Ph.D. Christian Origins, Associate Professor of Religious Studies. Black Lives Matter. Views expressed here are my own, and do not reflect the views of my employer. he/himhttps://bsky.app/profile/evandeneykel.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/evandeneykel.bsky.social/post/3muzyy2xy6k2oA folding smartphone is an expensive admission that most of us were happier when flip phones were the norm.08 Sep 2026 21:51 +0000at://did:plc:47fcd353lhssrxocti2zoy53/app.bsky.feed.post/3muzyy2xy6k2ohttps://bsky.app/profile/evandeneykel.bsky.social/post/3mupknwcrcs22We aren’t quite at the level of a robot takeover, but rest assured we are getting there.04 Sep 2026 18:08 +0000at://did:plc:47fcd353lhssrxocti2zoy53/app.bsky.feed.post/3mupknwcrcs22https://bsky.app/profile/evandeneykel.bsky.social/post/3muaufk27js2jOne of Christianity’s more dangerous interpretive habits is also one of its most familiar. https://vandeneykel.substack.com/p/the-hebrew-bible-does-not-need-jesus?r=qrtil&utm_medium=ios29 Aug 2026 21:52 +0000at://did:plc:47fcd353lhssrxocti2zoy53/app.bsky.feed.post/3muaufk27js2jhttps://bsky.app/profile/evandeneykel.bsky.social/post/3mu5iyzpq5k2eThis morning, one of my kids asked what a “chaos agent“ is. Before I could respond, her sibling said “you know those people who defeat gyms on Pokémon Go and then leave them empty? That’s a chaos agent.“ Only some of you possess the knowledge and sophistication to realize that she is correct.28 Aug 2026 13:50 +0000at://did:plc:47fcd353lhssrxocti2zoy53/app.bsky.feed.post/3mu5iyzpq5k2ehttps://bsky.app/profile/evandeneykel.bsky.social/post/3mt34qrdb6s2h“Biblical literalism” continues to fascinate me because of how often “just read the text exactly as written” can so quickly shift into “now let’s figure out how Noah fit dinosaurs on the ark.”14 Aug 2026 21:41 +0000at://did:plc:47fcd353lhssrxocti2zoy53/app.bsky.feed.post/3mt34qrdb6s2hhttps://bsky.app/profile/evandeneykel.bsky.social/post/3msysqddnwc2uMe on Facebook after I commented on one of the many nonsense posts from @answersingenesis.org. Facebook algorithm: “Hey Eric. I hear you like nonsense posts. Here are many more.” Seriously, these folks are the epitome of idiocy. https://static.klipy.com/ii/35ccce3d852f7995dd2da910f2abd795/68/68/S2WjTAzb.gif?hh=174&ww=220&mp4=bhBPaa0t&webm=wTtGYhPQpd3pIcQH7C13 Aug 2026 23:36 +0000at://did:plc:47fcd353lhssrxocti2zoy53/app.bsky.feed.post/3msysqddnwc2uhttps://bsky.app/profile/evandeneykel.bsky.social/post/3msv562nqkc2qWhat if…and hear me out…we just got rid of grades altogether and agreed on another method of assessment.12 Aug 2026 12:32 +0000at://did:plc:47fcd353lhssrxocti2zoy53/app.bsky.feed.post/3msv562nqkc2qhttps://bsky.app/profile/evandeneykel.bsky.social/post/3ms5fuvv7yc2oNow that Hadestown is in theaters, I’m curious to see if people will go after it like they have the Odyssey. Although I guess there are different ancient accounts of Orpheus and Eurydice.03 Aug 2026 02:04 +0000at://did:plc:47fcd353lhssrxocti2zoy53/app.bsky.feed.post/3ms5fuvv7yc2ohttps://bsky.app/profile/evandeneykel.bsky.social/post/3mrqjeaowd223I didn’t mind Nolan’s Odyssey. I also like Homer’s.28 Jul 2026 23:02 +0000at://did:plc:47fcd353lhssrxocti2zoy53/app.bsky.feed.post/3mrqjeaowd223https://bsky.app/profile/evandeneykel.bsky.social/post/3mrbc3tyyss2zPosted without comment.22 Jul 2026 21:42 +0000at://did:plc:47fcd353lhssrxocti2zoy53/app.bsky.feed.post/3mrbc3tyyss2zhttps://bsky.app/profile/evandeneykel.bsky.social/post/3mr6uq5kkrk2sMy six year old just learned how to use a juke box. His selection: Kendrick Lamar’s Not Like Us. #FatherOfTheYear21 Jul 2026 22:37 +0000at://did:plc:47fcd353lhssrxocti2zoy53/app.bsky.feed.post/3mr6uq5kkrk2shttps://bsky.app/profile/evandeneykel.bsky.social/post/3mqc6bgmafo2sI finally read The Widening of God’s Mercy by Christopher and Richard Hays. I went in skeptical. I came out with more questions and a few thoughts. Have a look if that’s your thing. https://open.substack.com/pub/vandeneykel/p/the-afterlives-of-biblical-interpretation?r=qrtil&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true10 Jul 2026 12:41 +0000at://did:plc:47fcd353lhssrxocti2zoy53/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqc6bgmafo2shttps://bsky.app/profile/evandeneykel.bsky.social/post/3mpowfgky222cI’m