Eric Vanden Eykel

Normalize not replying all with "thank you." #SaveOurInboxes

The thing about having nerdy children is that mine are currently discussing the likelihood that one of them (the younger) is a reincarnation of Harold Ramis. I have no idea what prompted it.

a man is playing a trumpet and a woman is playing a flute in front of a map of the world ALT: a man is playing a trumpet and a woman is playing a flute in front of a map of the world

When your co-author group chat is cooking but one of your co-authors is locked into something else for the day. At least @drmjcwarren.bsky.social and I are amused. Paging @apocalypsenow5.bsky.social

Having Brandi Carlisle sing #america the beautiful is a CHOICE and I am HERE for it

Thanks for coming to my TED talk.

If a position only survives because you dismiss every lab, scientist, or historian that you disagree with of bias, conspiracy, or ignorance, it's a nonsense argument that has no place in legitimate scholarly inquiry.

What’s striking isn’t disagreement (which is expected and necessary in scholarship) but the refusal to engage actual evidence. Radiocarbon dating, textile analysis, and provenance are not “opinions.” Treating them as optional because they’re inconvenient is the antithesis of critical thinking.

For the record, I consider arguments for this artifact's antiquity to be on the same level as arguments for the flatness of the earth. They are nonsensical, and they only appear to make sense if you are willing to ignore or dismiss the findings of actual scientists and historians.

What is the Shroud of Turin and why is there so much controversy around it? Many believe the Shroud of Turin to be the cloth used to bury Jesus after his crucifixion. Scientists have investigated the claim and here’s what they found.

I wrote a piece on the Shroud of Turin in 2024, and it's proven to be one of the more enraging things that I've written. At least once a week I get some variety of hate mail about it.

A sator square styled like a wordle game

Still the best Wordle IMO.

I have so much respect for attempts to point out MAGA hypocrisy, but y’all, please remember that the people who need to see it most will not. At some point, ignorance becomes a choice. Many have already chosen.

Thecla, the beast fighter: The saint who faced down lions and killer seals is one of many ‘leading ladies’ in early Christian texts The Christian apocrypha, texts not included in the Bible, include stories of Jesus’ female followers – including St. Thecla.

Just published my first piece for the Conversation! It’s on Thecla and her reception within Christianity.

theconversation.com/thecla-the-b...

The Verizon outage today has me hoping that tomorrow is the day my email goes down.

for newcomers, here's a one-stop shop for political philosophy follows

go.bsky.app/6BBahr1

🙌🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

A trashcan, filled with golf clubs, with the label “not a trashcan”

Discuss:

Feeling bummed that the planned title of my memoir has already been claimed.

YouTube video by Paulist Fathers Deacons Pod: Eric Vanden Eykel on “The Magi”

You may also listen to this superb episode of @deaconspod.bsky.social about #TheMagi with @evandeneykel.bsky.social on YouTube:

Eric Vanden Eykel on "The Magi"

Today's Gospel passage for the Feast of the Holy Family begins with the words "When the magi had departed ... ".

Who were the #magi?

@evandeneykel.bsky.social visited @deaconspod.bsky.social to answer that question:

NASSCAL North American Society for the Study of Christian Apocryphal Literature

So many of my recent pieces for National Geographic would have suffered were it not for my ability to link to the amazing resources supplied by @nasscal.bsky.social. If you are interested in early Christian literature you must check out this invaluable site.

www.nasscal.com

Were there three Nativity wise men—or twelve? Early Christian sources differ on how many Magi visited the infant Jesus, and whether they were kings at all.

How many Magi were there and were they descended from Seth? Check out this piece that draws on essential work by @brentlandau.bsky.social and @evandeneykel.bsky.social ial

www.nationalgeographic.com/history/arti...

If you’re ever in search of a perfect example of irony, remember that Wittgenstein actually wrote that “everything that can be put into words can be put clearly” (in Tractatus 4.116).

In this golden era of shareable online calendars and scheduling apps, there is absolutely no reason for us to do the back-and-forth reply all email threads to try and find 30 minutes to “touch base.”

Just posting this to let you know that even though you printed your name tag, you left it at home. #sblaar25

And what exactly is wrong with my occupation! I run a candle making business out of my garage!

What a wonderfully pleasant surprise! Safe travels!

“I sell insurance.”

Thanks I hate it.