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Robyn J. Whitaker

Senior Lecturer in New Testament, Pilgrim Theological College, University of Divinity
I am a biblical scholar and historian with a particular interest in the contemporary use (and misuse) of the bible in debates about sexuality, gender and ethics. I have research expertise in apocalypticism and the related topics of end of the world speculation, martyrdom, and images of evil. I am published in the areas of the visual culture of the Graeco-Roman world, its impact on biblical rhetoric, New Testament, and Judeo-Christian apocalyptic literature.

Victim or victor? How the Easter story still resonates today

Apr 10, 2023 16:18 pm UTC| Insights & Views

At a March 2023 public talk, journalist Greg Sheridan argued that 40 years ago, the press was friendly to church leaders. Then, it became neutral, and now it is hostile. Sheridan is not alone in holding this...

'The blood of Jesus is my vaccine': how a fringe group of Christians hijacks faith in a war against science

Aug 06, 2021 09:51 am UTC| Insights & Views

The blood of Jesus is my vaccine read one of the signs at a recent protest against lockdown regulations in Sydney. While our tendency might be to roll our eyes at such ridiculous anti-science views, these sentiments have a...

Christmas is political, and always has been

Dec 29, 2020 14:36 pm UTC| Insights & Views Politics

The biblical Christmas story, the one that announces the birth of Jesus, seems so sweet it can appear almost saccharine. It is so often told as a childrens story and a sentimental one at that. Yet it is deeply political...

Pray, but stay away: holding on to faith in the time of coronavirus

Mar 23, 2020 12:07 pm UTC| Insights & Views

Plagues of global proportions might seem biblical, but coronavirus is creating new challenges for faith leaders. Last week in Australia, many churches, mosques and synagogues decided proactively to cancel their normal...

Hell, no! Halloween is not 'satanic' – it's an important way to think about death

Oct 31, 2019 06:31 am UTC| Insights & Views Entertainment

American televangelist Pat Robinson once claimed children who celebrate Halloween were unknowingly worshipping Satan. Despite the absurdity that a child dressing up as a witch is devil worship, the idea that Halloween...

Economy

Mexico-EU Free Trade Deal Signals Strategic Shift Away From U.S. Dependence

Mexico and the European Union officially signed a long-delayed free trade agreement aimed at strengthening economic ties and reducing reliance on the United States amid ongoing tariff tensions linked to U.S. President...

World Bank Emergency Funding Demand Surges as 27 Countries Seek Crisis Support Amid Iran Conflict

Twenty-seven countries have moved to unlock emergency financing from existing World Bank programs following the economic shock caused by the ongoing Iran conflict, according to an internal document reviewed by Reuters. The...

Trump-China Summit Yields Limited Progress on Trade and Tech Cooperation

US President Donald Trumps May 1315 visit to China ended with both nations agreeing to strengthen communication and pursue a constructive strategic stability framework, signaling cautious progress in US-China relations....

US Economy Fueled by AI Investment Faces Rising Risks Ahead of Fed Meeting

The U.S. economy continues to outperform most developed nations, supported by resilient consumer spending and a sharp rise in artificial intelligence investment, according to new institutional research from Citi. Recent...

Goldman Sachs Sees Stronger U.S. Dollar as Global Economic Gaps Widen

Goldman Sachs expects the U.S. Dollar to remain strong as diverging global macroeconomic trends continue to favor the American economy over other major regions. In its latest global research report released Friday, the...

Politics

Trump Weighs Taiwan Arms Deal as U.S. Denies Iran War Caused Delays

A source familiar with the matter said U.S. arms sales to Taiwan are not being delayed because of the ongoing conflict with Iran, pushing back against comments from a senior American official that suggested otherwise. The...

Trump-Lai Call Remains Uncertain as U.S.-China Tensions Over Taiwan Intensify

U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly suggested he may soon speak with Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te, but sources familiar with the matter say no concrete plans for a call currently exist. A direct conversation...

Marco Rubio Visits India to Rebuild U.S.-India Ties Amid Trade and Geopolitical Tensions

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived in India on Saturday for a four-day diplomatic visit aimed at strengthening the increasingly strained U.S.-India relationship. The visit comes as both countries attempt to move...

Xi Jinping Orders Full Rescue After Shanxi Coal Mine Gas Explosion Kills Eight

Chinese President Xi Jinping has ordered an all-out rescue operation after a deadly gas explosion struck a coal mine in northern Chinas Shanxi province, leaving eight workers dead and 38 others trapped underground. The...

Wang Yi to Lead UN Security Council Meeting and Visit Canada Amid Improving China-Canada Relations

Chinas Foreign Minister Wang Yi is set to travel to New York on May 26 to chair a high-level United Nations Security Council meeting, according to an announcement from Chinas foreign ministry on Friday. The diplomatic trip...

Science

Trump Administration Releases New UFO Files and Apollo Mission Records

The U.S. Defense Department has released dozens of previously classified UFO-related files following an order from President Donald Trump, sparking renewed debate over unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP) and government...

China vs. NASA: The New Moon Race and What's at Stake by 2030

The space race is back and this time, its a direct competition between the United States and China for dominance on the lunar surface. NASAs Artemis II mission recently made history when four astronauts flew farther into...

NASA Artemis II: First Crewed Moon Mission Since Apollo Takes Four Astronauts on 10-Day Lunar Journey

NASAs Artemis II mission launched Wednesday, marking humanitys return to crewed lunar exploration for the first time since the Apollo era. Carrying four astronauts aboard the Orion spacecraft, this historic 10-day mission...

NASA's Artemis II Mission: First Crewed Lunar Journey Since Apollo

NASA's Artemis II Crew Arrives in Florida for Historic Moon Mission

The four astronauts chosen for NASAs Artemis II mission have touched down at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, marking the beginning of final launch preparations for the first crewed lunar journey in over 50 years. NASA...

Technology

SpaceX Starship V3 Test Flight Boosts IPO Momentum Ahead of Historic Market Debut

SpaceX successfully completed a major test flight of its upgraded Starship V3 rocket, marking a significant achievement for Elon Musks aerospace company as it moves closer to a highly anticipated initial public offering....

PDG Explores $1 Billion Sale of China Data Center Assets

Princeton Digital Group (PDG), a major data center operator backed by private equity firm Warburg Pincus, has reportedly launched a sale process for its China-based assets that could be valued at as much as $1 billion,...

Lam Research Expands AI-Powered Semiconductor Tools and Arizona Operations

Lam Research is accelerating its investment in artificial intelligence and advanced sensing technology to improve semiconductor manufacturing efficiency while expanding its presence in Arizona and California. The...

Texas Sues Meta Over WhatsApp Encryption Claims

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has filed a lawsuit against Meta Platforms and its messaging service WhatsApp, accusing the companies of misleading consumers about WhatsApps encryption and privacy protections. The...

Pentagon Expands AI Model Testing as It Seeks Alternatives to Anthropic’s Claude

The US Department of Defense is accelerating its evaluation of artificial intelligence models as it searches for alternatives to Anthropic PBCs Claude AI system, according to a Bloomberg report published Thursday. The...