Loading...Are you interested in the amazing and important history of Jerusalem, from the ancient world till today? I am! I am pleased to announce a special event being put on by my Department of Religious Studies. a panel discussion of the new book by my colleague Jodi Magness: Jerusalem Through the Ages: From Its Beginnings to the Crusades. It will be on Sunday November 17, 1:00, remote via Zoom. I will be moderating the discussion.
Many of you will know about Jodi. She is one of the world’s leading experts on the archaeology of ancient Israel, and has been my colleague at UNC since, well, roughly the beginnings of Jerusalem. In all these years I have never heard her asked a question she could not answer authoritatively.
This book is exceptionally good. The people on the panel are all smart, interesting, and insightful. If you’re interested, here is the brochure announcing the event. It is a fund-raiser for my department.
We have a departmental fund that I myself started years ago called the Robert Miller Graduate Student Excellence Fund; all donations are, of course, tax-exempt, and they go to providing funding for graduate students who want/need to engage in professional activities — such as going to conferences to read papers — that will help them develop as research scholars and improve their chances of finding teaching positions.
If you like the what I and other scholars of religion do, this is the kind of thing that makes it possible. Donations are voluntary, but the suggested amount is $20.
Here is the brochure. I hope you can come!
I’ve read the book, and it is excellent!
I recently read “Why The Bible Began” by Jacob L Wright. He traces the books of the OT through the conquest and exile/forced resettlement time periods of both Israel and Judea. A key feature is their rivalry and animosity. Judea focused on Jerusalem being THE location of their god’s temple which led to the numerous personalities and leaders stories that essentially confirmed Jerusalem’s role. In contrast Israel developed themes which focused on worshiping god where he was and where his people were, rather than at a specific location.
This explains much, including why Moses led the Israelites (not Judeans) out of Egypt and up to Jericho before entering the ‘promised land’, whereas traveling up through Judea to Jerusalem would have been shorter.
Does Jodi Magness’: Jerusalem Through the Ages: From Its Beginnings to the Crusades, discuss any of this?
My sense is that her book is far more about the what we know about the city at different periods thorugh archaeology, focused not on trying to explain the biblical narratives but the physical realities that lie behind them.
A QR code without a regular link is very inconvenient. For some people it leave them no way to register.
Does the book stop at the crusades or carries on till modern times?
I find it interesting as Jesus seems to have predicted that Jerusalem would have been abandoned to the Nations ruling until his second advent.
Has Jerusalem really lost it’s sovereignty over the whole span time of the last 2000 years?
As indicated in the title it goes to the Crusades.
It will be on Sunday, November 17, @ 1:pm >>EST<<
To register and donate, it is apparently necessary to read the QR code in the flyer. I guess it is thought to be rare for people to not carry smart phones these days, as no other way to sign up is offered. How may I donate and be sure it is recognized as intended for the Sunday, Nov. 17 discussion?
Sorry bout that. Go to https://religion.unc.edu/ click on “giving” and then click on Robert Miller Fund.
Please put a URL link to the panel
Here it is: https://give.unc.edu/donate?f=105550&p=asrs.The
Am unable to donate and register for this. I know I can ask Diane to help but am commenting here in case others are having difficulties, too.
Try going here: https://give.unc.edu/donate?f=105550&p=asrs.The
dear dr Ehrman:
thank you for your generosity & tolerance. When I renew I will go to Gold level.
Samuel Liu