On December 3, at 7:00 pm., I will be holding a new kind of blog event in Durham NC: a fund-raising dinner. It will be at a nice restaurant to be named later. We will have a maximum of seven places at the table (along with me, making eight).
For the fund-raising: the event is $100 per plate, the money to be donated directly to the blog. Each person will also pay for his or her own meal.
There will be no set agenda for the dinner. It will be a chance to get to meet each other and talk about matters of mutual interest and importance, especially as they relate to the blog –anything connected, even remotely, with the New Testament and early Christianity. The basic idea is that you will be able to pick my brain at will, and I may pick yours.
For any of the table members who want an add-on, with additional brain-picking potential: for an additional donation of $100 you can start with drinks with me at 5:30. I should be good and jolly by meal time.
And a final option: if anyone wants to join me after dinner for a one-hour, one-on-one: it will go to the highest bidder.
I have no clue if this will “work.” But I’m very interested in meeting people on the blog, I like doing blog dinners, and I’m eager to find ways to contribute to one of the blog’s ultimate purposes, raising money for charity.
This offer is open to blog members only, and admission to the table will be first come, first served. So zap me a reply sooner rather than later to know if you’re interested in dinner; and if so, in drinks; and if so, in an after dinner tête-a-tête. Please don’t respond here, but to me privately via email: [email protected].
This is an interesting experiment…wish I was closer to NC! I hope it goes well and the charities are happy, too!
Off topic inquiry….. can you do a series on slavery in relation to the Hebrew Bible and New Testament? Or if you know of a colleague who actually specializes in that subject. I would like to know the scholarly understanding of slavery in antiquity and especially as it relates to sacred texts.
I hear many different reasons and opinions on this subject and I’m quite frankly middle ground here. Since I co gone it in modern times, but in antiquity since I wasn’t there I can’t give an honest opinion on the matter. So a historical approach of posts on this subject would be cool!
Yes, I have several friends who have written books about the topic (NT, not OT) Interesting idea. I’ll see if I can get anyone to do a post (though I’m not sure it’ll work: they’ve all moved on to do other things and it’s not top on their list any more). But if you feel like doing any reading, you might start with Dale Martin and Albert Harrill.
You should have similar dinners when you travel to different parts of United States and have some time for lengthy dinners. I would not be surprised if you get treated out to nice dinners! lol
Yup, I’m planning on it.
I’d also be happy to attend/host a dinner if you’re ever in the Philadelphia area. If it’s any incentive, I’m from a town with the highest number of craft breweries per capita in the country (5 within a few blocks of each other, another 6 within a few miles). We could really loosen some wallets for you up here!
Ah, that *is* incentive!