Today, someone who watched my debate with David Smalley emailed me to ask if I could provide a more fulsome reply to his suggestion in the debate that New Testament scholars draw positive conclusions about Jesus (e.g. his existence, resurrection, etc.) because they are constrained by the requirements of institutional doctrinal statements. Here is my […]
academic freedom
Evangelicalism, Academic Freedom, and Robert Gagnon
Today I read an article at the Unfundamentalist Christians blog about the departure of anti-gay firebrand Robert Gagnon from his position at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary (PTS). In the article, “Gagnon out at PC(USA) Seminary” the author Don Burrows talks about Gagnon’s limited job prospects after PTS: “Gagnon himself appears to realize [his limited prospects], as, […]
Wheaton College, Larycia Hawkins, and Freethought
Larycia Hawkins has stated that she is “flummoxed and flabbergasted” at Wheaton College’s decision to place her on administrative leave and proceed with firing. I can’t say that I am flummoxed and flabbergasted given the current reactionary and polarized state of much of evangelicalism. But I certainly am disappointed. I see no basis in Hawkins’ original […]
A Modest Defense of Wheaton College’s inquiry into Larycia Hawkins
There is now a massive body of literature analyzing the Larycia Hawkins debacle from various angles. In this article I want to say just a brief and modest word of defense for Wheaton College. In particular, I want to focus on her most controversial statement from her December 10th post: “And as Pope Francis stated […]
Do naturalists have more to lose? If not, why are they crucifying Thomas Nagel?
Matt DeStefano wrote a response to my article “Do atheists simply want to know the truth? Does anybody?” titled “Do Christians have more to lose?” Matt starts out agreeing with my observation that academics can become emotionally and personally invested in positions they defend and as a result, the pursuit of a particular thesis and […]
Erroll questions Randal’s academic integrity and freedom. Randal replies.
Erroll Treslan began by quoting me: “Over the past year I’ve been under attack by a handful of Calvinists who have attempted (among other things) to ensure that I lose my job”. Erroll then offered the following response: “I’m trying to decide what causes me greater concern: the fact that a handful would attempt to […]
Every community has controversies they don’t teach (or even tolerate)
The Atheist Missionary replied to my post on Mike Licona and academic freedom as follows: “Licona’s experience is precisely why I am so dubious of relying on the opinion of Biblical scholars whose tenure is tied to adhering to the tenets of any particular religion.” Walter then chimed in: “Ditto. This is why I am […]
First they came for Michael Licona
A few months back I blogged in defense of one of evangelical Christianity’s leading apologists and academics, Michael Licona. Why? The poor chap actually had the temerity to raise probing, intellectually honest questions about the historicity of Matthew 27:51-54. Once the hounds of inerrancy caught poor Mike’s scent they started braying and the chase was on. For weeks […]
