The Origins of Early Christian Literature by Robyn Faith Walsh

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Because many people today believe in Christianity, studies of ancient Christian texts are handled differently than studies of ancient Greek or Roman religious writings. The field of classics is more strict with regards to what counts as evidence, while religious studies is more lenient. In this volume, Walsh applies the same standards used for studying classics to Christianity.

New Testament scholars often invoke oral history (for which there’s no evidence) or make appeals to the gospel writer’s religious community (for which there’s no evidence). They claim the gospels are unique and ignore the literary tradition they belong to. They claim Jesus is unique and ignore his similarity to Aesop, the Cynics, and the heroes of Greek novels.

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Good News Friday

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For more good news, check out Future Crunch and The Progress Network.

My Story in Factor Four Magazine

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I’m a few days late in announcing this, but I’ve just had a new story published in Factor Four Magazine Issue 31 titled “Warm as Stone” that’s free to read. It’s a flash fiction piece, so saying anything about it would probably give too much away. I was inspired to write this story after reading Priya Sharma’s story, “Pearls”, so if you’re familiar with that story, you’ll have some idea what my story is about.

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Good News Friday

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  • Even though 3 in 4 Americans think crime rose this year, 2023 featured one of the lowest rates of violent crime in the United States in more than 50 years, as well as one of the largest national declines in murder on record. Jeff-alytics.
  • In 2023, US states have passed 103 gun safety laws for a total of 620 since 2012. Giffords.
  • Canada is promoting child care for $10 a day. Vox.
  • The number of U.S. electric school buses has more than doubled since last year. US Department of Energy.
  • Power generated by wind and solar in the US is slated to eclipse coal-fired electricity next year. Axios.
  • More than a third of power consumed in Delhi is green. The Times of India.
  • Since 2010, road traffic deaths have fallen by 5%. World Health Organization.

For more good news, check out Future Crunch and The Progress Network.

Good News Friday

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  • FDA approves 2 gene therapies for sickle cell. One is the first to use the editing tool CRISPR. AP News.
  • Australian EV sales have increased by 185% since 2022. The Guardian.
  • Electric vehicles and hybrids grow to a record-high 18% of U.S. light-duty vehicle sales. EIA.
  • Forecast warns when sea life will get tangled in nets — one year in advance. Nature.
  • November jobs report shows labor market is flourishing in US. Axios.

For more good news, check out Future Crunch and The Progress Network.

Good News Friday

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  • Detroit is close to recording its fewest homicides in nearly 60 years. Detroit Free Press.
  • Egypt wiped out hepatitis C. Now it is trying to help the rest of Africa. New York Times.
  • Murders due to gender violence in Spain have decreased by 29% in the last 20 years. Ministerio Del Interior.
  • Since 2016, 25 million people in eastern and southern Africa have gained access to electricity. World Bank.
  • Child and teen cancer deaths fell 24% in the last 2 decades in the US. NBC.
  • Deforestation across the Amazon rainforest so far this year has slowed dramatically, down 55.8% from the same period a year ago. Reuters.
  • The world’s solar capacity has doubled in the last 18 months. PV Magazine.
  • Detroit’s newest road can charge electric cars as they travel on it. Axios.

For more good news, check out Future Crunch and The Progress Network.

Worst. President. Ever. by Robert Strauss

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James Buchanan was born in a log cabin in Pennsylvania in 1791, the second of 11 children, not far from the Mason Dixon line. His father, also named James Buchanan, owned a general store which was successful enough for him to buy a substantial farm, then a store on main street in Mercersburg, and he eventually became one of the richest men in the area. As the oldest son, the younger James Buchanan was the favorite among his siblings, and was particularly close to his mother.

At 16, Buchanan went to college at Dickinson, but since his mother had already educated him in the classics, he found college too easy. He began his lifelong habit of smoking cigars (in later years, he would chew the ends of unlit cigars). He was the smartest student and also the most arrogant, flouting school rules. He got expelled for disorderly conduct.

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Good News Friday

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  • Since the year 2000, stunting in children under 5 years of age has declined by one-third, and today, there are 60 million fewer undernourished children. Unicef.
  • Extreme poverty rate dropped faster than ever during the past decades. Gapminder.
  • The poverty rate in Tajikistan has fallen from 32% in 2009 to 13.4% in 2022. World Bank.
  • The Azores bullfinch has been brought back from the edge of extinction. European Commission.
  • Over the past decade, the Black Mambas, an all-female anti-poaching unit in South Africa, has eliminated rhino poaching in the Olifants West Nature Reserve. BBC.
  • 2023 might be the year of peak emissions. Climate Analytics.
  • Solar and wind comprise 88% of all new energy capacity built in India up to October 2023. Solar Quarter.
  • Hoboken, New Jersey has had zero traffic fatalities since January 2017 by lowering the speed limit, increasing visibility, adding bike lanes, and installing curb extensions. Bloomberg.
  • The US doesn’t have universal health care — but some states almost do. Vox.

For more good news, check out Future Crunch and The Progress Network.

Good News Friday

~ D. J. Moore ~ Leave a comment
  • Globally, deaths from particulate pollution have dropped 16% since 2005. 200,000 lives have been saved per year by reducing air pollution. El Pais.
  • Intimate partner homicide in Austalia has declined 38% since 2016, the rate of partner violence has decreased by over 50%, and rates of sexual harassment have reached their lowest levels ever in every state and territory. The Conversation.
  • Cases of severe malaria in Rwanda decreased 85% since 2016. All Africa.
  • In the US, food prices have largely flatlined for months, gasoline prices are about 10% lower than a year ago, and the average cost of much of what goes into a shopping cart has been roughly unchanged for a year. Reuters.
  • US EV sales are having a record-setting year. Canary Media.
  • Record 89% of Finland’s electricity from fossil-free sources last year. YLE.

For more good news, check out Future Crunch and The Progress Network.