Thanks to Jim Davila for pointing out that the English translation of the Slavonic text known as 2 Enoch by  Florentina Badalanova Geller is available for free in pdf form, courtesy of the Max Planck Institute. Read more

The words of Revelation 22:18-19 are familiar. Here’s how the NIV renders them: I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll. And if anyone takes words away from this scroll of prophecy, God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City, which are described in this scroll.... Read more

Internet Monk posted today about a Bible you’d never find at your local Christian bookstore: Luther’s Bible, with several books relegated to a secondary, questionable status, and prefaces indicating his rationale. We discussed this in my class on Revelation, and what Luther had to say about Revelation got quoted. My favorite part was also the favorite of at least one student, but for some reason it doesn’t get quoted in the excerpt at Internet Monk, so I thought I’d share... Read more

Pat McCullough has been very active in trying to get student members of the Society of Biblical Literature to make their opinions heard on the subject of the new rules for paper proposals. Today he posted a link to a survey and invites SBL student members to fill in the survey and contribute to this attempt to gather data in a systematic way. Read more

Thanks to John Pieret and John Wilkins for pointing out that Synthese, An International Journal for Epistemology, Methodology and Philosophy of Science has an issue dedicated to “Evolution and Its Rivals” and is allowing free access to it in pdf form. Here are the impressive contents: “Introduction” by Glenn Branch“Can’t philosophers tell the difference between science and religion?: Demarcation revisited” by Robert T. Pennock“Are creationists rational?” by John S. Wilkins“Foiling the Black Knight” by Kelly C. Smith“Information theory, evolutionary computation, and Dembski’s ‘complex... Read more

Drew Tatusko has shared some thoughts on the religious themes in Star Trek V. Read more

I have often explored the intersection of religion and sci-fi, and I’ve often suggested that religion is, at its heart, akin to aesthetics and appreciation of literature, music, beauty, etc. And so perhaps I shouldn’t be surprised at this revelation: P. Z. Myers doesn’t like Star Wars, and apparently never has. Read more

In case Mark Goodacre has some time to spare between the end of exams and the big holiday event that he and I both celebrate at this time of year (the Doctor Who Christmas special), I thought I would pose a question that occurred to me today. Goodacre (we’re on a first name basis, but it is simply too confusing to write “Mark” in this context!) suggests that it is possible to hold to Markan priority (thus addressing the issue... Read more

If you have any interest in the intersection of technology, the academy and/or the library, you should be reading and following the blog The Digital Immigrant, belonging to my colleague, librarian Brad Matthies. His latest post focuses on academic blogging, and provides a sage bit of advice for academic bloggers drawn from my own experience! Read more