Lex Lata
@lexlata.bsky.social
Amused. Intrigued. Mostly harmless.
Enki is my co-pilot.
Enki is my co-pilot.
An insightful, rigorous discussion about a complicated question of national and religious identity.
November 27, 2025 at 1:48 PM
An insightful, rigorous discussion about a complicated question of national and religious identity.
Okay, yes, 90% of my vegetable intake is in the form of salsa.
November 24, 2025 at 11:18 PM
Okay, yes, 90% of my vegetable intake is in the form of salsa.
Me last week, reading about Epstein, Summers, Bannon, Trump, etc.: "THIS IS THE GROSSEST TIMELINE AND IT COULDN'T GET ANY GROSSER."
Me today, reading about the White House "Nazi streak" attorney leaning on federal law enforcement to lighten up on notorious creeper ex-clients: "WITHDRAWN."
Me today, reading about the White House "Nazi streak" attorney leaning on federal law enforcement to lighten up on notorious creeper ex-clients: "WITHDRAWN."
NEW: When Andrew Tate landed in the US, Customs & Border Protection seized his electronic devices. But @propublica.org found that a White House official told DHS to return the devices, emphasizing that the request came from the White House.
By @robert-faturechi.bsky.social & Avi Asher-Schapiro
By @robert-faturechi.bsky.social & Avi Asher-Schapiro
The White House Intervened on Behalf of Accused Sex Trafficker Andrew Tate During a Federal Investigation
Federal authorities were chided for seizing electronic devices from Tate and his brother, and told to return them, records and interviews show. Experts said the intervention was highly inappropriate.
www.propublica.org
November 18, 2025 at 2:51 PM
Me last week, reading about Epstein, Summers, Bannon, Trump, etc.: "THIS IS THE GROSSEST TIMELINE AND IT COULDN'T GET ANY GROSSER."
Me today, reading about the White House "Nazi streak" attorney leaning on federal law enforcement to lighten up on notorious creeper ex-clients: "WITHDRAWN."
Me today, reading about the White House "Nazi streak" attorney leaning on federal law enforcement to lighten up on notorious creeper ex-clients: "WITHDRAWN."
Should probably get out in front of this. If Congress ever publishes my electronic communications, Epstein-like, the contents will be:
5% Warhammer 40k lore
10% Unsolicited thoughts on ancient languages and literature
85% My wife and me trying to figure out when the dogs were last outside
5% Warhammer 40k lore
10% Unsolicited thoughts on ancient languages and literature
85% My wife and me trying to figure out when the dogs were last outside
November 13, 2025 at 3:58 PM
Should probably get out in front of this. If Congress ever publishes my electronic communications, Epstein-like, the contents will be:
5% Warhammer 40k lore
10% Unsolicited thoughts on ancient languages and literature
85% My wife and me trying to figure out when the dogs were last outside
5% Warhammer 40k lore
10% Unsolicited thoughts on ancient languages and literature
85% My wife and me trying to figure out when the dogs were last outside
Insightful interview with @digkabri.bsky.social about those Late Bronze Age cuneiform DMs, the Amarna Letters.
youtu.be/LyebNnJNOvU?...
youtu.be/LyebNnJNOvU?...
How Ancient Kings Gaslit Each Other: The Amarna Letters Explained
YouTube video by Bible & Archaeology
youtu.be
November 12, 2025 at 1:31 PM
Insightful interview with @digkabri.bsky.social about those Late Bronze Age cuneiform DMs, the Amarna Letters.
youtu.be/LyebNnJNOvU?...
youtu.be/LyebNnJNOvU?...
Not sure about the title. Apologetics can be pretty profitable for some. 😉
But this should be an interesting watch. Apologists routinely cite historians, archaeologists, and other scholars, but the reverse is exceedingly rare, and for good reason.
But this should be an interesting watch. Apologists routinely cite historians, archaeologists, and other scholars, but the reverse is exceedingly rare, and for good reason.
www.youtube.com/live/QHedRqg...
