Search found 363 matches

by steve43
Thu Feb 05, 2015 11:40 pm
Forum: Christian Texts and History
Topic: Paul Made It ALL Up?
Replies: 21
Views: 19942

Re: Paul Made It ALL Up?

Just the fact that the hypothesis is so improbable makes it almost certain to be true. That's the hallmark of a successful conspiracy.
by steve43
Thu Feb 05, 2015 7:06 pm
Forum: Christian Texts and History
Topic: What's a Cumulative Case?
Replies: 24
Views: 24663

Re: What's a Cumulative Case?

What we are talking about is a 1900 year old world-wide conspiracy. This conspiracy is made up of sophisticated and malevolent people throughout the centuries whose goal is to dupe everyone into believing in a fictitious character "Jesus." The ultimate purpose? Spiritual and intellectual e...
by steve43
Wed Feb 04, 2015 1:53 pm
Forum: Christian Texts and History
Topic: Simon, from Cyrene.
Replies: 110
Views: 93942

Re: Simon, from Cyrene.

Do YOU make that argument, or just reputable scholars?
by steve43
Wed Feb 04, 2015 11:42 am
Forum: Christian Texts and History
Topic: Simon, from Cyrene.
Replies: 110
Views: 93942

Re: Simon, from Cyrene.

You could possibly argue that, but it would probably be ridiculous.
by steve43
Mon Feb 02, 2015 11:58 am
Forum: Christian Texts and History
Topic: The Best Case Against Jesus
Replies: 60
Views: 44718

Re: The Best Case Against Jesus

Well, we have to accept the history first, but people can't even agree on proper sources for even that, cherry-picking what they want from Josephus, Tacitus, and NT that supports what they want, and trashing the rest. An exercise in futility- though cathartic under the right set of delusions. For st...
by steve43
Sat Jan 31, 2015 8:00 pm
Forum: Christian Texts and History
Topic: Simon, from Cyrene.
Replies: 110
Views: 93942

Re: Simon, from Cyrene.

Where do you find "Hellenistic" Jews in the Galilee? The Greek-Syrians detested the Jews, and so Pompey established the Decapolitan cities around the Galilee to keep them from being under the yoke of the Jewish Theocracy. There were all sorts of conflicts between the two groups that Joseph...
by steve43
Fri Jan 30, 2015 11:31 am
Forum: Christian Texts and History
Topic: Simon, from Cyrene.
Replies: 110
Views: 93942

Re: Simon, from Cyrene.

"...Aristobulus II. Yes the man was dead - but it was his legacy that ran on with his two sons, Alexander and Antigonus. Both sons being executed by Rome. Thus, Simon of Cyrene and his two sons are symbolic figures that reflect the historical figures of Aristobulus II and his two sons, Alexande...
by steve43
Wed Jan 28, 2015 11:05 am
Forum: Christian Texts and History
Topic: The Best Case for Jesus
Replies: 302
Views: 246036

Re: The Best Case for Jesus

Josephus on insurrection in Cyrene: War: book 7 437 The madness of the Sicarii infected even the cities around Cyrene. 438 A rogue named Jonathan, a weaver by trade, took refuge there and winning the attention of a number of the poorer class he led them out into the desert with the promise of showi...
by steve43
Tue Jan 27, 2015 3:34 pm
Forum: Christian Texts and History
Topic: Mythicism: Two Theories
Replies: 122
Views: 85685

Re: Mythicism: Two Theories

"criterion of embarrassment"

Well, I admit, that's a new one on me. Does Carrier development a cross-cultural scale of embarrassment and apply it to different theological schemes and paradigms so this interesting factor can be quantified?

Does it work on critical scholarship texts as well?