Philip Davies’ Forthcoming Volume… Any Time Now…

On the Origins of Judaism, is available from Amazon for $95. Amazon doesn’t mention, though, that a paperback edition is available for $30 directly from Equinox. Here’s the blurb:

This book covers several basic issues in the formation of early Judaism. It explores the identity of those who produced and canonized the Hebrew Bible and subsequently shaped its interpretation, re-examines the significance and impact of Second Isaiah, and the books of Ezra and Nehemiah, traces the root of Jewish apocalyptic literature, and the possible origins of the exodus story. Two final chapters consider the mechanics of table fellowship in diaspora Judaism and consider the ethical systems of the Hebrew Bible and of the Athenian tragedians in the light of their respective social and political structures. Some of these essays have previously appeared but all have been revised

.

Neat huh? Eisenbrauns have it too (or has it too, for our American friends), at the same price as Equinox direct.

Geoff Pound On Facebook

Geoff has written an insightful expose of Facebook’s rise and decline. If you’re a Facebook user or have ever wondered what it’s about, Geoff’s essay offers some clues.

And speaking of Geoff, he’s the head honcho of Theologians Without Borders (with which Tim Bulkeley is associated).  If you’re not familiar with it- Geoff has written just this month in the Baptist Studies Bulletin an explanation.

If it looks like a program you or someone you know might find of interest, contact Geoff on the webpage above.

Will This Bring Peace?

I don’t see how it could. I don’t see how it can provoke anything but further resentment and I don’t think it honors the government of Israel, which promised not to do exactly this. When will the Palestinians be free and independent in their own land if incursions like this into the very heart of their territories are allowed, promoted, and financed by the government of Israel? As always it seems in the Mid-East, one step forward leads to five steps back.

Students of Baptist History

Baptist History and Heritage Student Scholarship Program

In 2005, the Baptist History and Heritage Society adopted Special Plans for 2006-2009. These plans included awarding a $1,000 scholarship in 2008 and 2009 “to a student doing research in Baptist studies.”

GUIDELINES

Purpose: The purpose of this scholarship program is to encourage students to engage in creative and excellent research and writing in Baptist historical studies.

Eligibility: All students officially enrolled in a college, university, divinity school, seminary, or school of theology are eligible provided that they are currently engaged in “doing research in Baptist studies,” preferably Baptist historical studies.

Application and Requirements for Scholarship: Each student interested in applying for the scholarship must send a letter of application to: Student Scholarship Application, Baptist History and Heritage Society, 3001 Mercer University Drive, Atlanta, GA 30518. This letter must be postmarked by May 1 of each year. In the letter (or attached to it) the student needs to provide the following information:

1. Name, address, telephone number, and e-mail
2. Name of the school, course, and professor in which the student is currently engaged in doing research in Baptist historical studies
3. A 250-word description of the research project, whether it be a paper, thesis, or dissertation
4. The student’s written commitment to prepare and submit to the Baptist History and Heritage Society, within one year of completing the research, a 3,500-word article for consideration for publication in the Society’s journal, Baptist History and Heritage, and/or for placement on the Society’s website.
5. The student’s application must include an endorsement letter from the student’s professor supporting both the student and the research project being conducted by the student.

Selection Process: All scholarship applications received by the deadline of May 1, 2008 will be evaluated by the Society staff.

Nature of the Scholarship: The scholarship will consist of a check for $1,000 and will be made out directly to the student.

Presentation: The scholarship will be presented by the Society’s president during the Awards Luncheon of the Society’s annual meeting. The Society will provide a complimentary registration for the student to attend the meeting, but the student will pay his/her own travel expenses.

Pam Durso
Associate Executive Director
Baptist History and Heritage Society
3001 Mercer University Drive
Atlanta, GA 30341
770-457-5540

Oh Heavens, Another ‘Talpiot Tomb’ in France

Antonio Lombatti points out a nifty little press release announcing that

An underground tomb in the mountains of the Languedoc region of southwest France has been discovered, which may help substantiate the existence of a Jesus Christ and Mary Magdalene bloodline. Chronicled in the new documentary BLOODLINE, in select theaters May 9, the rare find will be further examined at a Monday, May 5 news conference in New York City.

Will the same people be in New York announcing this as were in New York announcing the other? No matter- either way, it’s more of the same old misuse of archaeology in the name of the quest for the historical Jesus.

Just A Reminder…

If you’re not reading the Bible in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek, you’re just reading a commentary: for every translation is precisely that- a commentary…  Just a reminder.

Oh Happy Day!

It has arrived via FedEx…

When biblioblogs are as obsolete as 8 track; and when the names of Hagee and Dever and Longman and Wright have long mouldered in the dank dampness of worm eaten decay, the name of Zwingli will still be spoken with love and affection by all good people of good sense.

Channon Christian’s Parents

The parents of murder victim Channon Christian have spoken with the local media after the conclusion of the trial of Eric Boyd, conspirator after the fact.

I realize that folk outside the area might not know of the facts of this case or care very much about it.  But I think it an important case for many reasons. First, it illustrates what ‘people’ are capable of doing to others simply for the sake of ‘things’. The gang of four still awaiting trial were involved in carjacking, kidnapping, torture, and murder just because they wanted something. Second, it sheds light on a slice of our society that we don’t often think of: our ever growing sense of entitlement. Third, it opens up an important and hardly ever spoken reality; i.e., that most violent crimes are committed by African Americans. Why is this so? The racist will respond that it’s because of ethnicity- but I think there’s something else at work that needs to be examined, discussed, and resolved.

Finally, this is an important story because too few theologians have said anything about it. If theologians aren’t engaged in a direct way with the issues facing modern humanity and instead only keep their noses buried in old books while speaking only to others in ivory towers, they are useless and their authentic reason for being is denied.

Something has died in our society and it isn’t just two young people on a date or 33 college students in Virginia or a schoolhouse of Amish children. Theologians should be on the front line of the investigation as to what has brought about this societal decay.