James M.

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Dr. Seuss (and the Bible) for the Symbolism-Challenged

James M. posted an article on - Feb 9, 2012, 8:06 pm
Sometimes people get into debates over whether something is literally true to be accepted without questioning however implausible, or false and therefore something only stupid people believe, not...
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CFP Eastern Great Lakes Biblical Society

James M. posted an article on - Feb 9, 2012, 7:53 pm
The Eastern Great Lakes Biblical Society conference is coming up soon, and while I have tended in recent years to attend and present at the Midwest SBL meeting, because Indiana is at the place where...
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Society of Biblical Literature Call for Papers

James M. posted an article on - Feb 9, 2012, 2:58 pm
The call for papers for the 2012 Society of Biblical Literature Annual Meeting, which will take place in Chicago in November, is now online.
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The Nag Hammadi Codices in their Monastic Context

James M. posted an article on - Feb 9, 2012, 2:51 pm
The blog Past Horizons has a post today which begins by saying “The texts of the Nag Hammadi codices have commonly been treated as mere witnesses to Gnostic texts in Greek mainly from the...
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Genesis 1-3 on How to Interpret Genesis 1-3

James M. posted an article on - Feb 9, 2012, 12:46 pm
As Evolution Weekend draws near, many of us will be taking some time to address matters related to evolution in our religious communities. Here are a diagram and a cartoon, as well as some links and...
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Teach the Hilarious Controversies

James M. posted an article on - Feb 9, 2012, 11:34 am
From Bad Reporter on Go Comics
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Doctor Who: Resurrection of the Daleks

James M. posted an article on - Feb 9, 2012, 8:09 am
Resurrection of the Daleks is one of the darker episodes from the era of the Fifth Doctor. Once again given the opportunity to prevent the Daleks from getting a fresh start, the Doctor is determined...
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Doctor Who: The Oldest Question and the Last of the Time Lords

James M. posted an article on - Feb 8, 2012, 6:33 pm
The revelation that the oldest question in the universe is “Doctor Who?” and the giving of an answer to it has religious and universal significance both thrilled and puzzled fans of the...
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Adam Named All The Animals

James M. posted an article on - Feb 8, 2012, 3:54 pm
Reverend Fun HT Judy Redman on Facebook
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A Horrific Heavenly Vision for Football Fans

James M. posted an article on - Feb 8, 2012, 3:19 pm
Via Scotteriology
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The Well Spring 2012 Series

James M. posted an article on - Feb 8, 2012, 9:39 am
Beginning on Wednesday, February 22 we will begin our Spring Well series at Crooked Creek Baptist. Each week we will begin our meeting with a low cost dinner ($1.50 for kids, $2.50 for adults with a family maximum donation of $6 for families) at 5:45 p.m and will follow dinner with a time for educa...
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Doctor Who: The Underwater Menace

James M. posted an article on - Feb 4, 2012, 8:05 am
In the episode “The Underwater Menace,” the Doctor, Ben, Polly, and Jamie arrive in the lost underwater city of Atlantis. The situation they find their combines the worst of both religion...
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Though I Speak With Tongues of Penguins and Polar Bears…

James M. posted an article on - Feb 3, 2012, 4:01 pm
Allan Bevere chose my caption as the winner of his latest caption contest. Here’s the photo with my caption: “If I speak in the tongues of penguins and of polar bears, but have not...
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Doctor Who: The Highlanders

James M. posted an article on - Feb 3, 2012, 8:47 am
This second episode of the Patrick Troughton era, “The Highlanders” witnessed the arrival of a companion who would be with the Second Doctor throughout the rest of his stint: Jamie...
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Paul Mythicism?

James M. posted an article on - Feb 2, 2012, 3:10 pm
There certainly are those Jesus mythicists who would also deny that there was a historical Paul. But for many mythicists, perhaps the majority, the historicity of Paul and the authenticity of...
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The "Original Aramaic Lord's Prayer" is None of the Above

James M. posted an article on - Feb 2, 2012, 11:27 am
After it came up on this blog a while back, I’ve wanted to return to the topic of the “Original Aramaic Lord’s Prayer.” Why? Because the thing that can be found online...
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Fringe: Why Did God Make Me This Way?

