Christmyrighteousness
Just another WordPress.com weblogArchive for April 10, 2008
Ken Miller on the Scientific Process
Darron suggested that I should listen to Ken Miller’s talk on what so-called the “scientific process.” Miller is a christian and an evolutionary Biologist who rejects the Intelligent Design (ID )theory. Here’s what he had to say:
Graeco-Roman sources for NT Students
Mike posted a “reading list” on (or about) various Graeco-Roman literatures that he thinks will be useful for students of the NT, especially, those who want to be acquainted with the world and society which gave birth to our New Testament canon. Here’s the list:
1. Read Menahem Stern on Greek and Latin Authors and Jews and Judaism which is a great resource for what pagan authors thought of Jews.
2. Read lots of the articles out of Dictionary of New Testament Background edited by Evans and Porter.
3. Read Homer which was the “Bible” of Hellenism.
4. Read some histories like Herodotus, Suetonius, Tacitus.
5. Read at least one of the rhetorical handbooks by Quintillian or Aristotle.
6. When it comes to Paul read the Hellenistic Commentary on the New Testament by Borging, Berger, and Colpe (I imagine Helmut Koester’s Cities of Paul and Paul and His World would be also helpful).
7. Read or eat Loeb Classical Library volumes for breakfast.
8. Read or beg, borrow, or acquire as many volumes of New Documents Illustrating Early Christianity as you can legally acquire.
9. Read or at least peruse David deSilva’s Honor, Patronage, Kinship & Purity: Unlocking New Testament Culture.
10. Although I haven’t read it, The Greco-Roman World of the New Testament Era: Exploring the Background of Early Christianity by James S. Jeffery looks readable and informative.
11. Try read as much papyri (Greek magical or Oxyrhynchus) and archaeological stuff as you can find, esp. anything by Johnathan L. Reed and more recently John McRae’s book on archaeology looks good too.
12. Get your church, seminary, or university to send you on a study trip to Greece and Turkey .
The Testimony of the Beloved Disciple: Bauckahm and Lüdemann Forum
Today I begin my first reading of Bauckham’s “The Testimony of the Beloved Disciple” as part of a coming review as well as a projected conversation between Bauckahm and Lüdemann. According to Dr. West, the forum is scheduled for Sunday, April 13. (read it here Bauckham Colloquium Kicks off Sunday). Million thanks to Caitlin Mackenzie at Baker Academic for sending me a review copy.
Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed
At Big Science Academy we take our motto seriously: “No Intelligence Allowed.”
And this year, we are proud to report that in every subject but Science, students and faculty are free to challenge ideas, and seek truth wherever it may lead.But Science is different. In Science, there is no room for dissent, for dissent is dangerous. That is why we at Big Science simply refuse to allow it. Like dancing, “dissent” can lead to other things.
As Class President Richard Dawkins put it so well: “Shut up!”
As you know…last year we had the misfortune of “presupposition of design” rearing its ugly head, with several students challenging Neo-Darwinian materialism, and arguing incessantly for the right to examine Intelligent Design.
They were all Expelled, of course – but still: it just goes to show where academic freedom can lead, if not shut down immediately!
Sincerely,
Charles Darwin
Principal, President, Admissions and Diversity Affairs Officer,
Big Science Academy “No Intelligence Allowed”
The movie is scheduled to be released next Friday, April 18.
Christmyrighteousness 