Nazzeyes, Clavdivs, and the Pentatoik

I grew up in a small city in eastern Ohio, right on the border with Pennsylvania, a tiny place called East Palestine. The story goes that back in the 19th century to escape higher taxes in their home states, a number of industrialists set up shop in the first town on the Ohio and Pennsylvania Railroad (later called the … Continue reading “Nazzeyes, Clavdivs, and the Pentatoik”


Framing the Historicist-Mythicist Debate: A Case Study

The citations refer to the previous two interview posts. Miami is the first one with David Fitzgerald; Logicast is Daniel’s follow up podcast. The time references match the preceding time marker in each of the two posts. So [Logicast, 49:00] means that the source for my statement can be found by beginning to read from the … Continue reading “Framing the Historicist-Mythicist Debate: A Case Study”


Ehrman Misremembers Halbwachs: “Everybody Wants ta Get inta the Act”

Early this morning, I was sipping coffee and catching up on some Biblioblogs. Hey, did you notice we’re number 31 on the list of the Top 50 Biblioblogs? Thanks for reading Vridar! Anyhow, I was reading the latest posts on the Ehrman blog, and lo and behold it turns out Brother Bart is interested in … Continue reading “Ehrman Misremembers Halbwachs: “Everybody Wants ta Get inta the Act””


The Ostrich War On Mythicism

After opting to respond to Raphael Lataster in a less than fully civil or professional manner for daring to publicly raise legitimate questions about the evidence for the historical existence of Jesus, Christian gentleman and scholar Michael Bird has followed up with a two minute video-clip of Bart Ehrman addressing a mythicist’s question. Needless to … Continue reading “The Ostrich War On Mythicism”


What If Jesus Were Real?

“What is the nature of the employment, Mr. Marriott?” “I should prefer not to discuss it over the phone.” “Can you give me some idea? Montemar Vista is quite a distance.” “I shall be glad to pay your expenses, if we don’t agree. Are you particular about the nature of the employment?” “Not as long … Continue reading “What If Jesus Were Real?”


The Historical Jesus and the Demise of History, 2: The Overlooked Reasons We Know Certain Ancient Persons Existed

In the previous post in this series I concluded by pointing out the fundamental difference between the sources used by historians concerning nonbiblical historical figures such as Napoleon, Alexander or even Socrates, and those used by New Testament scholars for Jesus. In the former, the sources leave no doubt at all that certain individuals lived … Continue reading “The Historical Jesus and the Demise of History, 2: The Overlooked Reasons We Know Certain Ancient Persons Existed”


Why the Church Does Not Want Jesus — ‘Is This Not the Carpenter?’ chapter 4

Niels Peter Lemche is the author of the fourth chapter of ‘Is This Not the Carpenter?’, “The Grand Inquisitor and Christ: Why the Church Does Not Want Jesus”. He frames his case around the parable in Dostoyevsky’s novel, The Brothers Karamazov, that tells of Christ being arrested on his return to earth in the time … Continue reading “Why the Church Does Not Want Jesus — ‘Is This Not the Carpenter?’ chapter 4”


30. Earl Doherty’s Response to Bart Ehrman’s Case Against Mythicism — Part 30 (Did Mark Invent Jesus of Nazareth?)

* Did Mark Invent Jesus of Nazareth? . COVERED IN THIS POST: How much did Mark invent in his Gospel? John’s dependency on the Synoptics John’s changes and innovations Lazarus and the Signs Source How independent of Mark are Matthew and Luke? Robert Price on no “M” and “L” sources Trusting Luke’s Prologue again Ehrman’s … Continue reading “30. Earl Doherty’s Response to Bart Ehrman’s Case Against Mythicism — Part 30 (Did Mark Invent Jesus of Nazareth?)”


Bart Ehrman vs. Earl Doherty. Part 29 of Earl Doherty’s Response to Bart Ehrman’s Case Against Mythicism

* Bart Ehrman vs. Earl Doherty . COVERED IN THIS POST: Using previous scholarship with a different end result Ehrman’s numerous misreadings and misrepresentations of my text Platonic (and other) ancient views of the universe What was the interpretation of the cultic myths: allegorical or literal, heavenly or earthly? among the philosophers? among the devotees … Continue reading “Bart Ehrman vs. Earl Doherty. Part 29 of Earl Doherty’s Response to Bart Ehrman’s Case Against Mythicism”


Carrier versus Ehrman: Reflections

I have decided to do my own review, or series of reflections, on Bart Ehrman’s book. I think it could be worthwhile writing about it through the context of both Richard Carrier’s response to it and Bart Ehrman’s replies to Carrier. It is interesting, perhaps instructive, to see the way Bart Ehrman’s tone has changed … Continue reading “Carrier versus Ehrman: Reflections”


Earliest Manuscript of the Gospel of Mark Validates Earl Doherty

Already the rumours are flying around the theologicobiblioblogosphere about what this will mean for mythicism. A sensational new discovery of a first century manuscript of the Gospel of Mark has been quietly announced on a Blog (as is the way such rare and monumental finds are typically announced, of course). We have as many as eighteen … Continue reading “Earliest Manuscript of the Gospel of Mark Validates Earl Doherty”


Demystifying R. Joseph Hoffmann, and the war over Bayes’ theorem

Updated 5th July to add link to Richard Carrier’s post taking Hoffmann to task. R. Joseph Hoffmann has let a crotchety side to his nature show as he publicly attempts to humiliate a younger scholar who, in exchanges with the aging don, has exposed a dint of mediocrity in his intellect. The casus belli is, … Continue reading “Demystifying R. Joseph Hoffmann, and the war over Bayes’ theorem”


An even worse worst argument for the historicity of Jesus

It has been seriously asserted (mainstream biblical scholars should be taken seriously) that it would be “a miracle” if an ancient author, not living in Palestine, ever wrote a nonhistorical narrative about a nonhistorical Jesus that was set in real Palestinian towns and with characters bearing the names common among Palestinians. Mind you, the same intellectual … Continue reading “An even worse worst argument for the historicity of Jesus”


Explaining the $50 fee & “The Real Jesus Challenge”

I decided to go to the source to ask the reason for the $50 entry fee for the Historicist Prize  (The Jesus Challenge). I was well aware I was only speculating when commenting on it recently, and others were speculating on it quite vacuously and even maliciously. So why not see what I could learn … Continue reading “Explaining the $50 fee & “The Real Jesus Challenge””