The book's writer claims it is a fictional story but the "facts" about Jesus in it are true.
I have no dog in this fight, but it's curious why people keep saying "It's a novel, what's your problem?" It is a novel, but the claims it makes are taken seriously by a large number of people. Spreading BS is something this agnostic takes seriously, and if you talk to many people about the book you will find some scary folks who think the book's sloppy research is all accurate.
"I have no dog in this fight, but it's curious why people keep saying "It's a novel, what's your problem?" It is a novel, but the claims it makes are taken seriously by a large number of people. Spreading BS is something this agnostic takes seriously, and if you talk to many people about the book you will find some scary folks who think the book's sloppy research is all accurate."
I too have no dog in this fight, but isn't making a big deal about this similar to the Muslims getting all bent out of shape over Salman Rushdie, sans death threats?
You are wholly right. Wholly.
And this is the central problem with arts today, especially commercial arts. People do sit up and take notice, and in many cases take arts seriously.
Moreover, the artists are given a forum to air their wild assertions, and never called out for it. Our commercial culture has athletic arts, comedic and improvisational arts, performance arts etc., etc., as well as the fine arts. And all these artists seek attention and avenues to vent their foolish opinions.
VD Hanson wrote that today's artists are in possession of no learning, that no real scholarship furthers what natural gifts they possess. And this is the real problem: absence of moral taste and judgement. Their arts are entertaining, and they are indeed arts, but these have no place except in the shadow of great art.