I think Eric is right that “the right response to all of this is…to figure out how to teach it from a non-sectarian position.” The only thing I’d add is that the effort to educate from a non-sectarian perspective isn’t neutral either but expresses the positive values of the state (& that’s good!)

I 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/6Kg56FJ

I finished up my Shroud of Turin series on Substack today with some (hopefully constructive) thoughts on the Shroud as icon. buff.ly/DFGNv3u

Dante neglected to mention the circle of hell reserved for people who crowd the baggage carousel before their bag is even visible.

Congratulations to all contributors to Judeophobia and the New Testament: Texts and Contexts! We’re honoured to have been awarded 1st place in the category of Scripture — Academic Studies in the Catholic Media Association’s 2026 Book Awards. 🏆📖🍾 @apocalypsenow5.bsky.social @evandeneykel.bsky.social

My 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!

Going to post the sign on my office door.

A new #publications article on AJR: Eric Vanden Eykel writes about his research on the Magi @evandeneykel.bsky.social

Fun read here from @evandeneykel.bsky.social on the Magi but especially a glimpse into academic curiosity and following your gut to create something awesome: www.ancientjewreview.com/read/2025/12...

I 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.

Bella Venezia.

Tonight 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.

Yesterday 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.

Facebook reminded me that I created this meme 10 years ago today. I consider it some of my finest and most under recognized work.

Some thoughts. open.substack.com/pub/vandeney...

Part 3 of my Shroud of Turin series is now up. Why do arguments for the Shroud’s authenticity feel persuasive to so many? What role do pseudoscience, credential borrowing, speculation, and “perhaps” reasoning play? More broadly: why do bad arguments matter? buff.ly/5L23hF7

Part 2 of my short series on the Shroud of Turin is now up. This time: the science. Radiocarbon dating. Coins over the eyes. Pollen from Jerusalem. Blood. The famous photographic negative. How persuasive are the claims for the Shroud’s authenticity, really? buff.ly/pdM6l6a

I’ve been working on a Substack series on my favorite medieval relic: the Shroud of Turin. Up first: the problem of provenance. Where does the Shroud come from? Why are historians skeptical that it is a 1st-century artifact? Spoiler: the problems start as soon as it shows up. buff.ly/VByrWYS

Some more thoughts on flood stuff - always nice to rediscover rabbit holes that you haven't thought much about for the past 15 years or so. Thanks TikTok! buff.ly/SvAPzLJ

I stand by this.

Last week I kicked a hornet's nest on TikTok (on purpose, and it was fun), and I spent the weekend thinking about the flood stories, as one does. Then I wrote about them, as one also does. buff.ly/PHSCoje

New analysis of the Shroud of Turin produces SHOCKING results. Some will say it’s photoshopped but that wasn’t invented until later. CHECKMATE you doubters! 🔥🔥

Why start a Substack? Partly because I missed writing things that weren’t emails. Partly because writing gets harder when you stop doing it. And partly because I think scholarship should exist beyond paywalls. buff.ly/tiXlKvZ

In April, I gave the annual Blake Lecture sponsored by VCU’s Department of History. Constructing the Jewish Other explores rhetoric in ancient Christian literature and why studying the past still matters, especially as the humanities face increasing pressure to justify their value. buff.ly/3TqqHrb

I'm sure at least some of you woke up with this question on your mind. buff.ly/45WSUZQ

Tomorrow's Substack is about #dinosaurs. If that's your thing. vandeneykel.substack.com

I learned about this site during my last year in college, and I'm still shocked every time it appears under the banner of a legitimate news story. buff.ly/ZgxcHVf

Some thoughts on yesterday's...thing.

Watching people acquire language skills in real time is an incredible thing!

Why “Jesus Never Said Anything About That” Is a Bad Argument open.substack.com/pub/vandeney...

Today my six-year-old told me that when he grows up, he wants to be a preschool teacher. And when he retires, he wants to be a mail carrier.

The So-called “Ghost Pages” of the New Testament substack.com/@ericvandene...

“The most despised rulers in Roman memory were frequently those perceived as collapsing the distinction between ruler and god too openly.”

“It is helpful to think about this image less as an indication of messianic self-identification and more as an instrumentalization of religious symbols. The image on Truth Social did not create this dynamic; it simply illustrates it.”

I just wrote and deleted a hot take because I’m just not sure y’all are ready for it.

I recently started a Substack and just posted the first piece — a few thoughts on the Trump AI Jesus image from back in April, and why I think it matters beyond the obvious outrage cycle.

We are thrilled with this gorgeous cover for our forthcoming book, Avoiding Antisemitism: A Guide for Christians! Thanks to the team at @eerdmansbooks.bsky.social for making it happen (again!) @evandeneykel.bsky.social @apocalypsenow5.bsky.social

I live for creative file naming. #amgrading

When I saw that picture that T*ump posted, my first thought was that it was a new Jon McNaughton painting. Because something like that would be totally on brand, and the style is right! jonmcnaughton.com

We have a Roomba, and have had it for probably close to a decade. We love it. But today it opened the refrigerator door and continued cleaning. I shit you not. Machines, amirite?

I once heard a youth pastor preach a serious sermon on why the Easter bunny doesn’t care if you have been naughty or nice. The answer? Because Jesus died for everyone BECAUSE they were/are naughty. It was strange but I guess feel free to use it if you’re preaching this weekend.

The most significant downside to being a person both fascinated and horrified by conspiracy theories and misinformation is that my social media algorithms are just unadulterated chaos.

Today I overheard someone talking about how they can't wait to have an artificial intelligence teaching assistant, and while I do not want to opine on the ethical issues there, I do want to note that the abbreviation for this would be "AITA." Look it up if you don't get it. Happy Monday y'all.

Currently reading Johnny Cash’s autobiography, and at the end of every chapter I’m left with the question of how he lived as long as he did.

A student just emailed to let me know that I am mentioned on the Wikipedia page for the novel Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ’s Childhood Pal. I am not exaggerating when I say that this the most exciting news I have received all week. I love this book. And yes, I once wrote about it.

Pro tip: if you pour water from a water bottle into your coffee maker and brew a pot of coffee, it still counts toward your daily water intake I don’t make the rules.

New mug energy.

If you write public-facing scholarship, you will eventually receive emails from strangers who think you’re both stupid and misguided. Here is a simple reminder: you can delete them. You owe trolls nothing.

When you're working hard to clear your inbox but people keep responding "thank you." #SaveOurInboxes

Just a friendly reminder that you can and should critique Trump, and also you can and should do that without body shaming.