Did Any of the Authors of the Gospels Know Jesus?

[AmbiguousGuy]

I am sure they did, or at least knew of the oral traditions.

You know, once we strip away the miracle claims -- the Pumpkin carriage, the transformation at midnight -- I think we are left with a compelling historical character. At the very least, we know that her mother died at a young age and that she eventually married a prince. These two items make up the historical core of our story which even the most hardcore and ignorant Cinderella Mythicist cannot dare to question.

 

[steeltoes]

You know, once we strip away the miracle claims -- the Pumpkin carriage, the transformation at midnight -- I think we are left with a compelling historical character. At the very least, we know that her mother died at a young age and that she eventually married a prince. These two items make up the historical core of our story which even the most hardcore and ignorant Cinderella Mythicist cannot dare to question.

Yes, the mythicists could never come up with an alternate hypothesis. They would have no credibility if they did question those two core items that every historian believes is true.

 

[fantome profane]

You know, once we strip away the miracle claims -- the Pumpkin carriage, the transformation at midnight -- I think we are left with a compelling historical character. At the very least, we know that her mother died at a young age and that she eventually married a prince. These two items make up the historical core of our story which even the most hardcore and ignorant Cinderella Mythicist cannot dare to question.

Ok, I have to admit this is pretty funny. Well done. :clap

I still think a historical Jesus is more likely than a completely mythical one. But this is funny.

 

[Desert Snake]

Ok, I have to admit this is pretty funny. Well done. :clap

I still think a historical Jesus is more likely than a completely mythical one. But this is funny.

Actually, I think it's problematic. Just because something 'seems' correct to the narrative to one or many people, doesn't mean they're analyzing the whole scenario....it's a classic case of, "well, it makes sense to me!(eveidence-non-withstanding)

Seriously, I don't think people are thinking through the narrative, maybe it's so ingrained in their culture they can' t get beyond the knee-jerk reations, idk..

 

[AmbiguousGuy]

Actually, I think it's problematic. Just because something 'seems' correct to the narrative to one or many people, doesn't mean they're analyzing the whole scenario....it's a classic case of, "well, it makes sense to me!(eveidence-non-withstanding)

Seriously, I don't think people are thinking through the narrative, maybe it's so ingrained in their culture they can' t get beyond the knee-jerk reations, idk..

Which narrative: Jesus or Cinderella?

 

[Desert Snake]

Which narrative: Jesus or Cinderella?

Cinderella/

 

[fantome profane]

Actually, I think it's problematic. Just because something 'seems' correct to the narrative to one or many people, doesn't mean they're analyzing the whole scenario....it's a classic case of, "well, it makes sense to me!(eveidence-non-withstanding)

Seriously, I don't think people are thinking through the narrative, maybe it's so ingrained in their culture they can' t get beyond the knee-jerk reations, idk..

There are people who have spent their entire professional careers analyzing the evidence and most of them have concluded that there was a historical Jesus. I don't think it is fair to say that all these professionals are unable to get beyond their ingrained culture and knee-jerk reactions.

I think it was in another thread that someone recommend that I read Bart Erhman's book "Did Jesus Exist". I have read it and I am now going to recommend to you that you read it.

 

[Desert Snake]

There are people who have spent their entire professional careers analyzing the evidence and most of them have concluded that there was a historical Jesus. I don't think it is fair to say that all these professionals are unable to get beyond their ingrained culture and knee-jerk reactions.

I think it was in another thread that someone recommend that I read Bart Erhman's book "Did Jesus Exist". I have read it and I am now going to recommend to you that you read it.

I think there can be skepticism as to the entirety of the narrative., regardless of which side of that argument you're on/

 

[fantome profane]

I think there can be skepticism as to the entirety of the narrative., regardless of which side of that argument you're on/

Absolutely, no question. I am a big fan of skepticism. And in fact I really have no problem with people who don't believe in a historical Jesus. I do have a problem with those who show disrespect for an entire field of professional scholars.

 

[outhouse]

There are people who have spent their entire professional careers analyzing the evidence and most of them have concluded that there was a historical Jesus. I don't think it is fair to say that all these professionals are unable to get beyond their ingrained culture and knee-jerk reactions.

I think it was in another thread that someone recommend that I read Bart Erhman's book "Did Jesus Exist". I have read it and I am now going to recommend to you that you read it.

Not only that there is almost a complete consensus.


Its not even like a 10% ratio, where it would be questionable.


There are only around a handful of scholars that follow a mythicist pattern and that is out of thousands of credible scholars and professors.

 

[Desert Snake]

You know, once we strip away the miracle claims -- the Pumpkin carriage, the transformation at midnight -- I think we are left with a compelling historical character. At the very least, we know that her mother died at a young age and that she eventually married a prince. These two items make up the historical core of our story which even the most hardcore and ignorant Cinderella Mythicist cannot dare to question.

Actually, I always read this as fictional///

 

[AmbiguousGuy]

Absolutely, no question. I am a big fan of skepticism. And in fact I really have no problem with people who don't believe in a historical Jesus. I do have a problem with those who show disrespect for an entire field of professional scholars.

So you think we should bow to the consensus among Quranic scholars as to the true nature of Muhammad?

Not me. I suspect that they are afflicted by an insurmountable bias. A cultural presupposition about the historical Muhammad.

 

[AmbiguousGuy]

Actually, I always read this as fictional///

Jesus or Cinderella?

 

[Bunyip]

No, none of the authors of the bible met Jesus. The first writtings come a generation later.

 

[psychoslice]

No, none of the authors of the bible met Jesus. The first writtings come a generation later.

I agree with this also.

 

[Sunstone]

Not to the best of my knowledge. Nor does one get that impression from sources such as …

That's helpful. Thanks!

 

[steeltoes]

So you think we should bow to the consensus among Quranic scholars as to the true nature of Muhammad?

Not me. I suspect that they are afflicted by an insurmountable bias. A cultural presupposition about the historical Muhammad.

Exactly.

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

From what I've read, the earliest gospel dates to hundreds of years after the events described are supposed to have taken place.

That is almost certainly inaccurate.

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

Actually, I think it's problematic.

What is problematic is making thoughtless claims and then refusing to take responsibility for them. People should probably take this into consideration before investing your chatter about what you think with any credibility.

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

That's helpful. Thanks!

It is well worth owning.