Posted on 02/13/2006 10:37:19 AM PST by SmithL
In his film "The God Who Wasn't There," Brian Flemming questions the very existence of Jesus Christ, a premise that might leave some hard-core Christians convinced this former Christian is going to hell. In the film, Flemming argues that the biblical Jesus is a myth, a legend based on allegorical stories that were never supposed to be seen as historical accounts.
It's a provocative claim but not without precedent. Many scholars have questioned the historicity of the Jesus story, although it remains central to Christian beliefs.
Flemming, who now considers himself an atheist, lays out his case in interviews with academics and in conversations with believers outside a Billy Graham rally. He also returns to the evangelical school he attended in Southern California for a confrontational interview with the headmaster.
The film has been criticized by conservative Christian groups like Focus on the Family, which has taken issue with its scholarship, and praised by religious skeptics as an antidote to blind faith. Following a limited theatrical run, "The God Who Wasn't There" has been screening at venues around the country, including many showings sponsored by atheist groups. The DVD went on sale in stores Jan. 31.
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
Can't wait for his follow-up film on Mohammed. Waiting...waiting...
How about another courageous take on "McCarthyism" and Hollywood blacklisting? Like, it's never been done.
Referring to Flemming as "Former Christian" is an oxymoron. Flemming is either a pseudo Christian or a liar, either way, his "documentary" is totally worthless and every genuine Christian recognizes it.
The bad news for Brian is that no one has ever really clearly defined what the "unforgivable sin" is. Perhaps this is it.
Intellectuals can argue all they want. There is no end of debate on any issue, including the existence of God or the historicity of Jesus Christ.
Jesus changed my heart overnight, and I did not expect it. I had tried to read a little of the Bible years before, but put it down because it was dry and uninteresting. Suddenly now, the Bible came alive to me. It was as though a voice was speaking the words to me, and revealing their truth. And it all began with a prayer of very small faith, "God, if you're there, I need to know."
He lives. He is risen. Death has no more victory, the grave has no more sting. He is the Resurrection and the Life. He is the alpha and the omega, the beginning and the end. He will one day return, and every knee will bow, and every tongue confess, that Jesus Christ is Lord.
The mamby-pamby world council of churches types that would say things like "we ALL are God's children" (according to John 1:10 only those who believe on His name are given the power to be called Children of God, yet there are so-called Christian clerics who often intone that all people are children of God). Such soft core Christians are very easy to find in the religion department at Universities like TCU, SMU, Baylor, etc.
It's hard to deny Him when you know Him... which is why I question whether Flemming ever knew Him at all.
Actually, between the gospels, Paul and Josephus, there is more literary evidence for Jesus than for many historical figures that long ago. And it stands to reason, since it is unlikely the apostles would have gone through all the trouble if they were liars or that they were afflicted by mass insanity or hysteria, it stands to reason there was some historical personage upon which the movement of Christianity was based.
What would happen if someone were to tell a bunch of Moslems that he was using this attack on Jesus to besmirch the prophet Muhammed?
I'll get the popcorn.
But then one may also read Hyam Maccoby's Revolution In Judaea: Jesus and The Jewish Resistance and his yet much stronger argument that indeed Jesus had lived, died and moreover lived on through his believers.
Ditto bump :-)
You know, you'd think whoever wrote that legend could have organized it better so that it had a nice consistent narrative like a top quality legend should.
Amen.
Exactly. Must take a big set of cojones to blaspheme a religion founded on the teachings of a pacifist.
Let's see what this kid's made of. Let him make a documentary about Mohammed the pederast.
I don't think Jesus was a pacifist.
Compared to Mohammed and His contemporaries he was.
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