I had the good fortune of recently attending "The Enoch Seminar," which this year was devoted to study of the books of 2 Baruch and 4 Ezra. These two books are both thought to originate in first or second century Palestine, written in Hebrew by … [Continue reading] about Apocalypse, One of These Days
Through the Lens of "Judeo-Christian"
The phrase "Judeo-Christian" - as in, "America is based on Judeo-Christian values" - is a strange beast. Given the not insignificant and often fatal tension between Jews and Christians over 2,000 years over matters of doctrine and belief, what does … [Continue reading] about Through the Lens of "Judeo-Christian"
gninoitseuQ "belief"
A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of attending a workshop at Yale University on the term "belief". The focus was on whether, how, and why "belief" remains a useful category for discussing and explaining religion today. The day of conversation was … [Continue reading] about gninoitseuQ "belief"
To Flog or not to Flog?
In an essay discussing his new book, In Defense of Flogging, Peter Moskos wants to begin a conversation. Prisons, we all know, don’t work as well as we would all like. Around .5% of all Americans are currently in prison, an extraordinary number … [Continue reading] about To Flog or not to Flog?
The Pope, the Jews, and the Vatican Museums
My essay on "The Pope, the Jews, and the Vatican Museums," was just posted online at "The Forward," and will appear in the next print edition. … [Continue reading] about The Pope, the Jews, and the Vatican Museums