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James F. McGrath (ReligionProf)

@religionprof.bsky.social

3.3K followers 1.2K following 8.3K posts

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

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James F. McGrath (ReligionProf) @religionprof.bsky.social · 24m

Bible Places Weekend Roundup, Part 2

Weekend Roundup, Part 2 - BiblePlaces.com

The tomb of Amenhotep III has been re-opened after a 20-year restoration. “A limestone tablet dating back more than 4,000 years has disappeared from Egypt’s Saqqara necropolis.” “Tutankhamun quiz:…

www.bibleplaces.com

James F. McGrath (ReligionProf) @religionprof.bsky.social · 45m

Republican Rep. Jim Jordan says ICE agents ‘doing the Lord’s work’

Jordan says ICE agents ‘doing the Lord’s work’

Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) said on Sunday that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents are “doing the Lord’s work” as the agency faces criticism over its tactics. “I think the ICE agents are…

thehill.com

James F. McGrath (ReligionProf) @religionprof.bsky.social · 58m

On Albanian political scientist Lea Ypi’s new book

Lea Ypi’s Reckoning With Family and the Legacy of Revolution

In her new book, Indignity, Albanian political scientist Lea Ypi discovers that online trolls are accusing her grandmother of having been a communist spy during World War II. To find the truth, she…

jacobin.com

James F. McGrath (ReligionProf) @religionprof.bsky.social · 1h

Meta AI adviser spreads disinformation about shootings, vaccines and trans people | Meta | The Guardian

Meta AI adviser spreads disinformation about shootings, vaccines and trans people

Critics condemn Robby Starbuck, appointed in lawsuit settlement, for ‘peddling lies and pushing extremism’

www.theguardian.com

James F. McGrath (ReligionProf) @religionprof.bsky.social · 23h

Classics and Race: A historical reader ancientworldonline.blogspot.com/2025/09/clas...

Classics and Race: A historical reader

Classics and Race: A historical reader Sarah Derbew (Editor), Daniel Orrells (Editor), ...

ancientworldonline.blogspot.com

James F. McGrath (ReligionProf) @religionprof.bsky.social · 1d

Accessible German New Testament Scholarship jacobcerone.com/2025/09/23/a...

Accessible German New Testament Scholarship

I am excited to announce that Wayne Coppins and I have launched a new, Open Access Journal entitled Accessible German New Testament Scholarship (AGNTS). You can find the journal at agntsjournal.com…

jacobcerone.com

James F. McGrath (ReligionProf) @religionprof.bsky.social · 1d

Cox's Annotated Bibliography of Septuagint Research oldtestamenttextualcriticism.blogspot.com/2025/09/coxs...

Cox's Annotated Bibliography of Septuagint Research

I just became aware of Claude Cox's annotated bibliography of Septuagint research that he has posted online. It's a great starting point fo...

oldtestamenttextualcriticism.blogspot.com

James F. McGrath (ReligionProf) @religionprof.bsky.social · 1d

Sacred Duties, Holy Boundaries: Explanatory Notes on Numbers 4:34—5:4 allanrbevere.substack.com/p/sacred-dut...

Sacred Duties, Holy Boundaries: Explanatory Notes on Numbers 4:34—5:4

Preparing for the Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost: Two Days before Sunday (Year C)

allanrbevere.substack.com

James F. McGrath (ReligionProf) @religionprof.bsky.social · 1d

The classic creeds affirm "baptism for the forgiveness of sins" and yet that is much closer to the message of John the Baptist than the theologies that Christians subsequently developed.

www.bobcornwall.com/2025/09/one-...

One Baptism—The Nicene Creed for Non-Creedal Christians Post 16

A blog about Christianity, theology, religion and public life.

www.bobcornwall.com

James F. McGrath (ReligionProf) @religionprof.bsky.social · 1d

In case you had doubts that Turning Point is a Christian Nationalist organization

newrepublic.com/post/201664/...

Surprise! Vivek Ramaswamy’s Turning Point Event Derailed by Racism

Event attendees asked Ramaswamy why he felt he could be the governor of Ohio even though he isn’t Christian.

newrepublic.com

James F. McGrath (ReligionProf) @religionprof.bsky.social · 1d

Bible Places Weekend Roundup Part 1

www.bibleplaces.com/blog/2025/10...

Weekend Roundup, Part 1 - BiblePlaces.com

The cargoes of three superimposed shipwrecks dating to the 11th, 9th, and 7th/6th centuries BC have been retrieved from the ancient harbor of Dor. “Researchers excavating Yehudiya Nature Reserve in…

www.bibleplaces.com

James F. McGrath (ReligionProf) @religionprof.bsky.social · 1d

In case you missed this very short story of mine that explores AI and divinity.

bmpvoices.com/issue-3-robo...

Issue 3: Robots - Voices

The Ab Terra Flash Fiction Magazine Issue_3 publishes science fiction stories that explore the potential roles of robots in our future.

bmpvoices.com

James F. McGrath (ReligionProf) @religionprof.bsky.social · 1d

I'm grateful to Amber Dillon for her review of my recent book on John the Baptist. She writes, "the work in this volume will reverberate in John the Baptist studies for some time as these discussions take considerable shape thanks to McG.’s compelling research."

muse.jhu.edu/pub/16/artic...

