As mentioned in a prior post, I had to be coaxed into going to the SBL/AAR annual convention, for the academic scene basically turns me off. I observe PhD’s in Biblical Studies not doing their job and reflexively think, What excuse in this modern day and age do you have for perpetuating groundless delusions among your students? I realize that this is not entirely fair, for some committed professors are not tied to a theological agenda. They are few, however, and their voices are drowned out by the hordes of propagandists who—you guessed it—annually populate the halls of SBL mega-conventions. Even fine professors, unfortunately, often have a laissez faire attitude and don’t realize the uniqueness that attaches to either their … Continue reading →

Today I sent in the draft for my upcoming talk in Chicago at the Society for Biblical Literature (SBL) Annual Meeting (Nov. 17-20). As it happens, the SBL program book also arrived in today’s mail—a 500 page doorstop that all attendees are supposed to carry around with them for four days. Right… The trip to Chicago will be a welcome break from my mundane existence in Eugene, Oregon. Thankfully, my costs have been covered by a generous benefactor. Otherwise, I could hardly afford the $1,000 tab. This will be my first SBL meeting—and probably my last. I was basically dragged kicking and screaming into giving this presentation—because, quite frankly, the academic scene turns me off. I have little interest in … Continue reading →