Religion in the News

CNN and ABC News now have a significant web presence for reporting on religion and ethic.

A friend from many years ago, Richard Hughes, comments on the CNN belief blog on why Christian politicians should start acting Christian. Richard previously taught at Southwest Missouri State and Pepperdine University and is now Distinguished Professor of Religion at Messiah College.

Here also is the link to ABC News' Religion and Ethics site. Today's featured article has Sarah Coakley rethinking the sex crises in Catholicism and Anglicanism.

[D]mergent

Where can you find a variety of "youngish" Disciples of Christ blogging on a variety of spiritual matters? Why [D]mergent of course. See there statement of purpose below and then visit the site here.

[D]mergent was formed out of our experience with the emerging tribes of Generation X & the Millennial Generation. As we sought to minister in this emerging context we became aware of the need to step out of the box and witness the Spirit moving in nontraditional spaces. When Disciples World ceased we thought that we might be able to gather together and reach out to the saints in an equally nontraditional manner. . . We hope to be a space where we as a collective, as a people may gather and equip each other as we vision together and don our prophetic imagination to be a people of God that unites beyond human division and works as one people to love those that are difficult to love, restore the radical and transformative nature of the gospel message, and offer a place for yesterdays legacy to nurture the reframing of what “church” is in these emerging generations.

Larry Hurtado's Blog

I'm a bit behind with this news, having just finished a week of vacation, but New Testament scholar Larry Hurtado has just started blogging. To have another first-class New Testament scholar beginning to blog regularly is cause for celebration. See his new site here.

Also take note of the essays tab and for fun take a look at Dr. Hurtado's publication list.

A Biblical Scholar's First Impressions of Israel

Mark Goodacre, Duke Professor and first-time visitor, begins a series on his impressions of Israel. His initial post finds Mark in Tel Aviv. Follow along on his journey starting here.

Revelation at Bibledex

The folks at Bibledex now have video introductions to all the books of the New Testament. Here are their insights on the Book of Revelation. If you're interested in this problematic text, spend a few minutes with our British friends. But be warned. You'll meet the "beast" and learn the meaning of "666."

Black & White Night

One of my all-time favorite CDs is from 1987, Roy Orbison's Black & White Night.

This CD is just plain FUN! Roy's band includes Tom Waits on piano and a few guitar players like Bruce Springsteen Jackson Browne, Elvis Costello, and T Bone Burnett. His back up girl singers number k. d. lang, Bonnie Raitt, and Jennifer Warnes.

Check it out, Dream Baby, and make my dreams come true.

James McGrath - Exploring Our Matrix

One of the most popular biblioblogs, and for good reason, is James McGrath's Exploring Our Matrix. James is Associate Professor of Religion and Clarence L. Goodwin Chair in New Testament Language and Literature at Butler University, Indianapolis, Indiana.

James consistently offers up thoughtful posts on a variety of subjects related to our understanding or the New Testament. As a sampler, here is his review of John Dominic Crossan's chapter in The Historical Jesus: Five Views. Bookmark Exploring Our Matrix and check in with James on a regular basis