I will be going live (and Vishless! @missdiedra.bsky.social ) today with a response to Alisa Childers and Doug Groothuis about why scholars do not take Christian apologetics seriously.
📜 🪔 #CriticalBible
I will be going live (and Vishless! @missdiedra.bsky.social ) today with a response to Alisa Childers and Doug Groothuis about why scholars do not take Christian apologetics seriously.
📜 🪔 #CriticalBible
LIVE! with Q&A: "Apologetics" IS a bad word — responding to @alisachilders & @DougGroothuis
YouTube video by Kipp Davis
www.youtube.com
November 7, 2025 at 4:05 PM
Not sure about the title. Apologetics can be pretty profitable for some. 😉
But this should be an interesting watch. Apologists routinely cite historians, archaeologists, and other scholars, but the reverse is exceedingly rare, and for good reason.
But this should be an interesting watch. Apologists routinely cite historians, archaeologists, and other scholars, but the reverse is exceedingly rare, and for good reason.
Next month, at what's left of the Heritage Foundation: 'Anti-Antisemtism, the REAL Enemy Within. An evening with Tucker Carlson and Candace Owens.'
But seriously. When you're publicly unfriended by the antisemitism task force you helped organize, there's a problem.
But seriously. When you're publicly unfriended by the antisemitism task force you helped organize, there's a problem.
NEW: The National Task Force to Combat Antisemitism has severed ties with the Heritage Foundation, adding to the tumult at the venerable conservative think tank & underscoring a deepening rift on the right between Israel supporters & America Firsters.
Antisemitism Task Force Severs Ties With the Heritage Foundation
www.nytimes.com
November 7, 2025 at 2:44 PM
Next month, at what's left of the Heritage Foundation: 'Anti-Antisemtism, the REAL Enemy Within. An evening with Tucker Carlson and Candace Owens.'
But seriously. When you're publicly unfriended by the antisemitism task force you helped organize, there's a problem.
But seriously. When you're publicly unfriended by the antisemitism task force you helped organize, there's a problem.
One odious side effect of efforts like this, which in practice are routinely Christianity-centric despite lip service about "Judeo-Christian" values, is the effective relegation of Jewish students to second-class social status--an unofficial but still consequential kind of antisemitism.
More on the Christianization of Texas Public Schools
open.substack.com/pub/warrenth...
open.substack.com/pub/warrenth...
More on the Christianization of Texas Public Schools
The Texas Tribune on the escalation of Christian nationalism in Texas schools
open.substack.com
October 4, 2025 at 3:12 PM
One odious side effect of efforts like this, which in practice are routinely Christianity-centric despite lip service about "Judeo-Christian" values, is the effective relegation of Jewish students to second-class social status--an unofficial but still consequential kind of antisemitism.
Superb discussion about the Hebrew Bible between two clear, cordial thinkers, @timoneill.bsky.social and @maklelan.bsky.social, both able to move past their fundamental disagreements about the existence of the Almighty and the utility of US football analogies.
Just uploaded to the History for Atheists channel, my conversation with Dr Dan McClellan @maklelan.bsky.social
on the Hebrew Bible, its texts, contexts and misconceptions.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=P7kS...
on the Hebrew Bible, its texts, contexts and misconceptions.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=P7kS...
September 28, 2025 at 1:28 PM
Superb discussion about the Hebrew Bible between two clear, cordial thinkers, @timoneill.bsky.social and @maklelan.bsky.social, both able to move past their fundamental disagreements about the existence of the Almighty and the utility of US football analogies.
No biggie, just Fox News hosts calmly floating the definitely not-fascist idea of executing undesirables who've committed no crimes. 😳
Brian Kilmeade endorses euthanizing homeless people: "Involuntary lethal injection, or something. Just kill them."
September 13, 2025 at 6:40 PM
No biggie, just Fox News hosts calmly floating the definitely not-fascist idea of executing undesirables who've committed no crimes. 😳
A (cheeky) guest post over at my website, by @lexlata.bsky.social.
