Search Results for: eddie marcus

How a historian approaches the question of the historical Jesus: concluding the PZ and Eddie Marcus discussion

Previous posts: PZ Myers interviews a historian about Jesus mythicism (2018-09-05) How do historians decide who was historical, who fictional? (2018-09-06) How do we approach the question of Jesus being historical or mythical? (2018-09-07) I have as a rule paraphrased main points that each person spoke in their exchange. –o– PZ: You (Eddie) say it is unlikely … Continue reading “How a historian approaches the question of the historical Jesus: concluding the PZ and Eddie Marcus discussion”

A constructive exchange with Tim O’Neill on the question of the historicity of Jesus

Tim O’Neill has given up much of his time to write a detailed post (over 8,700 words) as a guide for non-historians to find their way through the mass of nonsense on the web about Jesus never having existed. Tim is responding to posts by biologist PZ Myers who is asking questions of a “professional … Continue reading “A constructive exchange with Tim O’Neill on the question of the historicity of Jesus”

The Phlogiston Jesus

PZ Myers: A consensus doesn’t necessarily mean anything. 200 years ago there was a consensus phlogiston existed. The key thing is: show me the chain of evidence and the logic that you use to derive this. (From video discussion with Eddie Marcus; see also transcript/paraphrase.) …. Tim O’Neill: If we look at relevant non-Christian scholars, … Continue reading “The Phlogiston Jesus”

On mythicism, creationism and the wrath of ancient kings

Someone asked me who among atheists were critical of Jesus mythicism when I posted Atheist Hostility to Jesus Mythicism … making sense of it and a number have questioned my own view of why they do, or at least have offered alternative viewpoints. All fair enough. Meanwhile, someone on Facebook chided me for not having read … Continue reading “On mythicism, creationism and the wrath of ancient kings”

A Bedrock Assumption in Historical Jesus Studies

A few months ago I posted about Michael Zolondek’s claims that historical Jesus scholarship uses the same historical methods as those used by other historians. Michael himself responded and I assured him and others that I would return to his book and compare his claims about his methods with the actual processes found in the … Continue reading “A Bedrock Assumption in Historical Jesus Studies”

Religion Explained – Why Rituals (Explaining the origin of the Lord’s Supper)

Why for that matter do people gather in a special building, listen to accounts of a long-past torture-session and pretend to eat the flesh of a god? (Boyer, p. 262) As we noted recently, our historian friend Eddie Marcus made the following comment — I paraphrase: Christians obsessed over the eucharist. The reason we think … Continue reading “Religion Explained – Why Rituals (Explaining the origin of the Lord’s Supper)”

How do we approach the question of Jesus being historical or mythical?

… Continuing from PZ Myers interviews a historian about Jesus mythicism and How do historians decide who was historical, who fictional? –o– PZ Myers asks: How do we approach this kind of topic? Eddie Marcus, introduced as a professional historian, responds: Eddie Marcus informs listeners that his expertise is in Australian culture and history, not … Continue reading “How do we approach the question of Jesus being historical or mythical?”

How do historians decide who was historical, who fictional?

PZ Myers is a biologist with a curiosity about how historians determine whether a person appearing in ancient records is considered historical or otherwise. He asks: How does one assess people and events that are contradictory, vague or preserved only in stories passed on by word of mouth? As for figures about whom we have … Continue reading “How do historians decide who was historical, who fictional?”

PZ Myers interviews a historian about Jesus mythicism

PZ Myers of Pharyngula has posted an interview with a historian in order to discuss The ontology of historical figures — with a particular view to the question of this historicity of Jesus. I intend to post a critical commentary on the remarks by the historian, Eddie Marcus (I think that was the name but correct … Continue reading “PZ Myers interviews a historian about Jesus mythicism”