Christ and the Babylonians

I just finished Women in the Ancient Near East, a source book edited by Mark Chavalas.  The book focuses on one aspect of life in the Fertile Crescent (how women are portrayed), good preparation for a book I have been working on for several years arguing that "Jesus liberates women."   It features a sample of non-Jewish texts from the region from about 2400 BC to about 600 BC, which proves interesting for a few other reasons as well.

Suetonius and Jesus

I have long been prejudiced against the Romans, but am glad I finally broke down and read the Roman historian (or biographer) Suetonius.  And not only because he confirms my prejudice!  (Though that is always welcome.)

The 30 best movies ever!

It is an indictment of modern civilization that it deems movies like Elmer Gantry among its best.  Bullfeathers.  Who ever wanted to watch Elmer Gantry again?  That's the test.  Either that, or you are so haunted by one viewing that you don't DARE watch the film twice.

Here are my top 30.