I’m not sure if I’m numbering the parts of our conversation correctly, but David Fitzgerald responded to my response to his response to my post about his talk (and presumably anyone reading this will agree that it was a good choice not to call my post that). I’m grateful that David is interested in continuing the conversation, and hope that those listening in will find it interesting too. Rather than offer a superficial and scattered overview of points about which we agree... Read more

Last night’s episode of “V” continued the theme of human identity and human emotion, with a more directly religious angle. The first hint of this aspect is when we see Ryan, a visitor in human skin, looking thoughtfully at the crucifix on the wall in Father Jack’s church. Soon after we get to watch parallel discussions between Jack and Ryan, and Anna and her mother (played by Jane Badler, the actress who played Diana in the original TV series “V”), about the soul. The... Read more

Joe Kelly shares a quote from Marti Steussy explaining why she does not consider the Bible to be spiritually infallible. Here’s part of the quote: I also do not consider the Bible spiritually infallible, and my reasons are empirical. There has been too much mischief and flat-out evil committed in its name for me to be able to say with a straight face that the Bible provides reliable guidance to anyone who sincerely seeks it. Others might reasonably reply that the problem is not... Read more

Since the dispensationalist rapture-focused futurism of American Evangelicalism is essentially a form of science fiction (with corresponding minority fan base that treats it as though it were reality) it is not surprising to find the rapture mentioned at sci-fi site IO9, with an example of the low-budget post-rapture movie genre. And John Rowe points out that Hal Lindsay, at age 81, still believes Jesus will return during his lifetime. In view of the sci-fi meets Cold War overtones of both... Read more

In a new article in Biblical Archaeology Review, New Testament scholar Adela Yarbro Collins discusses judgment and punishment in the Book of Revelation. Read more

Matt Flannagan links to a series of posts on mythicism at James Hannam’s blog Quodlibet. The articles themselves appeared on Patheos. John Byron also mentions the question of Jesus’ existence, and has a book giveaway as well. Also of interest, Unreasonable Faith links to a humorous interview with the Bethlehem innkeeper and in the process raises the issue of whether there is an “inn” in Luke’s story at all. But such cultural and historical considerations aside, it is problematic to have Galileans... Read more

In a somewhat obscure comment on a recent post, mention was made of the problematic nature of “arguing from plausibility.” Presumably the point was that showing something is plausible or possible doesn’t demonstrate that it is correct, or in the case of history, that it actually happened. While this is true, it must also be pointed out that, whether in the natural sciences or in history, ultimately we reach a point at which the choice is between a variety of scenarios, none... Read more

This is not “How It Should Have Ended” but a mash-up that illustrates the potential dangers of blowing up a space station when it is close to an inhabited forest moon…. Read more

Several posts around the blogosphere have something to do with encountering the alien – whether in the realm of science, religion, or science fiction. Tom Verenna linked to an article asking about the effect of discovering alien life. Science and Religion Today links to an article about preparing for encountering extraterrestrial intelligent life – including scenarios in which it isn’t friendly. Steve Wiggins talks about finding out Orson Scott Card’s religious affiliation and that of other authors. Also related, Charles... Read more

In an off-topic comment on a recent post, I was asked what I think about Paul. That is such a broad question that I’m not sure how to begin to answer it, but I think that it is certainly a good question. And I suspect that most people who are not committed to Paul’s inerrancy in his New Testament writings, but are well acquainted with them and with his legacy, would have both positive and negative things to say about him.... Read more