James F. McGrath (ReligionProf)
@religionprof.bsky.social
Clarence L. Goodwin Chair in New Testament Language and Literature at Butler University in Indianapolis
James Frank McGrath is an American scholar of religion. He is the Clarence L. Goodwin Chair in New Testament Language and Literature at Butler University. He is known for his work on Early Christianity, Mandaeism, criticism of the Christ myth theory, and the analysis of religion in science fiction. .. more
History
40%
Philosophy
35%
Women have always read history that centers men. It is time for men to read history that centers women.
I'm done pulling my punches. It is time for you to meet Milburga.
bethallisonbarr.substack.com
Women have always read history that centers men. It is time for men to read history that centers women. bethallisonbarr.substack.com/p/women-have...
South Park Writer Snagged 'Trump-Kennedy Center' Web Domains Months Ago
The writer has made a habit of acquiring official-sounding domains for satirical purposes.
gizmodo.com
South Park Writer Snagged ‘Trump-Kennedy Center’ Web Domains Months Ago gizmodo.com/south-park-w...
Their lack of emphasis on their own religion reflects what their religion teaches about empathy and the separation of church and state. It thus indicates profound religious conviction, not a lack thereof.
White Christian clergy running for Congress as Democrats face skeptics in their own party
(RNS) — At least six white clergy and one seminarian — some from evangelical Christian backgrounds and others from mainline Protestant denominations — have declared to run as Democrats in 2026.
religionnews.com
The Democratic party has always had an abundance of people of faith, even if few ordained white ones. For the most part they reject Christian nationalism and believe they should represent everyone and not just those like them.
religionnews.com/2025/12/15/w...
religionnews.com/2025/12/15/w...
‘Yes’ to God, but ‘no’ to church – what religious change looks like for many Latin Americans
Protestant churches’ growth in Latin America gets lots of attention, but another important shift is happening, too: people leaving organized religion altogether.
theconversation.com
‘Yes’ to God, but ‘no’ to church – what religious change looks like for many Latin Americans
theconversation.com/yes-to-god-b...
theconversation.com/yes-to-god-b...
Faith-based entertainment sees a revival in Hollywood. Defining what it is can be a challenge
Faith-based films are gaining traction in Hollywood, with recent successes sparking renewed interest.
apnews.com
“There has been a revival, a revolution of sorts, of spirituality and faith content,” proclaimed Traci Blackwell, head of targeted content for Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios, at a recent Variety event in Beverly Hills for faith and spirituality in entertainment.
apnews.com/article/fait...
apnews.com/article/fait...
The Khalidi Library: The Preservation of Palestinian History in Jerusalem
Established in 1900, the Khalidi Library was the first Arab public library formed by a private initiative in Palestine.
www.jerusalemstory.com
The Khalidi Library: The Preservation of Palestinian History in Jerusalem
www.jerusalemstory.com/en/blog/khal...
www.jerusalemstory.com/en/blog/khal...
Ancient Pottery Shows Humans Were Doing Math 3,000 Years Before Numbers Existed
Ancient pottery reveals early farmers were using math thousands of years before numbers, embedding geometry and patterns into everyday art.
thedebrief.org
The claim that math preceded numbers seems dubious to me. There were undoubtedly terms for numbers before people developed writing to represent them, just as was true of words and objects.
thedebrief.org/ancient-pott...
thedebrief.org/ancient-pott...
Matthew’s echoes of older stories (Matthew 2:13-23)
When the holy innocents text makes reference to Rachel, it seems worth remembering her...
www.christiancentury.org
Matthew’s echoes of older stories (Matthew 2:13-23) | The Christian Century
When Was Jesus Born?
When was Jesus born, exactly? The precise date, including the year, is a mystery. The standard date of AD 1 was determined by a 6th century monk named
www.patheos.com
When Was Jesus Born?
Barbara O'Brien explores why we celebrate Christmas when we do, and what the Gospels indicate.
Barbara O'Brien explores why we celebrate Christmas when we do, and what the Gospels indicate.
