicism. If you haven’t already paid a visit, I highly recommend doing so. Even the humorous pictures alone would be worth the time spent there, but there’s lots of interesting Biblical studies content as well! Read more

It looks like the Biblical Studies Carnival is almost here. A brief taster appeared in Google Reader, perhaps through an inadvertent, premature click on the “Publish Post” button. I expect it will be up shortly at Dr. Jim’s Thinking Shop, Tea Room, and Slink Jazz Babe LOLcat Biblioblogging Biblical Studies Emporium.  It included the picture on the right, and so it is sure to be fun! While you wait, you can explore the news of NEH funding for a new web... Read more

I received an e-mail today about the latest issue of the American Association of University Professors’ relatively new periodical, the Journal of Academic Freedom. As I skimmed the contents, I noticed that my colleague Bill Watts had contributed an article on a lawsuit Butler University initiated a couple of years ago against an (initially anonymous) student blogger, which some of you may recall and which I blogged about at the time. The article not only shares a lot of information... Read more

Inside Higher Ed linked to a study of students’ attempt to use Kindles for coursework. Also at Inside Higher Ed is a “book” that can never be printed, since it includes video, and a discussion of whether this represents a new genre. See too the video Tom Verenna shared recently about a more interactive type of book-app. Read more

Over at Jesus Creed, RJS has a post on whom to trust and how to avoid getting duped. Bob Cargill discusses the following partly apocryphal “quote” from Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.: I mourn the loss of thousands of precious lives, but I will not rejoice in the death of one, not even an enemy. Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can... Read more

I have been looking forward to blogging through Earl Doherty’s book, Jesus: Neither God Nor Man – The Case for a Mythical Jesus, which is a significantly revised and expanded version of his earlier book, The Jesus Puzzle: Did Christianity Begin with a Mythical Christ? Challenging the Existence of an Historical Jesus. I have wanted to do this for a number of reasons, but most of all out of a desire to interact with a detailed and sustained attempt to make a... Read more

I saw this at Stuff Fundies Like and, like all things at the intersection of religion and science fiction, thought it was worth sharing… Read more

While Rachel Held Evans’ Rally for Unity is off to a good start, Mason has a tongue-in-cheek post calling for an opposing March to Keep Disunity Alive which many will enjoy. Read more

Lost fans, if you’ve been wondering what the smoke monster has been working on since LOST finished, you may have actually seen him in a couple of recent movies. “At first, I have to admit, I was disappointed,” said the infamous smoke monster, who prefers “Smokey” or even “the smoke monster” to “Jacob’s nameless brother.” Having been promised a prominent role in The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, black smoke ended up being needed only in one scene for a single spell. Matters improved,... Read more