Hemant Mehta shared this gem of an illustration of gradual change – what some call “microevolution” amounting in the long run to “macroevolution”: In related news, Arni Zachariassen has a sexy post on religion and science, comparing atheists’ view of science to porn stars having sex, and a religious view of science to marital lovemaking. Click through if you’re old enough. BioLogos has begun a multi-part review of Why Evolution Is True by Jerry Coyne. Debunking Creationism shares thoughts from... Read more

“Nagging works” — Jesus according to Luke 11:5-10 (slightly condensed and paraphrased) Read more

At his blog, Larry Hurtado discusses some of the objections to the application of the term “monotheism” to ancient Judaism and Christianity, and summarizes his suggestions about how to proceed and appropriately qualify and understand the term so that it remains useful. Read more

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