When Empire Strikes Back: Herod, the Magi, and Holy Resistance
Watch Diana Butler Bass and Tripp Fuller get nerdy about Matthew!
processthis.substack.com
When Empire Strikes Back: Herod, the Magi, and Holy Resistance
20 classes of facts which show that the NT authors are unitarian – Trinities
James White responds to the Challenge, sort of
trinities.org
Dale Tuggy highlights (among other things) that “Jesus and the apostles endorse core Jewish monotheism (e.g., Mark 12:28–34) without any correction or clarification about multiple divine persons.”
Why Dickens' True Christmas Lesson Is Community, Not Charity
Ebenezer Scrooge’s infamous “decrease the surplus population” finds a chilling echo on Fox & Friends. This Christmas, rediscover Dickens’ real message: redemption lies not in charity, but in true…
www.patheos.com
Why Dickens’ True Christmas Lesson Is Community, Not Charity
The Rest of the Christmas Story by Beth Bartlett
Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus Every day another story of ICE agents randomly arresting and detaining immigrants – these are the chronicles of these times in the US. A few days ago, the news broke of …
feminismandreligion.com
‘And so, while it embraces Christian Nationalism, the Trump administration is acting more like the king who tried to kill Jesus than Jesus who welcomed the stranger, the poor, the women, the dispossessed.’
The Bible says little about Jesus’ childhood – but that didn’t stop medieval Christians from enjoying tales of him as holy ‘rascal’
Legends about Jesus’ early years that circulated in medieval Europe often drew on apocryphal texts.
theconversation.com
The Bible says little about Jesus’ childhood – but that didn’t stop medieval Christians from enjoying tales of him as holy ‘rascal’
Christ among refugees and migrants at Christmas, part 3: the
The piece critiques contemporary church responses to Christmas, politics, and immigration. It argues that Archbishop-designate Sarah Mullally’s appeal to Jesus as refugee and servant is clichéd and…
www.postost.net
Christ among refugees and migrants at Christmas, part 3:
O Little Town of Bethlehem?
The traditional view of Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus, is that it was a quiet country village at the time of the Nativity. Although much of its archaeology is hidden under the modern city, there...
www.biblicalarchaeology.org
O ‘In her article “Not So Little Town of Bethlehem,” published in the Winter 2025 issue of Biblical Archaeology Review, Joan E. Taylor traces the town’s history from the Iron Age through the time of Jesus…’
Born out of national division, ‘O Little Town of Bethlehem’ is a balm for Christmas
Editor’s Note: Previously published on Religion News Service on December 17, 2025. A hymnal opened to “O Little Town of Bethlehem.” (Photo courtesy of Pexels/Creative Commons) (RNS) — One Sunday…
redletterchristians.org
O Little Town of Bethlehem and national divisions
A Historical, “Behind the Scenes” Look Beyond “Silent Night” and Christmas Mythology
I was pleased to “pinch hit” for Bart Ehrman today on his popular Youtube podcast, “Misquoting Jesus,” just in time for the big holiday this week. I know I am mostly preachi…
jamestabor.com
A Historical, “Behind the Scenes” Look Beyond “Silent Night” and Christmas Mythology – TaborBlog
Reposted by Joan E. Taylor
What world was Jesus born into? A historian describes the turbulent times of the real nativity
The modern Christmas themes of peace and joy were in short supply amid the ‘dislocation and danger’ of ancient Judea – as they are in today’s fractured world too.
theconversation.com
What world was Jesus born into? A historian describes the turbulent times of the real nativity
We know about Jesus as a baby, and as a man. But what kind of child was he?
While there are many ancient texts focusing on Jesus as a baby and as a man, much less is known about him as a child. Here’s what some of them tell us.
theconversation.com
Robyn Whitaker with thoughts on a topic that is relevant not just at Christmas, because it impacts how people think about Jesus more generally.
In the Galilee hills, Christmas celebrations revive a depopulated Palestinian village
After a two-year absence, displaced residents and their descendants returned to Bir'im — part of efforts since 1948 to keep the community alive.
www.972mag.com
In the Galilee hills, Christmas celebrations revive a depopulated Palestinian village