Three Cheers for … Canada!

Stephen Harper. There’s a name most US citizens don’t exactly have on the tips of their tongues on a daily basis. Too bad, because he’s not only the prime minister of Canada; he’s a statesman of the first order, who happens to be in the state of Israel this week, raising his voice on behalf of the Jewish nation and the Jewish people. Addressing the Israeli Knesset on Monday, he stood up to declare publicly his unswerving support for the Jewish state’s most fundamental desire … to exist! Here is one world leader who has the courage to articulate (in the face of a torrent of “political correctness”) that Israel has the right to defend itself. Why come to Israel and “stick his neck out” to support a tiny little country demonized in the world press and condemned repeatedly by the United Nations? Because, in his words, “This … is a very Canadian trait, to do something for no reason other than it is right.” He concluded: “Therefore, through fire and water Canada will stand with you.” And I’m saying to myself, “Wow!” Can anyone imagine the President of the United States uttering such words? I can’t…

"Ancient Aliens"!

UFOs, ETs, alien abductions… It’s surprising how many people want to know, not only about modern stories of extraterrestrials, but about the possibility of long-lost encounters with “ancient aliens.” Many people today are equally curious about whether the Book of Books – the Bible – relates the same kind of phenomena that in the modern world are the domain of ufologists. How many ancient Israelites experienced such “interdimensional” encounters? Just as I began to look into all of this, I was approached by the History Channel, which contacted me independently and asked if I’d be interested in doing an interview for their series “Ancient Aliens.” 

APOCALYPTIC ARCHETYPES: The Book of Revelation

Why is a Judaica scholar staring intently at the New Testament book of Revelation? Because even though it's come down to us in Greek, it is at its heart a Jewish book. Its tone and content is of course far afield from Judaism today, but what we're talking about is ancient Judaism – a very different animal.

I often wonder why so many people are interested, indeed fascinated by this book. And my best explanation is that it does for us basically what a roller coaster ride, or the Tower of Terror, does. It scares us to death! And let's face it; for some unknown reason people like to be scared. It gives us a delicious, narcotic-like adrenaline rush.

Gospel of Jesus’ Wife? – Beware the Sound of One Hand Clapping

I once remarked on the History Channel documentary, “Banned from the Bible”: “Just when we think that the very last word on biblical scholarship has been said, the landscape changes, and usually in completely unexpected ways. Sometimes we really think we’re on to something, and then somebody comes along and debunks it all… It means that it’s an ongoing mystery as well as an incredible detective saga.”

David’s City: Defying the Propaganda

by Kenneth L. Hanson, Ph.D. Associate Professor Univ. of Central Florida, Orlando 
author, The Eagle and the Bible: Lessons in Liberty from Holy Writ,  New English Review Press, 2012 

http://www.amazon.com/The-Eagle-Bible-Lessons-Liberty/dp/0985439408/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1345321257&sr=8-1&keywords=eagle+and+the+bible

Modern Israel has built itself up based on the principle of creating “facts on the ground” – a complete infrastructure for a functioning nation-state – regardless of sanction, or lack thereof, by the international community. But as important as these “facts on the ground are,” imagine, how important it is for the morale of Israelis, surrounded as they are by enemies intent on their annihilation, to come across “facts underground.” Imagine coming to the confirmed archaeological site of the city and, quite possibly, the palace of ancient Israel’s greatest potentate, the illustrious King David.

“Israelity” – One American’s Experience in the World’s Hotspot

It dawned on me that I really ought to circulate certain personal/ life experiences that give me at least a bit of insight on Israel and the Middle East, as a microcosm of many of the issues that face America and the world today. My story involves both adventure and the shock of reality – a rude awakening to the reality of the “culture of death” that pervades much of the Arab world.

The Dream Is Dying

by Kenneth L. Hanson, Ph.D.

Associate Professor

Univ. of Central Florida, Orlando

author, The Eagle and the Bible: Lessons in Liberty from Holy Writ, 

New English Review Press, 2012

President Barack Obama recently declared, “The nature of this office is also to tell a story to the American people that gives them a sense of unity and purpose and optimism.” Tell a story? Well, there are a lot of us these days who have stories to tell, that, far from reflecting unity, purpose and optimism, are testimonials to another sad reality: the “American dream” – at least under the Obama administration – is dying.