Peter Joshua Atkins

Did animals provide the blueprints for human culture? | Aeon Essays Prehistoric humans didn’t create art and architecture out of nothing. They took inspiration from the nonhuman world

In England “wood with beaver facets [were found] in multiple human constructions, along with extensive networks of ancient beaver dams and channels that had been integrated into prehistoric settlements.”

A fascinating piece by Sarah Newman on how animals inspired culture 🦫

aeon.co/essays/did-a...

University funding model ‘no longer fit for purpose’ amid Edinburgh job losses Hundreds of staff leave institution as it looks to cut £140 million from its budget

Today's university losing staff is Edinburgh, which has got itself into a frightful muddle and panic about cashflow - but which is becoming emblematic of just how vulnerable the Welsh and Scottish Higher Ed systems really are.
www.scotsman.com/education/un...

This Thursday and Friday is the Humanimal 2.0 virtual conference on The Bible and "Animal" Others. Free to register and participate, and there is a stellar line-up of speakers. Check it out: www.humanimalconference.org/program #humanimal2025

Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Ancient Studies at the University of Bergen (275792) | University of Bergen Job title: Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Ancient Studies at the University of Bergen (275792), Employer: University of Bergen, Deadline: Monday, March 17, 2025

Job opening: Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Ancient Studies at the University of Bergen
- open for applicants with PhD in religious studies, archaeology or history

Sign the Petition Save Our Religion And Theology Degree!

If you care about Theological and Religious Studies in the UK then consider signing this petition to save the Cardiff degree programme
change.org/p/save-our-r...

The Race & Class in UK Religious Studies and Theology project is recruiting a part-time postdoctoral researcher (3.5 hrs pw) to work on the project's qualitative research. Further details are available here: www.abdn.ac.uk/racrest Please circulate it to anyone who might be interested. Thanks!

I know it's a Guardian editorial and I know everyone following me already knows this, but this is very well put indeed. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

A great opportunity to campaign for and shape change in the Church of England’s approach to land management

Academic publishing rates sharing

Since I just had cause to consult this I thought it was useful to signal boost this spreadsheet @drmjcwarren.bsky.social initiated where people can *anonymously* report their advance/royalty rates from academic publishers.

docs.google.com/spreadsheets...

Photo of 5 dog figurines in profile facing to the left in a staggered line. The closest one is reddish, the three in the middle are beige, and the furthest is dark grey. Each one has a cuneiform inscription on their side.

For anyone wondering, some possible dog names have survived from cuneiform sources.

On tiny dog figurines found buried under a palace in Nineveh, Iraq are inscriptions that seem to be names.

dan rigiššu “loud is his bark”

munaššiku gārîšu “biter of his foe”

mušēṣi lemnūti “expeller of evil”

Ep. 98 The Madness of King Nebuchadnezzar — Biblical Time Machine To the authors of the Hebrew Bible, King Nebuchadnezzar was a grade-A jerk. In the 6th century BCE, he and his army sacked Jerusalem, destroyed the First Temple and carried the Judahites into exile in...

It was great fun to appear on the Biblical Time Machine podcast talking about Nebuchadnezzar and his affliction in Daniel 4. The episode has just gone up!

www.biblicaltimemachine.com/listen-to-ep...

If you are thinking about nonhuman animals in biblical texts then there is still time to submit an abstract to the Humanimal 2.0 Virtual Conference: The Bible & "Animal" Others.

The Call for Papers closes on the 15th January.

#Humanimal2025
www.humanimalconference.org/call-for-pap...

Thanks, I love Ezeclectic!

Thank you, that's what I have used so far but it is quite difficult to say!

Any biblical scholars out there give me advice on the standard adjectival form for Ezekiel? Ezekielic? Ezekielian? Or something else?

School of Divinity (@uoedivinity.bsky.social) Official Bluesky account for the School of Divinity at the University of Edinburgh

Don’t forget @uoedivinity.bsky.social

Did you see our message on the AGADE server or just delete it? Our open issue 4.2 has been open - and is still open call - but we are looking to feature a special section on (non-human) animals and animality in the ANE. Interested?
avarjournal.com/avar/submiss...

If I only I knew more about Samuel et al!

Have you thought about this in relation to Tobit 2:11-12? This refers to "women's work" and implies this is to do with fabric.

Thanks for this! Yes I have read your article on the dog and found it really helpful for the written version of my SBL paper. Really appreciate your scholarship on Tobit!

Fantastic book panel on the book God and the Little Grey Cells by @danclantonjr.bsky.social #sblaar2024

Day 1 highlights of #SBLAAR2024: Sea Lions, Pelicans, Hummingbirds, and Egrets

First session on Animal Studies and the Bible unit at #SBLAAR24 is a panel on the book Ask the Animals by SBL Press

University of Edinburgh Launches Comprehensive MSc in Buddhist Studies - Buddhistdoor Global The university aims to offer a multidisciplinary approach to the study of Buddhist philosophy, ethics, art, and modern practices and is now accepting applications

shorturl.at/Q5BXW

It was a surprise to stumble across this apparent reception of Matthew 7:15 in Pokémon Sword/Shield. I wonder what other possible biblical references there are in the series...

For my European #Biblicalstudies colleagues and those who are sad not to visit SBL: The call for papers for the EABS/SBL International conference in Uppsala/Sweden is open until 15th of January.
www.eabs.net/EABS/EABS/Co...

Please spread the word...
Hyatt on Sunday of SBL, 9:00-11:00pm.

Wow, that’s good mental work! I’ll have to get thinking myself!

Humanimal 2.0 - Bible and Animal Others conference Call for Papers is live!

I’m one of these people!