Oh Logos, You Do Tease Me So…

So when will the Qumran Biblical Scrolls module be out?????? Rick Brannan, spring forth.

An Addition

I’ve added Nathan Stitt’s blog to the roll because he has a nice header and his blog title is in Latin.  I know, those aren’t very good reasons for adding it- but there it is.

Oh- and he does have some interesting ideas too- so maybe that’s the real reason.

Inside the Numbers of the Talpiot Tomb

Mark Elliott and Kevin Kilty have written an important essay on the topic by that title and you can download it (in PDF) here. It’s very much worth a read- especially by those who continue to assert claims for the Tomb and its contents which simply cannot be sustained. With thanks to Mark for passing word along of it.

UPDATE: Randy Ingermanson has also recently done further work on the stats. You can read his study here. Thanks to Randy for the tip.

Being worse at math than Gerhard von Rad, all such arguments are outside my realm of experience and capability. So, I’ll just wait for the Second Coming and when Jesus doesn’t return to visit the family plot at Talpiot, I’ll know even more certainly that it’s not the right place.

Bauckham Colloquium Kicks off Sunday

The online colloquium with Richard Bauckham concerning his new book, The Testimony of the Beloved Disciple, on the Biblical Studies discussion list kicks off Sunday. If you would like to take part, you need simply sign up. For free. Unless, of course, you’d like to pay. In which case, just drop a comment and I’ll let you know how to contribute to the ‘Jim West Very Holy Ministry Fund To Expose Chris Tilling’.

Thank Heaven They Didn’t Have Guns: Australian Total Depravity

Rampaging schoolkids aren’t confined to the shores of the States, it seems. In Australia, a group of totally depraved hoodlums armed with bats and a sword and machete went on a rampage through a school. The Sydney Morning Herald reports

Five youths facing 20 charges each over the invasion of Merrylands High School yesterday will remain in custody after the matter was heard in court today. … Four face 20 charges and one faces 21 charges over yesterday’s attack in which students were injured during a rampage through the school. The charges include assault, malicious damage and affray.

Thankfully Australians aren’t as enthralled of guns as Americans, or the horror would have been catastrophic. [Thanks to Judy Redman for the tip].

Layoffs

One doesn’t often hear of ‘layoffs’ in academic circles- but economic downturn has stretched its stench encrusted, bile covered, filthy fingernailed claws into the throat of the Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond.

Ethics Daily notes

Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond will eliminate four of its 13 full-time faculty positions in a downsizing plan to be presented to trustees April 28. President Ron Crawford said the school is not yet ready to announce which professors are losing their jobs

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And

Crawford projected a $450,000 deficit in this year’s $3.6 million budget. A budget being developed for next year shows a deficit of $173,000, but Crawford said that doesn’t include a recent pledge from a donor offering up to $500,000 to match a gift from a church that has not previously contributed to BTSR or any increased giving from the 66 churches that contribute regularly. Crawford said in his statement the future of BTSR is “very bright,” but “the short term is worrisome.” He appealed to supporters to pray for, give to and encourage their churches to support the school, remember it in wills or estate documents and help the seminary move forward through moral support

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Hang in there, BTSR, and I’m hopeful along with you. [BTSR is a good school. Esteban should go there. It might help him mend his facial hair wearing Orthodox ways].