Review: John of History, Baptist of Faith

John of History, Baptist of Faith: The Quest for the Historical Baptizer by James F. McGrath (review)

muse.jhu.edu

James F. McGrath (ReligionProf) @religionprof.bsky.social · 1d

Have you listened to Hymnprovisations yet? Which is your favorite track? What should be on my next album of piano music?

push.fm/fl/08lsc0w1

Hymnprovisations by James F. McGrath | Listen on Apple Music, Tidal, Deezer | PUSH.fm

View James F. McGrath's Fan Link. Listen to Hymnprovisations on Apple Music, Tidal, Deezer now.

push.fm

James F. McGrath (ReligionProf) @religionprof.bsky.social · 1d

This early career research fellowship at the University of Cambridge covers areas such as Middle Eastern Studies and Philosophy of Science

www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DOY791/e...

Early Career Research Fellowship - Arts at University of Cambridge

Apply now for the Early Career Research Fellowship - Arts role on jobs.ac.uk - the leading job board for higher education jobs. View details.

www.jobs.ac.uk

James F. McGrath (ReligionProf) @religionprof.bsky.social · 1d

MIT Rejects Proposed Federal Compact

MIT is the first institution to reject a proposal by the Trump administration that would trade preferential treatment on federal funding for far-reaching changes.

www.insidehighered.com

James F. McGrath (ReligionProf) @religionprof.bsky.social · 1d

I asked Claude to make an interactive web app about the capabilities and limitations of generative AI. This was the result.

If you won't believe me, will you believe Claude?

claude.ai/public/artif...

Generative AI Capabilities & Limitations Explainer | Claude

Learn what generative AI can and can't do with this comprehensive guide covering capabilities, limitations, and best practices for effective use.

claude.ai

James F. McGrath (ReligionProf) @religionprof.bsky.social · 1d

OpenAI Gives Us a Glimpse of How It Monitors for Misuse on ChatGPT

gizmodo.com/openai-gives...

OpenAI Gives Us a Glimpse of How It Monitors for Misuse on ChatGPT

The AI company's latest report provides more info on how it detects misuse of its chatbots.

gizmodo.com

James F. McGrath (ReligionProf) @religionprof.bsky.social · 1d

How One AI Model Creates a Physical Intuition of Its Environment

www.quantamagazine.org/how-one-ai-m...

How One AI Model Creates a Physical Intuition of Its Environment | Quanta Magazine

The V-JEPA system uses ordinary videos to understand the physics of the real world.

www.quantamagazine.org

James F. McGrath (ReligionProf) @religionprof.bsky.social · 1d

AI assisting humans as a tool for making discoveries? Of course.

AI accidentally producing something significant and a human recognizing it as such? Possible.

AI making discoveries as though it were an independent agent? Not going to happen.

www.nature.com/articles/d41...

Will AI ever win its own Nobel? Some predict a prize-worthy science discovery soon

Other researchers question whether autonomous AI scientists are possible or even desirable.

www.nature.com

Reposted by Sara M. Butler, Klaus Oschema

James F. McGrath (ReligionProf) @religionprof.bsky.social · 1d

#CFP : Star Gazing: Astrology and Astronomy in the Medieval and Renaissance Imagination

cmrs.osu.edu/events/cfp-s...

CFP: Star Gazing: Astrology and Astronomy in the Medieval and Renaissance Imagination

Call for PapersStar Gazing: Astrology and Astronomy in the Medieval and Renaissance ImaginationPopular Culture and the Deep Past 2026

cmrs.osu.edu

8 10

James F. McGrath (ReligionProf) @religionprof.bsky.social · 1d

Is this essentially panpsychism?

www.noemamag.com/the-surprisi...

The Surprisingly Lifelike Behavior Of Mindless Material | NOEMA

New ways of studying the origin of life are leading to a better understanding of consciousness and the mind.

www.noemamag.com

James F. McGrath (ReligionProf) @religionprof.bsky.social · 1d

Librarian who stood up for first amendment vindicated

www.cbsnews.com/news/wyoming...

Wyoming library director fired amid uproar over books with LGBTQ+ themes wins $700,000 settlement

Terri Lesley was fired amid an uproar over books with sexual content and LGBTQ+ themes that some people complained were inappropriate for youngsters.

www.cbsnews.com

James F. McGrath (ReligionProf) @religionprof.bsky.social · 1d

AI as a tool in genetics research

www.thenewatlantis.com/publications...

The AI Genetics Revolution Is Coming

We’re worrying about the wrong arms race with China.

www.thenewatlantis.com

James F. McGrath (ReligionProf) @religionprof.bsky.social · 1d

Why Aren't There Any Missing People? www.wesleywellis.com/2025/10/why-...

Why Aren't There Any Missing People?

Late last month, someone left a book on the doorstep of my church called Where Are the Missing People? by Jimmy Evans. It showed up right a...

www.wesleywellis.com

James F. McGrath (ReligionProf) @religionprof.bsky.social · 1d

Reviewers for “Four Evangelists and a Heresy Hunter: Investigating the Traditions about Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John” jesusmemoirs.wordpress.com/2025/09/25/r...