Musings on biblical studies, politics, religion, ethics, human nature, tidbits from science
. . . he told me that while she wasn’t a stupid person, he described her as “someone who’s always had trouble finding a place in life, in terms of career and goals, and what her wants are and what her drives are. And as a result, she’s always been—as smart as she is—easily pulled … Continue reading “Conspiracy Theories — The Who and The Why”
I cover here another chapter in Varieties of Atheism: Mary-Jane Rubenstein‘s “Atheism and Science” discusses the relevance of Einstein’s “cosmic religious sense” to atheism. On Albert Einstein’s “Cosmic Religious Sense” Mary-Jane Rubenstein begins in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries where we find the relationship between science and religion taking shape. Our first view is that … Continue reading “Varieties of Atheism # 5 – Pantheism and Einstein”
Varieties of Atheism has rekindled my interest in atheism as an identity and as a question for wider social consideration. One can take one’s identity for granted and risk becoming stale, ossified, a life that is lived the same day after day without any further inward understanding or self-awareness. So it’s good to read the … Continue reading “Varieties of Atheism # 4 – Deeper than Reason”
Having posted here often enough about my explorations into religion it is about time I investigated what atheism is all about. So many thanks to the University of Chicago Press for allowing me access to a review copy of Varieties of Atheism : Connecting Religion and its Critics compiled and edited by David Newheiser. David … Continue reading “Varieties of Atheism # 3”
Theological Explanation of the Gospels Die theologische Erklärung der Evangelien by Bruno Bauer 1852 Foreword When I appeared with my critique of evangelical history twelve years ago, two years prior, a fortunate and thorough effort had initiated a turning point in research, placing the question that Christian theology had struggled with in an … Continue reading “BRUNO BAUER: Theological Explanation of the Gospels – Foreword”
Critique of the Gospel of John by Bruno Bauer —o0o— 396 § 17. Concluding remark. We can now bear it with a calm conscience, since we can easily show the refutation in our work, if the apologist, instead of grasping the possibility of criticism, in holy zeal reviles the critic, insults him, and brands him … Continue reading “§ 17. Concluding remark”
1. The Miracle Workers If only one question were asked, how the author of the Acts of the Apostles comes to portray the apostle, who only defeated his opponents with the force of his religious dialectic, as a magician, the man who led his historical work through sufferings, struggles and temptations, as a miracle-worker, who … Continue reading “1. Miracle Workers”
Critique of the Gospel of John by Bruno Bauer —o0o— First book. 1 § 1. Prologue. C. 1, 1-18. The prologue with which the fourth evangelist introduces his historical account contains the general principles and eternal presuppositions of the figures that are presented to us in the narrative itself. As the archetype of Christian speculation, … Continue reading “§ 1. Prologue (John 1:1-18)”
Critique of the Gospel of John by Bruno Bauer. Bremen, printed and published by Carl Schünemann. 1840 To my brother Edgar Bauer Dear Edgar! Since even the pure is not impure to the pure, it gives me particular pleasure to dedicate these leaves to you. The 2l. August 1840. ———————- v Preface. It was originally … Continue reading “Critique of the Gospel of John: Preface”
Critique of the Gospel History of the Synoptics by Bruno Bauer Volume 3 —o0o— 190 § 84. The anointing of Jesus in Bethany. 1. The report of John. C. 12, 1-8. Six days before the Passover, after the priests had decided on his death and he himself had eluded their persecution for some time, Jesus … Continue reading “§ 84. The anointing of Jesus in Bethany”
Critique of the Gospel History of the Synoptics by Bruno Bauer Volume 3 —o0o— 100 § 75. The request of the Zebedees. Mark l 0,35 – 45. Matth. 20, 20 – 28. When Mark reports that the sons of Zebedee themselves directly approached the Lord and asked for the seats at his right and left, … Continue reading “§ 75. The request of the Zebedees”
Critique of the Gospel History of the Synoptics by Bruno Bauer Volume 3 —o0o— 21 § 68. The prophecies of Jesus of his Passion. Mark 8, 31 Luk. 9, 21. 22 Matth. 16, 21 Mark 9, 31. 32 Luk. 9, 43-45 Matth. 17, 22 Mark 10, 33. 34 Luk. 18, 31-34 Matth. 20, 17 Matth. … Continue reading “§ 68. The prophecies of Jesus of his Passion”
Critique of the Gospel History of the Synoptics by Bruno Bauer Volume 2 —o0o— 332 § 58. Conclusion. Matth. 13, 51. 52. Have you understood all this? Jesus asks at the end, and when the disciples had answered in the affirmative, he says to them: “Therefore every scribe who is instructed for the kingdom of … Continue reading “§ 58. Conclusion”
I have been posting section by section my translations of Bruno Bauer’s gospel criticisms here and can note: he is a must-read author for anyone wanting to understand the evidence that the narratives arose from authorial creativity and not from inherited traditions; he is quite difficult for anyone who is not familiar with Hegelian thought … Continue reading “Understanding Bruno Bauer”