Irrefutable Scientific Evidences for the Historicity of the Epic of Gilgamesh (Guest Post by Lex Lata, Parody Apologist)
Irrefutable Scientific Evidences for the Historicity of the Epic of GilgameshGuest post by Lex Lata, Parody Apologist Modern atheists contend that the Epic of Gilgamesh is…
Irrefutable Scientific Evidences for the Historicity of the Epic of GilgameshGuest post by Lex Lata, Parody Apologist Modern atheists contend that the Epic of Gilgamesh is…
August 31, 2025 at 7:04 PM
Team Trump restoring that weedfighter spirit . . . .
National Guard soldiers called into service for President Trump's law enforcement surge in D.C. have been assigned to spread mulch at federal monuments.
Normally the Park Service does that, but the administration laid off the workers.
www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
Normally the Park Service does that, but the administration laid off the workers.
www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
August 27, 2025 at 1:33 PM
Team Trump restoring that weedfighter spirit . . . .
What kind of degenerate monster takes only the first book of a complete trilogy I put in our Little Library??
August 25, 2025 at 9:04 PM
What kind of degenerate monster takes only the first book of a complete trilogy I put in our Little Library??
Finally, some content from @drkippd.bsky.social that doesn't contain any swear words (probably).
August 22, 2025 at 9:59 PM
Finally, some content from @drkippd.bsky.social that doesn't contain any swear words (probably).
No cheating, last photo of your pet.
August 21, 2025 at 9:57 PM
No cheating, last photo of your pet.
Cannot believe my nerdar didn't pick this up until today--basically the Woodstock of contemporary Exodus scholars (and a welcome sequel to the outstanding 2013 conference). Lectures are all on YouTube!
FYI, @amateurexegete.bsky.social and @atpgeo.bsky.social
exodus2.ucsd.edu
FYI, @amateurexegete.bsky.social and @atpgeo.bsky.social
exodus2.ucsd.edu
Exodus2 – Exodus in Transdisciplinary Perspective Conference at Qualcomm Institute, UC San Diego – June 25-27
exodus2.ucsd.edu
August 19, 2025 at 9:56 PM
Cannot believe my nerdar didn't pick this up until today--basically the Woodstock of contemporary Exodus scholars (and a welcome sequel to the outstanding 2013 conference). Lectures are all on YouTube!
FYI, @amateurexegete.bsky.social and @atpgeo.bsky.social
exodus2.ucsd.edu
FYI, @amateurexegete.bsky.social and @atpgeo.bsky.social
exodus2.ucsd.edu
WHY DOES MY NEW RAZOR HAVE A USB CONNECTOR INSTEAD OF A NORMAL PLUG THIS IS AN OUTRAGE
August 18, 2025 at 1:16 PM
WHY DOES MY NEW RAZOR HAVE A USB CONNECTOR INSTEAD OF A NORMAL PLUG THIS IS AN OUTRAGE
Excellent and energetic discussion of epistemology, historiography, and the traditional Exodus/Conquest narrative, courtesy of @atpgeo.bsky.social, Aaron Adair, and Critical Faculty.
www.youtube.com/live/kf1RjFi...
www.youtube.com/live/kf1RjFi...
The Story of Moses and YHWH
YouTube video by Critical Faculty
www.youtube.com
August 16, 2025 at 8:06 PM
Excellent and energetic discussion of epistemology, historiography, and the traditional Exodus/Conquest narrative, courtesy of @atpgeo.bsky.social, Aaron Adair, and Critical Faculty.
www.youtube.com/live/kf1RjFi...
www.youtube.com/live/kf1RjFi...
Dome of the Tempio Maggiore, the Great Synagogue of Rome.
August 13, 2025 at 11:08 PM
Dome of the Tempio Maggiore, the Great Synagogue of Rome.
Wes Huff (around the 2:20 mark): "don't confuse confidence for actual expertise and competency in a field . . . . Confidence does not equal competency."
Oy vey.
Thought you and Mark might get a kick out of that, @amateurexegete.bsky.social
youtu.be/csVdw9LCZw4?...
Oy vey.
Thought you and Mark might get a kick out of that, @amateurexegete.bsky.social
youtu.be/csVdw9LCZw4?...
