One of my proudest moments was when I got into 2 PhD programs in Continental Philosophy about 25 years ago, but decided not to go.  There are many reasons (the job market was bleak), but I think some of it had to do with one of Nietzsche’s aphorisms I mentioned last time. Nietzsche’s aphorism 399 … Happy Birthday: I’m 50!

Martin Heidegger was born on September 26, 1889, roughly 8–9 months after Friedrich Nietzsche’s mental collapse on January 3, 1889 (in Turin). Nietzsche remained incapacitated until his death in 1900.  Heidegger died on May 26, 1976, in Freiburg im Breisgau, West Germany, at the age of 86.  I was born about 2 months later on … Reflections on Turning 50 Tomorrow

Previously: New Insights into the Hebrew Bible Conference 2026 – First Lecture by Bart Ehrman, Genesis: An Introduction to the Key Scholarly Debates as a primer (2) New Insights into the Hebrew Bible Conference 2026 – Lectures by Dan McClellan and Ron Hendel (3) New Insights into the Hebrew Bible Conference 2026 – Lecture by … (Conclusion) New Insights into the Hebrew Bible Conference 2026 – Lectures by Joel Baden and John Collins and Esther Hamori

Binding of Isaac: Why Abraham’s Test Changed Everything By Dr. Kenton Sparks Throughout the ancient world, child sacrifice was a grim reality, a desperate transaction to bribe the gods for rain, victory, or protection. But in the shadow of Mount Moriah, the narrative shifted forever. The Akedah, often referred to as the “Binding of Isaac,” … (4) New Insights into the Hebrew Bible Conference 2026 – Lectures by Kenton Sparks and David Carr

Before “In the Beginning”: The Creation Myths That Shaped Genesis By Megan Lewis Where did the ideas in Genesis come from? Why do its creation stories sound strangely familiar—and familiar to what? In this lecture, Megan Lewis explores ancient Mesopotamian creation myths and places Genesis alongside stories like Atrahasis, Enuma Elish, and Epic of Gilgamesh. Rather … (3) New Insights into the Hebrew Bible Conference 2026 – Lecture by Megan Lewis

(1) Genesis at the Crossroads: Where Hebrew Bible Scholarship Has Been and Where It’s Going By Dan McClellan In this opening keynote, Dan McClellan takes a wide-angle look at Hebrew Bible scholarship through the lens of Genesis. He reflects on how the field has changed over the past century, why historical-critical study matters now more … (2) New Insights into the Hebrew Bible Conference 2026 – Lectures by Dan McClellan and Ron Hendel

Bart’s primer lecture was a brief overview of Genesis and some of the key scholarly debates like the various sources for the two creation myths and the historicity of the patriarchs I am especially looking forward to Kenton Sparks’ lecture on the binding of Isaac. My take is with the story of Isaac, we get … New Insights into the Hebrew Bible Conference 2026 – First Lecture by Bart Ehrman, Genesis: An Introduction to the Key Scholarly Debates as a primer

Last Time Secular Reflections: Why was Jesus Appearing to Everyone According to Paul? (2/2) Secular Reflections: Why was Jesus Appearing to Everyone According to Paul? (Conclusion) Secular Reflections: Why was Jesus Appearing to Everyone According to Paul? Jesus in History: Transition from New Testament Studies to Hebrew Bible Studies (Announcement) Now Finishing the Transition For … (2/2) Jesus in History: Transition from New Testament Studies to Hebrew Bible Studies (Laying to Rest the Christ Myth Theory)

Previously in This Series: Secular Reflections: Why was Jesus Appearing to Everyone According to Paul? (2/2) Secular Reflections: Why was Jesus Appearing to Everyone According to Paul? (Conclusion) Secular Reflections: Why was Jesus Appearing to Everyone According to Paul? Now, the Transition: Jesus was viewed as a messianic claimant who was specially chosen by God … Jesus in History: Transition from New Testament Studies to Hebrew Bible Studies (Announcement)

We’ve been thinking about the risen Jesus in Paul as ghost sightings. The concept of ghosts (phantasma in Greek) was well-known in the ancient world. In the gospels, when Jesus walked on water (Matthew 14:26) and when He appeared after His resurrection (Luke 24:37-39), the disciples initially panicked and thought they were seeing a ghost. … (Conclusion) Secular Reflections: Why was Jesus Appearing to Everyone According to Paul?