James M. posted an article on - Feb 2, 2012, 9:05 am
Should we refer to J. J. Abrams as in some sense a “theologian”? Last week’s episode of Fringe, “Forced Perspective,” which I only found the time to watch last night, is...
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Make Everything OK

James M. posted an article on - Feb 1, 2012, 8:26 pm
There is a web site featuring a magic button that makes everything OK. How did I not hear about this until today? You’ll find it at the appropriately-named web...
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Digital Analysis of Mandaic Manuscripts

James M. posted an article on - Feb 1, 2012, 7:11 pm
My collaborator on the Mandaean Book of John translation project, Charles G. Häberl of Rutgers University, is scheduled to present on “Digital Analysis of Mandaic Manuscripts” at the...
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Religion and Science Fiction AAR CFP

James M. posted an article on - Feb 1, 2012, 4:03 pm
The American Academy of Religion has issued the call for papers for the 2012 Annual Meeting in Chicago. Religion and Science Fiction has been approved for status as a Group, and so here is the core...
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CFP Comics, Religion & Politics

James M. posted an article on - Feb 1, 2012, 3:55 pm
Via Religion CFP and NSRN online I learned of this call for papers: ‘Comics, Religion & Politics’ 4-5th September 2012 Lancaster University, UK Alongside the continued popularity of political...
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Love, Infatuation, and Religion

James M. posted an article on - Feb 1, 2012, 2:56 pm
From Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal
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Evangelical Evolutionary Religious Naturalism

James M. posted an article on - Feb 1, 2012, 1:47 pm
Michael Dowd has a blog post that reworks some fundamental tenets of Evangelicalism to be more in keeping with his own naturalistic and evolutionary faith. The whole thing is worth reading (and so I...
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What Do Conservative Christians Conserve?

James M. posted an article on - Feb 1, 2012, 12:59 pm
Via Dănuţ Mănăstireanu I learned of a blog post by Richard Rohr entitled “Christian Conservatives seldom Conserve the Real Tradition” which seems to me to deserve to be widely circulated,...
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Awakening

James M. posted an article on - Feb 1, 2012, 10:12 am
At our last Leadership Council meeting the Council approved our participation in Awakening,a program being offered by our Region. A link with details about this program are available on our blog in a side window. There is room for 5 lay people and the pastor to be part of such a program. If you wou...
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Doctor Who: The Tenth Planet (and the First Regeneration)

James M. posted an article on - Jan 31, 2012, 3:25 pm
The episode “The Tenth Planet” marks an important turning point in the history of Doctor Who – and not only because it introduced the Cybermen who would feature perennially...
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Prayer Request

James M. posted an article on - Jan 31, 2012, 10:04 am
Prayer Request: Late yesterday afternoon, Phyllis Goodyear (ABC-IN/KY Region Ministry Staff) was involved in an automobile accident. Her injuries include six broken ribs and shattered tibia and fibula in her left leg. They were talking about transferring her from St. Francis to Methodist last night ...
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No Bible Story Left Untold?

James M. posted an article on - Jan 31, 2012, 9:09 am
Today in my freshman class, we’re beginning our discussion of Plato’s Republic. In Book II, there is a discussion of which Greek myths are appropriate to share with children. It always...
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Pete Enns, The Evolution of Adam: Part 1

James M. posted an article on - Jan 31, 2012, 7:20 am
The first chapter in Paul Enns’ book Evolution of Adam, The: What the Bible Does and Doesn’t Say about Human Origins focuses on the evidence and approaches that emerged in the 19th century,...
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Green Lantern

James M. posted an article on - Jan 30, 2012, 11:26 pm
It seems as though all the recent superhero movies begin with theology. Green Lantern is no exception: the opening monologue speaks of a race of immortals who oversee and work to protect the...
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The Future of the Impressive Personal Library

James M. posted an article on - Jan 30, 2012, 3:11 pm
HT Marc Cortez
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Jerusalem and Israel: An Aerial View

James M. posted an article on - Jan 30, 2012, 2:33 pm
This trailer for an upcoming IMAX movie about Jerusalem gives an aerial view of a number of major sites. I hope it will generate enthusiasm among students for the Israel trip I’ll be leading in...
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The Death of the Church

James M. posted an article on - Jan 30, 2012, 12:52 pm
Acts 5 tells an interesting story about Ananias and Sapphira. This is the couple who sold a piece of property and agreed to withhold some of the proceed when they brought it to the disciples for distribution. Ananias was challenged by Peter, who explained that Ananias had not lied to him, but to God...
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Twisting the Bible (and my Op-Ed) in the Interest of Young-Earth Creationism: A Response to a Response

James M. posted an article on - Jan 30, 2012, 11:25 am
There was a letter to the editor written by Tim Huggins, responding to my own op-ed piece in the Indianapolis Star recently. Below I will include the text of that letter, interspersed with comments...
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Pete Enns, The Evolution of Adam: Introduction

