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Evangelical

2026-07-02T11:29:17-04:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

An Intracoastal Adventure

Last updated on: July 2, 2026 at 11:29 am By Ben Witherington

My sister Laura arranged for us to take a short cruise on a 42 foot sloop called the Shamrock, captain by Jimmy who looks an awful lot like the captain on the famous old TV show Gilligan’s Island. While it was not quite a three hour cruise as the theme song goes it was a fun adventure. The intracostal waterway is a waterway up and down the East coast that parallels the ocean but is inside the barrier islands on... Read more

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We did not make it to Gilligan's island

2026-06-16T09:58:51-04:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Bird and Wright on Christian Nationalism

Last updated on: June 16, 2026 at 9:58 am By Ben Witherington

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2026-06-16T09:48:58-04:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

The Letter of Diognetus and so-called Christian nationalism

Last updated on: June 16, 2026 at 9:48 am By Ben Witherington

Chapter Five of the 2nd century Letter of Diognetus to a ‘disciple’ has some strong words of correction for those who are advocates of ‘Christian nationalism’ particularly in its American form. First, I will provide the full text of the relevant discussion, and then provide some commentary. “For the Christians are distinguished from other men neither by country, nor language, nor the customs which they observe. For they neither inhabit cities of their own, nor employ a peculiar form of... Read more

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Idolatry comes in many forms

2026-05-24T14:30:25-04:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Talarico on Christian Nationalism

Last updated on: May 24, 2026 at 2:30 pm By Ben Witherington

Dear James: I’ve been listening to you for a while, and have been encouraged by various of the things you have said and done, but also discouraged by other things you’ve said. I’ve even lectured at the Presbyterian seminary you have attended, and went to Carolina with my old friend Andy Dearman, who taught there for years. He ended up being an OT seminary professor, and me a NT seminary professor, both under the considerable guidance and encouragement... Read more

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Is Christian nationalism an oxymoron?

2026-06-01T14:58:54-04:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Arguing about Church Roles Based on Nouns’ Genders?

Last updated on: June 1, 2026 at 2:58 pm By Ben Witherington

This brief posts is about the absurdity of arguing about which gender can do what roles in the church based on the gender of particular nouns. In the first place languages which have gender specific nouns are quite unlike English in this regard. It is a mistake to judge other languages based on the normal practices in English. For example, the Greek word for deacon is ‘diakonos’ and it can also be used more broadly to a person who serves or... Read more

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When the gender arguments get silly

2026-05-18T06:26:05-04:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

You Mean the Context Matters when you Study the Bible?

Last updated on: May 18, 2026 at 6:26 am By Ben Witherington

Education and Religion

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A text without a context is just a pretext

for whatever you want it to mean

2026-05-19T13:49:04-04:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

The Sheep Detectives—a Surprising Delight

Last updated on: May 19, 2026 at 1:49 pm By Ben Witherington

Based on the novel ‘3 Bags Full’, the runaway best movie of any sort so far this year is the Sheep Detectives. It’s appropriate for families, and really for young and old of all ages. Hugh Jackman plays a shepherd, with a field full of interesting sheep, all of whom he has named and to whom he reads murder mysteries. And then mysteriously, George is found dead in his sheep pasture, and this is when some of the sheep... Read more

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Are you feeling sheepish? Has anyone fleeced you or pulled the wool over your eyes recently?

2026-05-16T10:32:52-04:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Narcissus Redivivus

Last updated on: May 16, 2026 at 10:32 am By Ben Witherington

Fame is a harlot Dressed for success The more gaudy the better But sadly, more is less! You wanted that attention Sold your soul for applause, Adoration, and devotion A rebel with no cause. Narcissus saw himself Reflected in the pool Ignored the imperfections Chose to play the fool. Fans are not family They’re there when you do well But when you fail or fall They let you go to hell. If you fall in... Read more

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Mirror

mirror on the wall

2026-05-15T17:13:31-04:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Michael– Part One

Last updated on: May 15, 2026 at 5:13 pm By Ben Witherington

There were many who were skeptical about a movie like this being a success, not least because who in the world could play the King of Pop, as he was called. As it turns out, they didn’t have to look far— Michael’s nephew both looks like and has a voice like Michael Jackson. Here is the report from Today and the Hollywood Reporter on what happened with the singing. Jaafar Jackson, Michael Jackson’s nephew, trained extensively to embody his uncle’s voice, dance, and mannerisms for the 2026 film “Michael”. During the performances, he sang live into the microphone over Michael’s original tracks, creating a blend of his vocals and Michael’s for authenticity. In some scenes, particularly a cappella studio sessions, only Jaafar’s voice is heard, showcasing his own singing talent. Today+4 The filmmakers used a sophisticated audio process to ensure the singing sounded like Michael Jackson, blending Jaafar’s live vocals with Michael’s studio recordings when necessary. This approach allowed Jaafar to perform scats, ad-libs, and other vocal nuances that were not present in Michael’s original recordings, giving the film a dynamic and authentic feel. For younger Michael Jackson scenes, Juliano Valdi also performed live vocals, which were similarly blended with Michael’s recordings. The Hollywood Reporter+1 Jaafar’s preparation involved years of training, including practicing Michael’s pitch, cadence, and tone, as well as dancing for hours to replicate his uncle’s iconic moves. His performances were praised by audiences and family members alike, with his grandmother Katherine Jackson noting that he embodied Michael so convincingly that she sometimes could not tell the difference. Today+1 In summary, Jaafar Jackson did sing in the film, both in combination with Michael Jackson’s original voice and independently in certain sequences, making his portrayal a mix of homage and personal performance. That... Read more

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but not quite a Thriller

Well done

2026-05-14T10:24:34-04:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

A Great Commencement Address by Eric Church at UNC

Last updated on: May 14, 2026 at 10:24 am By Ben Witherington

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Hark the Sound of Tar Heels Voices

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