A professor of Hebrew Bible at the University of California–Berkeley quit the Society of Biblical Literature (SBL), voicing concern that North America's leading organization for biblical scholarship had welcomed "the views of creationists, snake-handlers, and faith healers." Several religious studies scholars were skeptical about the claim that Christian fundamentalists had invaded SBL to silence other perspectives and proselytize. More likely, several said, Hendel is simply frustrated that an increased number of religious scholars have joined SBL's ranks.