grateful that the Supreme Court decided to follow the plain text of our Constitution on birthright citizenship. I also can’t stop thinking about how archaic the whole system is: the idea that you are a different kind of person because you were born on one side or the other of an imaginary line.02 Jul 2026 20:59 +0000at://did:plc:47fcd353lhssrxocti2zoy53/app.bsky.feed.post/3mpowfgky222chttps://bsky.app/profile/evandeneykel.bsky.social/post/3mplsifyo7c2oPickles are fine. Even great, sometimes. But I just saw an Instagram reel recommending frozen pickle slices in Sauvignon Blanc, and I wish we would stop inflating every minor taste preference into a lifestyle trend until it becomes a caricature. https://static.klipy.com/ii/e1b92bb53e0c9e442408bc677a56c789/81/73/I6XN6fIFbdqElO.gif?hh=289&ww=289&mp4=tYFOHUenB8otwqrq06B&webm=lmVzgGgm10z8yOz601 Jul 2026 15:11 +0000at://did:plc:47fcd353lhssrxocti2zoy53/app.bsky.feed.post/3mplsifyo7c2ohttps://bsky.app/profile/evandeneykel.bsky.social/post/3mpged7nczo26I put some thoughts down over the weekend about Texas and the Bible in public schools debate. I welcome thoughts and pushback (seriously - this needs to be a public conversation), but please read further than the title before engaging. Thanks :) buff.ly/6Kg56FJ29 Jun 2026 11:15 +0000at://did:plc:47fcd353lhssrxocti2zoy53/app.bsky.feed.post/3mpged7nczo26https://bsky.app/profile/evandeneykel.bsky.social/post/3mp7765a66x2nI finished up my Shroud of Turin series on Substack today with some (hopefully constructive) thoughts on the Shroud as icon. buff.ly/DFGNv3u26 Jun 2026 14:54 +0000at://did:plc:47fcd353lhssrxocti2zoy53/app.bsky.feed.post/3mp7765a66x2nhttps://bsky.app/profile/evandeneykel.bsky.social/post/3movkyuwjy22rDante neglected to mention the circle of hell reserved for people who crowd the baggage carousel before their bag is even visible.22 Jun 2026 18:59 +0000at://did:plc:47fcd353lhssrxocti2zoy53/app.bsky.feed.post/3movkyuwjy22rhttps://bsky.app/profile/evandeneykel.bsky.social/post/3mosptiicxc22My favorite epitaph in the Capitoline Museum (6th century): “This is the burial place of Fortunatus and Lucia, wherein lies their daughter Gemmula, who lived about 10 years, and whoever violates this tomb shall suffer the fate of Judas.” May we all be so bold!21 Jun 2026 15:47 +0000at://did:plc:47fcd353lhssrxocti2zoy53/app.bsky.feed.post/3mosptiicxc22https://bsky.app/profile/evandeneykel.bsky.social/post/3monoqos5vk2oGoing to post the sign on my office door.19 Jun 2026 15:45 +0000at://did:plc:47fcd353lhssrxocti2zoy53/app.bsky.feed.post/3monoqos5vk2ohttps://bsky.app/profile/evandeneykel.bsky.social/post/3mof4a2q3p22zI am traveling in Italy with my daughter, and we have reached the Zen part of travel where you start dressing the same way without planning it.16 Jun 2026 05:52 +0000at://did:plc:47fcd353lhssrxocti2zoy53/app.bsky.feed.post/3mof4a2q3p22zhttps://bsky.app/profile/evandeneykel.bsky.social/post/3mo6g4ozg3c2eBella Venezia.13 Jun 2026 14:00 +0000at://did:plc:47fcd353lhssrxocti2zoy53/app.bsky.feed.post/3mo6g4ozg3c2ehttps://bsky.app/profile/evandeneykel.bsky.social/post/3mnzy75dfik2iTonight I got to watch the sunset from the Areopagus Hill with my daughter and around 500 others. I’m not generally short on words, but I was tonight.11 Jun 2026 19:41 +0000at://did:plc:47fcd353lhssrxocti2zoy53/app.bsky.feed.post/3mnzy75dfik2ihttps://bsky.app/profile/evandeneykel.bsky.social/post/3mnvwdntjc22sYesterday I took my daughter to the Parthenon in Athens. She spent a good amount of time mocking Poseidon because obviously Athena is better. This morning she made a meme. Nerdy kids are the best kids.10 Jun 2026 04:57 +0000at://did:plc:47fcd353lhssrxocti2zoy53/app.bsky.feed.post/3mnvwdntjc22shttps://bsky.app/profile/evandeneykel.bsky.social/post/3mnp6ikqfak2qFacebook reminded me that I created this meme 10 years ago today. I consider it some of my finest and most under recognized work.07 Jun 2026 12:34 +0000at://did:plc:47fcd353lhssrxocti2zoy53/app.bsky.feed.post/3mnp6ikqfak2qhttps://bsky.app/profile/evandeneykel.bsky.social/post/3mnmvzqlgfs2xSome thoughts. https://open.substack.com/pub/vandeneykel/p/the-case-for-religious-studies?r=qrtil&utm_medium=ios06 Jun 2026 14:57 +0000at://did:plc:47fcd353lhssrxocti2zoy53/app.bsky.feed.post/3mnmvzqlgfs2x