Posted on 10/05/2014 3:53:29 AM PDT by markomalley
Michael Paulkovich, author of No Meek Messiah, has proclaimed that Jesus never existed. In his book, the author details his shocking discovery of “one-hundred-twenty-six authors from the time of Jesus who should have, but did not record anything about the Christian godman.”
Paulkovich’s case rests on three main pillars. First, the discovery that no ancient writers from the first few centuries CE mention Jesus. Second, the assumption that most writers should have mentioned Jesus, since he was the Son of God and all that. Third, the keen observation that Jesus never wrote anything himself. Although an undeniably compelling trinity of argumentation, it is not without its logical problems.
Let’s get one thing straight: There is nigh universal consensus among biblical scholars—the authentic ones, anyway—that Jesus was, in fact, a real guy. They argue over the details, of course, as scholars are wont to do, but they’re pretty much all on the same page that Jesus walked the earth (if not the Sea of Galilee) in the 1st century CE.
So that brings us to Paulkovich’s list: 126 ancient writers, 0 references to Jesus. The list has a few issues. Although everyone on it is indeed ancient, some are a little too ancient—as in, lived-a-hundred-years-before-Jesus too ancient (Asclepiades of Prusa, for example).
(Excerpt) Read more at thedailybeast.com ...
Tacitus also?
It’s amazing how G-D can use evil for good purposes.
Your objections aren’t new; however, one question: if you were eyewitness to a miracle, would you expect to remain “disinterested?”
Correction: Lack of evidence is not evidence of absence. No skeptic worth his salt would advance such a fallacious argument, and assert that "Christ did not leave any writings, ergo Christ did not exist."
As for Socrates: Here, the principle of "ordinary claims do not require extraordinary evidence, while extraordinary claims do require extraordinary evidence" prevails.
If Plato had gone on to describe how Socrates performed miracles, ascended bodily into Heaven, etc., then suddenly a higher standard of proof would have to be imposed.
Regards,
The church will be judged first.
Well, there are 3.3 billion Christians in the world (Google) and half of those are Catholics. Jesus obviously convinced enough people to make it the largest faith on the planet. He did something right.
When you die you expect "poof" -- nothing? End of existence, ashes in the wind or in an urn on your wife's mantel? It's your mind, body and soul...oops, I forgot, you wouldn't believe in that either.
Faith, by its very nature, is "blind." So what stems from that WOULD be myth to you. Faith is also a GIFT, which you obviously were NOT given.
I never said that they were.
[...] however, one question: if you were eyewitness to a miracle, would you expect to remain “disinterested?”
But the Biblical witnesses - Christ's friends and relatives - weren't disinterested even before they allegedly witnessed the miracles.
And the statement of the Roman soldier "Truly this is the Son of God!" would have been more convincing if it had been recorded by someone other than a party with a vested interest in the narrative. Instead, it is only hear-say.
But to respond directly to your question: If I were myself eyewitness to a miracle - and a miracle with theological ramifications - then I would attempt to procure the hardest physical evidence available, and the most-rigorous arguments possible, in order to convince others.
I would most certainly NOT disparage them if they were unwilling to accept my narrative only on my word.
Regards,
This story shows up in October? The MSM joining merchandisers at getting Christmas off to an early start?
Modern scholars are notorious for getting things fouled up. Climate change, the myth of Obama, etc.
I'm surprised you never heard of Christian apologetics...Historical and legal evidentialism...?
O' Wait I'm sure you have but ignore them because they are biased :)
You seem to think the "standard of proof in a court of law" are the end of all arguments ...
Just ask OJ, Casey Anthony...both were guilty as the day is long, but could not be proven beyond reasonable doubt...
“My grandfather’s neighbor heard about it from someone whose friend’s brother-in-law was there” - and only then were they finally committed to paper (or, rather, parchment).
Just another satanically inspired writer on his way to hell....why should anybody give a damn what he thinks?
I guess I might as well go back to bed, then.
"Christianity is the world's largest religion, with approximately 2.2 billion adherents, known as Christians." -Wikipedia
There are approx. 1 billion adherents of Hinduism, and 1.6 billion followers of Islam. -Wikipedia
So? I should base my beliefs, or "rate" the credibility of other beliefs, based upon polls? My FRiend, you are committing the fallacy of Argumentum ad populum.
When you die you expect "poof" -- nothing? End of existence, ashes in the wind or in an urn on your wife's mantel? It's your mind, body and soul...oops, I forgot, you wouldn't believe in that either.
My personal expectations have absolutely no bearing on the discussion at hand.
By the way: Where here have I said anything about my own religious beliefs? Are you asserting that, because I reject the distorted views propagated by the mainstream churches, I must be a materialist? Are you claiming that religious beliefs must be sanctioned by an organized religion, framed in church dogma, or based on ill-translated scriptures? That they cannot be derived from focused introspection (what you, perhaps, know as "prayer"), or revealed directly to a person (though consequently inaccessible to anyone else)?
Regards,
Stirring the pot, eh?
Some pots need stirring - though, based on some of the responses here, I fear that they may be almost entirely congealed.
Furthermore, I freely confess that I am perhaps one of the least suited to stir them.
Would that more-gifted stirrers would come to the forefront!
Regards,
Let's accept that as correct for a moment and ask how this also became true.
This is a popular poem about the life of Jesus Christ. Although the author is frequently cited as "unknown”, the poem is actually attributed to James Allen Francis.
Jesus Christ: One Solitary Life
He was born in an obscure village, the child of a peasant. He grew up in another village, where he worked in a carpenter shop until he was 30. Then, for three years, he was an itinerant preacher.
He never wrote a book. He never held an office. He never had a family or owned a home. He didn't go to college. He never lived in a big city. He never traveled 200 miles from the place where he was born. He did none of the things that usually accompany greatness. He had no credentials but himself.
He was only 33 when the tide of public opinion turned against him. His friends ran away. One of them denied him. He was turned over to his enemies and went through the mockery of a trial. He was nailed to a cross between two thieves. While he was dying, his executioners gambled for his garments, the only property he had on earth. When he was dead, he was laid in a borrowed grave, through the pity of a friend.
Twenty centuries have come and gone, and today he is the central figure of the human race. I am well within the mark when I say that all the armies that ever marched, all the navies that ever sailed, all the parliaments that ever sat, all the kings that ever reigned--put together--have not affected the life of man on this earth as much as that one, solitary life.
It is even better when you hear it put to music.
Then consider:
-Even today, important stories can be suppressed.
-But back then, outside of those who saw and-or believed, Jesus’ story would not likely have seemed important, especially in comparison with whatever other things that were going on that would seem more important in a pre-Christian world.
-In other words, in 50 A.D. there was no 50 A.D.! The people didn’t know they were living in “50 A.D.”
-Jesus chose a group of men to live with Him to be witnesses. He knew they were just, humble, faithful believers in God and believed in the Messiah. They fully devoted their lives to Him, started & nurtured churches, and then died for His sake. It seems most likely, too, that Jesus intended for John and one other disciple to keep a record of what happened during His time on earth. And-or, the disciples talked over and over the things Jesus said and did. Jesus’ words and actions also would have left a uniquely deep impression.
Cont’d
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