Musings on biblical studies, politics, religion, ethics, human nature, tidbits from science
A change of pace here. After an online chat this morning I got to thinking of old thoughts of my conversion from Christianity to atheism. How quaint and archaic to see in this century otherwise intelligent and mature people debating whether the Bible supports women’s rights, gay rights, civil disobedience, war or pacificism, genetic engineering, … Continue reading “Why argue over the meaning of the Bible?”
From http://zochrot.org/en A Public hearing at Zochrot, a testimony given by Amnon Neauman, a 1948 Palmach soldier describing the occupation of the Negev villages. Initiated and organized by Amir Hallel. The testimony was video-recorded by Lia Tarachansky. Miri Barak prepared the transcription. Eitan Bronstein edited, summarized, and added footnotes. Translated to English by Asaf Kedar. … Continue reading “Lest we forget never know: The Nakba”
Richard Carrier is well known for his advocacy of the use of the Bayes’ theorem in historical Jesus studies. (Find the link to Bayes’ Theorem for Beginners here or go direct to the pdf article here.) Carrier has enumerated its advantages, and I highlight the ones that are my own personal favourites (all quotations are … Continue reading “Bayes’ theorem and the Jesus mythicism-historicity conflict”
This post completes a series on beliefs about demons that were widespread in philosophical thought at the time of the rise and early growth of Christianity. The previous two posts: Ancient beliefs about heavenly realms, demons and the end of the world Demons 101 – Early Christianity’s Middle Platonic background It seems strange to think … Continue reading “Demonology: the basics of Middle Platonic beliefs as a background to early Christianity”
I can understand people being shocked by some of Peter Singer‘s conclusions, but I am a little surprised that certain academics (professional thinkers) have reacted so strongly against his views. Many critics strike me as falling into the logical fallacy of arguing from adverse consequences. (The argument is false because I don’t like its conclusion.) … Continue reading “What is wrong with Peter Singer’s ethical views?”
One still reads enlightened (or benighted) twenty-first century scholars asserting that there can be no purpose in life, no standard for morality, if we are “merely nothing more” than a set of chemicals and our minds the product of “nothing more than electro-chemical reactions”. By couching the argument in the rhetoric of “merely” or “nothing … Continue reading “If we are “merely” a bunch of chemicals . . .”
The creation and Adam and Eve narratives are often said to be nice moral tales that convey spiritual truths. Being myth does not disqualify them from containing meaningful messages for modern readers. So at wedding ceremonies and in Sunday school classes bible-believers are regaled with the “beautiful story” of the God practising a bit of … Continue reading “Which “Bone” Was Eve Made From?”
There was an interesting article in the Scandinavian Journal of the Old Testament in 2007 by Lukas Niesiolowski-Spano (LN-S) of Warsaw University titled “Primeval History in the Persian Period?” (SJOT, Vol.21, no. 12, 106-126, 2007). The paper was first presented at the Seminar of Historical Methodology in Groningen, The Netherlands, 2004. The Genesis creation stories … Continue reading “Genesis myths inspired by Plato?”
I have begun to ready my second Chris Hedges book, this one, I Don’t Believe in Atheists, and have even more deeply mixed feelings about it than I had for American Fascists. It was not what I expected. I had expected a more philosophical treatise about atheism per se, but it’s nothing like that. I … Continue reading “Why it would be a good thing to humanize Hitler”
When reading the New Testament I like being able to relate its thoughts and images with thoughts and images in the contemporary literature of the non-biblical world. It gives the text I’m reading a bit of “body”, helping me see it as part of a culture now lost to us. Establishing relationships like that has … Continue reading “Ancient beliefs about heavenly realms, demons and the end of the world”
My previous post cited a first century mockery of the resurrection theme found in Plutarch’s Moralia. The section is from The Cleverness of Animals, 973-974. The full text is online here. Still, I believe that I should not pass over one example at least of a dog’s learning, of which I myself was a spectator … Continue reading “Dog resurrection”
For the sake of completion to my recent posts on empty tombs and crucifixions being popular stuff of ancient fiction I should add the most well-known one here, the section from the first century Satyricon by Petronius. (Those recent posts are Popular novels and the gospel narratives and Another Empty Tomb Tale.) The date Michael … Continue reading “Resurrection reversal”
The simple answer is “Fear”. Creationist arguments are very often bracketed with gospel messages, and ever since Darwin’s day the lines have been starkly drawn. Religious fundamentalists fear that “belief in” evolution leads to a rejection of God, a rejection of godly values, a loss of any higher meaning or purpose for human existence, an ethic of … Continue reading “Why people do not accept evolution”
More notes from Peter Singer’s The President of Good and Evil: The Ethics of George W. Bush (pp. 45-53) Is an embryo human life and therefore something precious to be protected? Yes, an embryo formed from the sperm and egg of human beings is certainly human life. It is of the species Homo Sapiens and … Continue reading “Is an embryo human life and therefore something precious to be protected?”