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Some questions begin in Scripture, others begin with a novel, a news story, a movie, or an unexpected conversation. This blog follows curiosity wherever it leads—with intellectual rigor, ethical reflection, and a healthy respect for complexity.
Jump directly to Seeking Understanding of Violence in the Bible Dr. Erica Mongé-Greer interviews Rev. Dr. Helen Paynter, Director for the Centre for the Study of Bible and Violence Bristol, about her research that seeks an understanding of violence in the Bible. Rev. Dr. Helen Paynter founded the Centre for the Study of Bible and Violence…
Jump directly to Theological Ethics of Sexbots Podcast In an age of quick-paced technological developments, it’s no surprise we are seeing tv-series and films address ethical issues surrounding human interaction with robots. Even though Artificial Intelligence (AI) still has a ways to go before a synthetic being may be able to interact fully and free…
Read or Listen Oxford Interfaith Forum launched a Psalms reading group to explore the Psalter from multifaith and multidisciplinary perspectives. Rev. Dr. John Goldingay, David Allen Hubbard Professor Emeritus at Fuller Theological Seminary, opened the inaugural session with a commentary on Psalm 1. Introduction to Psalm 1 Psalm 1 introduces the Psalter with a reminder…
Oxford Interfaith Forum presents a series of discussions on biblical topics from multifaith and multidisciplinary approaches. This series is organized by the Oxford Interfaith Forum, co-hosted by the Centre for Muslim-Christian Studies: The Creation Story – 14 September 2021, 7:30pm (BST) Welcome address: Lord Alderdice, Patron of Oxford Interfaith Forum.Chair: Revd Nevsky Everett, Chaplain of Keble College,…
This month, I attended a virtual conference on Christianity & Science Fiction. The conference featured academic presentations on religious connections in science fiction literature. The two-session forum was hosted by the Michigan Center for Early Christian Studies in partnership with the Department of Middle East Studies (University of Michigan). Religion in science fiction is a…
Read or Listen [SPOILERS WARNING: Do I really have to say this? It’s a review! Read ahead at your own risk.] Several years ago I read The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova as a commuter novel. Then, this past summer, I picked up a used copy of the same book at a charming bookstore in South…
Read or Listen Introduction to the Seminar Oxford Interfaith Forum presents Interfaith Discussion Series intended to promote interreligious dialogue between scholars of different faiths that draw from similar scripture traditions. This session, entitled “Discussions on Abraham and His Children,” is meant to focus on shared narratives of tradition about the Religious Patriarch Abraham. The session…
So quickly after Rosh HaShanah, the New Year, and in the midst of starting the school year with all its schedule changes and additional activities, we also came to the threshold of Sukkoth. We built a Sukkah and prepared our feast. We joined one another for dinner out of doors. I must admit that Sukkoth…
This blog post is a little bit overdue since we celebrated the Hebrew calendar New Year last week. But, it comes instead on the eve of Yom Kippur, which marks a day of fasting to purify oneself for the coming year. One of the most interesting things about this year, Hebrew Year 5782, is a…
Read or Listen In the third book of the Narnia chronicles, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, we get a new human character, Eustice. And Eustice lacks the creative education to keep up with the wonder of Narnia. His obsession is with science and observation rather than with fantasy. Eustace criticizes Edmond and Lucy for…