CJ'S STORY
TEACHER.
EMPATHIZER.
CALLER OF BS.
It all started with the Bible. As a kid, I'd try to read every day. We'd race through the pages at church as a "sword drill" to see who could find a passage first. I'd memorize verses and even chapters.
There was something special about that book.
Today, there's still something special about it. But not in the way I was taught. The Bible changed and evolved. Ideas about what the Bible is have evolved. And I evolved too.
But the Bible still fascinates me!
Now, there's a lot of bad info out there. The Bible is used to control and manipulate. To justify dangerous ideas. To oppress. Misinformation about this book is widespread--on all sides of the ideological spectrum.
The truth is, the Bible doesn't need to be magical to be fascinating. Nor do we need wild conspiracy theories to get people interested in the Bible.
It's fascinating all by itself. And I want to prove it.
The best information about the Bible is often hidden in the pages and footnotes of great academic work. That's where I come in. I want to share the best academic ideas I've found. I want to share the work of awesome biblical scholars. And I want to help people understand the Bible better!
C.J. HOLDS A MASTERS IN DIVINITY, AN M.A. IN THEOLOGY, AND A PhD IN CHRISTIAN ORIGINS.
C.J. Cornthwaite is a YouTuber who talks about Christianity--old and new. He has a PhD in Christian Origins (Toronto), an MA in Theology (Western), and a Master of Divinity (Western). He also holds cognate specializations in Diaspora Studies and Jewish Studies.
C.J.'s academic work focused on 2nd-Temple Judaism & Christianity in the Graeco-Roman world with a focus on material cultures: papyri and inscriptions. His doctoral research explored how other immigrant groups in antiquity spread worship. His Masters' thesis looked at how Philo and 4 Maccabees understood their relationship to "Hellenization."
After academia, C.J. worked for a think tank, in government, eventually starting his own consulting business..
*Note that C.J. is not currently employed in academia.*