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Showing posts from July, 2024

What is Biblical Criticism? Revisiting Barton's Ten Theses

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The methodologies and approaches that constitute biblical studies have always been a contentious topic. Relationships between language, literature, history, and faith are all elements that present challenging questions for how biblical critics go about their business as academics. What even is biblical criticism and why does/should it exist? These sorts of questions cause problems for those in the lay arena to understand what our discipline is comprised of and what its end goals are.  Take, for example, an amateur documentary from about a decade ago entitled "What's the Big Deal About the KJV?"  created by American pastor Sam Gipp. An ardent King-James-Onlyist, Gipp disparages the "critical text" of the New Testament, that which is decided upon by scholars to be the best and most reliable of the NT manuscripts. He says, with great confidence, " if you think about that, just the fact that it's 'critical' should tell you there's a problem &quo

My Thoughts on a Crazy UK General Election

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Our 2024 general election has come to an end with some staggering outcomes, though not unanticipated ones. Seats have been lost and gained by unexpected parties and our future remains somewhat hazy despite the changes. Though I often refrain from politics on this blog (I nevertheless anticipate there will be more to come from here on out), there is much I wish to say about these results that we are likely to discuss for decades to come. Elements of separatism and ideology will be discussed in conjunction with my summary of the wildest results. I hope this brief post will be of interest to my readers from across the world and will mark a turning point in our country. That's Sir Prime Minister to You The big story of this election was, of course, Labour's insurmountable landslide, securing over 400 seats in their best result since 1997. Also comparable to their 1997 defeat, the Conservatives lost nearly 250 seats —a staggering blow, though not a surprising one. Although the  exp