Can this Fresh-Faced Apologist Refute the Grizzled Godless? (Wes Huff response)
YouTube video by Paulogia
youtu.be
July 15, 2025 at 1:40 AM
Wes Huff (around the 2:20 mark): "don't confuse confidence for actual expertise and competency in a field . . . . Confidence does not equal competency."
Oy vey.
Thought you and Mark might get a kick out of that, @amateurexegete.bsky.social
youtu.be/csVdw9LCZw4?...
Oy vey.
Thought you and Mark might get a kick out of that, @amateurexegete.bsky.social
youtu.be/csVdw9LCZw4?...
Alternate title: Bible Nerds Spread the Gospel of Nicholas Cage.
Amateur Hour #15 – Hebrew Names in an Egyptian Papyrus? Lex Lata Responds (part 2)
Part 2 of our discussion with Lex Lata concerning apologetic claims about Brooklyn Papyrus 35.1446.
Part 2 of our discussion with Lex Lata concerning apologetic claims about Brooklyn Papyrus 35.1446.
Amateur Hour #15 – Hebrew Names in an Egyptian Papyrus? Lex Lata Responds (part 2)
Part 2 of our discussion with Lex Lata concerning apologetic claims about Brooklyn Papyrus 35.1446.
amateurexegete.com
June 12, 2025 at 11:40 PM
Alternate title: Bible Nerds Spread the Gospel of Nicholas Cage.
Copious thanks to @amateurexegete.bsky.social and Mark Edwards for the hospitality and conversation.
Amateur Hour #14 – Hebrew Names in an Egyptian Papyrus? Lex Lata Responds (part 1)
According to some Christian apologists, the presence of Semitic names in a papyrus housed in the Brooklyn Museum lends weight to the Exodus narrative, namely that prior to their departure from Egypt the Israelites…
According to some Christian apologists, the presence of Semitic names in a papyrus housed in the Brooklyn Museum lends weight to the Exodus narrative, namely that prior to their departure from Egypt the Israelites…
Amateur Hour #14 – Hebrew Names in an Egyptian Papyrus? Lex Lata Responds (part 1)
According to some Christian apologists, the presence of Semitic names in a papyrus housed in the Brooklyn Museum lends weight to the Exodus narrative, namely that prior to their departure from Egypt the Israelites were indeed enslaved there. Does this hold any water? Lex Lata (i.e., Pat) offers his thoughts on the matter.
amateurexegete.com
June 5, 2025 at 11:05 AM
Copious thanks to @amateurexegete.bsky.social and Mark Edwards for the hospitality and conversation.
An artful, concise history of the Hebrew alphabet(s) from Aaron Koller. The tale is more complicated and intriguing than you might expect.
www.thetorah.com/article/the-...
www.thetorah.com/article/the-...
The Transformation of Hebrew Script: From Paleo-Hebrew to Aramaic - TheTorah.com
Before the exile, Israelites and Judahites wrote in Old Hebrew script. During the Second Temple period, Aramaic script slowly replaces Old Hebrew to the extent that the rabbis even disqualify a Torah ...
www.thetorah.com
June 4, 2025 at 2:18 PM
An artful, concise history of the Hebrew alphabet(s) from Aaron Koller. The tale is more complicated and intriguing than you might expect.
www.thetorah.com/article/the-...
www.thetorah.com/article/the-...
... In which Ola Wikander's straining bookshelves fill me with both envy and anxiety.
But seriously. Well said.
But seriously. Well said.
... In which I talk about what Biblical Studies is and is not, and about three possible objections to it:
youtu.be/z3CiMaPQ30s?...
youtu.be/z3CiMaPQ30s?...
3 Objections to Academic Biblical Studies, and Why They're Wrong - Ola Wikander's Banal/Awesome #11
YouTube video by Ola Wikander – [Baalcycle]
youtu.be
June 4, 2025 at 2:10 AM
... In which Ola Wikander's straining bookshelves fill me with both envy and anxiety.
But seriously. Well said.
But seriously. Well said.