In response to an earlier post, Dan Howard posed this question:

A question (since I'm not very clued up on apologetic theory) - are there any no-go areas in our 'defence of the faith'? I'm thinking of 1 Cor 1:18-2:10, or even John 18:36. Since Jesus' kingdom/wisdom is not of this world, are there methods we can use in apologetics that are as inappropriate as literally picking up the sword?

Well, I'd start with lying, deceiving, distorting the truth and other such obviously inappropriate apologetic techniques.

But I'm sure that some of my WTS, well-read Van Tilian readers have other things to say to this? Leave a comment and let us all hear it.

This book which I mentioned in an earlier post now has a funky graphic and a whole website to whet your appetite. Check it out.

Reconstructing and translating column VI of Aqhat. Aqhat is the son of Daniel the Hero (possibly the same person referred to in Ezekiel 14 alongside Noah and Job. The connection between the three may be to do with their children - Noah's children are saved through his actions, Job is blessed with children after his suffering, Daniel's daughter avenges her brother's death.)

Aqhat is given, via his father, a special bow and many arrows from the gods. Anat the Girl (as she's called in one translation) is a goddess who's pretty jealous of this bow and offers Aqhat silver, gold and immortality if he'll hand it over.

He says things like, 'Bows are for warriors. Will womankind start hunting now?'

To which: 'Anat laughed out loud but inwardly she plotted...'

In the end she goes off to El and tells him that Aqhat wouldn't give her the bow and please can she have it. He says she can go and hunt him down and take it from him. She enlists the help of YTPN who kills Aqhat like a bird of prey. But they can't find that bow.

Daniel finds out about this and decides to open the belly of every bird of prey he can find (don't panic, he doesn't kill them if he doesn't find Aqhat inside!). Curses are made, mourning lasts for years, Daniel gives his daughter, Paghit, his blessing to go and avenge her brother's death.