This was just published at Aeon Ideas. I paste a copy below. Not really. And not really. The truth is that there isn’t much, if any, historical accuracy in the early accounts in the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament. There are many reasons to doubt … [Continue reading] about Is the Bible True? Should It Matter?
Love Is As Strong As Death
Construction on campus caused me to detour the other day to an out of the way corner of the Green where a tower sits. I had, of course, seen this tower before, but never close up and its (very well-locked) … [Continue reading] about Love Is As Strong As Death
Yale’s Betrayal
According to recent news reports, Yale University gave its former president, Richard Levin, a bonus of $8.5 million after his retirement. Even in comparison to the stratospheric salaries and perks given to administrators in higher education, this … [Continue reading] about Yale’s Betrayal
How the Bible Became Holy Syllabus
In order to make paperback edition of the book (just released last month!) more attractive for course adaptation, I have prepared a modifiable (.docx) syllabus structured around the course. It can be downloaded here or from this page, which also … [Continue reading] about How the Bible Became Holy Syllabus
When the Center Does Not Hold
Centrifugal force, entropy, call it what you will, but life has a way of drifting. All those good habits and intentions slowly, subtly, but inexorably begin to crumble, like the masonry on my porch. Three times a year I usually find enough energy … [Continue reading] about When the Center Does Not Hold