Splash Biography

The first four books of the Bible, called the "Gospels" according to Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, form an essential source for Christians to study, fundamentally shaping Christian views and doctrines of God and Jesus. Yet who actually wrote these documents, and when/where did they come from? Was there a historical "Matthew" who wrote "the Gospel According to Matthew"? Who might "Luke" be writing to? Join us as we investigate the historicity of these books from a historical and literary perspective. We will be engaged in a "critical" discussion, in that we will put aside our various theological considerations and approach these texts objectively, to try to understand what was going on as the books were being written or formed. The "answer" may or may not surprise you!

Jesus, a prominent figure in several religions and the central figure in Christianity, is surprisingly barely mentioned in non-Christian sources from his time. And, while the Christian sources (like the Bible) describe a lot of Jesus' teachings, they reveal little to no biographical information. So who exactly was Jesus, from a historical perspective? Was he indeed a miracle-worker as noted in Biblical passages? Or, could they be the result of later editorial changes, "making" Jesus into God? Of course we won't arrive at "the answer," but join us as we talk about some of the major schools of thought on the historical Jesus! You may be surprised by the other hypotheses out there.

We all know the quadratic formula: if $$ax^2+bx+c=0$$, then $$x=\frac{-b\pm\sqrt{b^2-4ac}}{2a}$$. We might not have memorized the corresponding formula for cubic polynomials, but we know it's there. The formula for quartics is a monster, but, nevertheless, there is one. Breaking the trend, in 1823 it was proven that it is literally impossible find a general formula for any polynomial more complicated than a quartic. How? Why? Come and find out!