NTT Journal for Theology and the Study of Religion - Volume 56, Issue 1, 2002

Abstract The third book of the Sibylline Oracles was probably written in Asia Minor between 80 and 40 BCE. The author was a Jew who lived in one of Asia’s Greek cities, during, or shortly after the wars of Mithridates, king of Pontus, against the Roman empire. In many of the Greek cities it was hoped that Mithridates would restore them to the freedom which they had lost when Asia was made a Roman province (in 133 BCE). Th Read More

Abstract The recent publication of the numerous inscriptions from the great synagogue in late antique Sardis sheds new light on the position of the Jewish community in this city. After a short survey of the scarce data about the history of the Jews in Sardis, some of the more significant inscriptions pass review and the implications for our knowledge of the prominent Jewish presence in the life of the city are discussed.

Abstract In the letters of Paul and in the book of Acts it is told that the apostle Paul once experienced an important change in his life, usually called his conversion. Both Luke and Paul consider this change primarily as a call from God (or Jesus Christ) to become an apostle, like the prophets of old who were called by God to proclaim his message. For the author of Acts this conversion was an important event in the history of the earl Read More

Abstract It is argued that the recent discovery of the God spot - specific locations in the brain connected with religious experience - counts against ‘proper function’ as criterion for warrant, and thus against Reformed epistemology.

Abstract Social constructionism is a new paradigm within the social sciences. Its assumptions are the result of interweaving a diversity of sciences like psychology, sociology, cultural anthropology, philosophy of language and philosophy of science. Its main focus is on the analysis of cultural processes of meaning-making. The author highlights some assumptions of the social constructionist view and its consequences for mora Read More