James M. posted an article on - Jan 30, 2012, 9:44 am
Exploring Our Matrix is one of several blogs that is participating in the Pete Enns blog tour, which means this week we will be reviewing Peter Enns, The Evolution of Adam: What the Bible Does and...
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Some Literalists Don't Give a Fig

James M. posted an article on - Jan 30, 2012, 9:04 am
HT Stuff Fundies Like
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Mythicism as Selectively Critical: The Example of Couchoud's Treatment of John the Baptist

James M. posted an article on - Jan 29, 2012, 8:10 pm
That mythicism is selectively critical, and selectively applies rigorous skepticism to sources, is easy to illustrate. Take  Couchoud’s treatment of John the Baptist as summarized in a recent...
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Example Of Not Repaying Evil With Evil

James M. posted an article on - Jan 26, 2012, 4:57 pm

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Glimpse Every Doctor Who Episode in Less than 10 Minutes

James M. posted an article on - Jan 26, 2012, 11:33 am
Here’s a video of clips from every single episode in the show’s history. Enjoy! HT IO9 and Galactica: Variants
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Jeff Carter Blogs About The Only True God

James M. posted an article on - Jan 25, 2012, 1:05 pm
Jeff Carter has been reading my book The Only True God and yesterday he blogged about it. Please click through and take a look at what he has to say. Thanks, Jeff, for blogging about the book!...
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Mythicism as Conspiracy Theory

James M. posted an article on - Jan 24, 2012, 2:37 pm
That’s the title of an article in Slate by Evgeny Morozov, and there are a couple of quotes in which a simple substitution can be made so that they apply equally well to creationists,...
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World Mission Conference returning to Greenlake, WI

James M. posted an article on - Jan 24, 2012, 1:29 pm
Starting this year, American Baptist International Ministries (IM) will begin celebrating 200 years of global mission. “This is a remarkable occasion for IM. Not many mission agencies have been able to reach this milestone. We are indeed grateful for God’s leading and guidance during our 200-ye...
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Church Professional Blurb Appeal for The Burial of Jesus

James M. posted an article on - Jan 24, 2012, 11:44 am
Yesterday I issued an appeal for scholars who are willing and able to provide a blurb about my book, written for a general audience, The Burial of Jesus: History and Faith, which will be coming out...
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Doctor Who: Frontios

James M. posted an article on - Jan 24, 2012, 9:17 am
The episode “Frontios” from the classic Doctor Who series is in many ways a forerunner of the episode “Utopia” in the David Tennant era. The Doctor and his companions end up...
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Help Needed With The Burial of Jesus

James M. posted an article on - Jan 23, 2012, 7:31 pm
I was tempted to say “the reburial of Jesus” or “second Burial of Jesus” in the title of this post, but having recently discussed the Talpiot tomb and related topics, I feared...
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Discussions of Evolution and Creationism Around the Blogosphere

James M. posted an article on - Jan 23, 2012, 12:22 pm
Here are some links to discussions around the blogosphere which connect with this blog in some way, shape or form. First, let me link to a post by Sam, a former student of mine, whose blog post...
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Covenant Sunday

James M. posted an article on - Jan 23, 2012, 10:19 am
This Sunday, January 29, we will be talking about what it means to be a covenant people. Based on the life of Abraham in Genesis 17 we will explore God's plan for Abraham and his family in our regular worship service at 10:45 a.m. Immediately following worship we will head downstairs for a Crooked ...
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Easier Jailbreak Now Available for iPad 2 and iPhone Using PC with Absinthe

James M. posted an article on - Jan 21, 2012, 7:17 pm
Lots of people who tried jailbreaking their iPad 2 or iPhone using the initial command line release experienced errors and problems. Thankfully, Absinthe for PC (think of it as Jailbreak 2.0, if you...
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Religion in Captain America: The First Avenger

James M. posted an article on - Jan 21, 2012, 10:35 am
I just watched Captain America: The First Avenger and found it interesting to see how they connected it with the themes of aliens visiting ancient Norway in Thor and the idea that super-advanced...
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Pete Enns on the Evolution of Adam

James M. posted an article on - Jan 19, 2012, 3:34 pm
I’ll be participating in the upcoming blog tour about Pete Enns’ book The Evolution of Adam: What the Bible Does and Doesn’t Say about Human Origins. As a foretaste, here is the...
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About Me

Clarence L. Goodwin Chair of New Testament Language and Literature at Butler University, Indianapolis.

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