Denying the Existence of Jesus

[Uncle Dale]

...

which leaves only you.

Sorry, I was away studying 6th century Yemani manuscripts

and finishing up my next book on Ali. I also have heavy

editing and speaking responsibilities, you know.

When last we met we were discussing Saul/Paul and what he knew

of tombs -- if I recall correctly. Sorry if that doesn't spark

my interest much. Whether of not Jesus ever wrote in the dust

is a bit more my line -- but if the Jesus Seminar folks refuse

to even grant that episode "pink" status, I suppose I must chalk

it up to John's fertile renderings.

More important to me, is what might be claimed as unique about

Jesus. If we could visit Qumran a couple of years before the

Romans destroyed Jerusalem, how would we know he was NOT one

of the residents there -- NOT one of their uncloistered kin?

If we visited a vendor's stall in Galilee, around that same

time, how would we know that the guy standing nearby, purchasing

a handful of figs could not possibly be Jesus?

UD

[mfbukowski]

I'm focusing on the content of the discussion of that other board because the contributions of those previously mentioned posters are extremely useful for a person who might be wondering about the Christ. I apologize for the diversion. I find it interesting that two separate (yet parallel) boards exist in the first place. I wonder if the two boards could ever be merged so that all the view points could be seen together.

Welcome.

You ARE new, aren't you?

[Uncle Dale]

...I wonder if the two boards could ever be merged...

Welcome.

You ARE new, aren't you?

So touching -- innocence.

Uncle "As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our malevolent stalkers from us" Dale

[MormonDude]

Over on another board, a group of apostates are discussing the question of whether or not Jesus of Nazareth really existed. For the most part, they're quite confidently declaring that he probably didn't.

This is, I think, plain nonsense, and I'm not aware of (m)any reputable historians, Christian or not, who would agree with them.

Coincidentally, I addressed such declarations -- though, obviously, not at all exhaustively; there's much more to be said, and I intend to discuss it in a future book -- in my most recent column for Mormon Times:

http://www.mormontim...tness-of-Christ

I just thought, given the provocation, that I would call attention to the little piece that I wrote.

Denial of Jesus being an actual person of History, faith aside, Son of God or not, is completely bonkers; Sure, atheists would come to a conclusion of 'hey, lets just go straight to the point of what we're trying to prove, and remove Jesus from the equation!' obviously hoping for a response. . but really; why would atheists try and sink that low? Are they trying to prove themselves wrong?

[MormonDude]

<BR>Over on another board, a group of apostates are discussing the question of whether or not Jesus of Nazareth really existed.  For the most part, they're quite confidently declaring that he probably didn't.<BR><BR>This is, I think, plain nonsense, and I'm not aware of (m)any reputable historians, Christian or not, who would agree with them.<BR><BR>Coincidentally, I addressed such declarations -- though, obviously, not at all exhaustively; there's much more to be said, and I intend to discuss it in a future book -- in my most recent column for <I>Mormon Times</I>:<BR><BR><A class=bbc_url title="External link" href="http://www.mormontimes.com/article/15047/Capernaum-bears-witness-of-Christ" rel="nofollow external">http://www.mormontim...tness-of-Christ</A><BR><BR>I just thought, given the provocation, that I would call attention to the little piece that I wrote.<BR>

<BR><BR>Denial of Jesus being an actual person of History, faith aside, Son of God or not, is completely bonkers; Sure, atheists would come to a conclusion of 'hey, lets just go straight to the point of what we're trying to prove, and remove Jesus from the equation!' obviously hoping for a response. .  but really; why would atheists try and sink that low? Are they trying to prove themselves wrong?<BR><BR>

[mfbukowski]

I am persuaded by Pagel's interpretation that the Gospel of Thomas was written just prior to the Gospel of John. I'm just skeptical that Gnosticism arose that early in the Church.

However, I do find it interesting that Thomas is the closest thing we have to the theoretical Q.

But doesn't the gospel of John contain many gnostic references?

[rockslider]

So touching -- innocence.

Uncle "As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our malevolent stalkers from us" Dale

an to think I found the head plug funny

I'm dieing here

[Uncle Dale]

...dieing here

Running with the hares is always a mite difficult,

when you're also hunting with the hounds.

But, I try my best...

Uncle "We have met the enemy, and he is us -- Pogo" Dale

[volgadon]

Sorry, I was away studying 6th century Yemani manuscripts

and finishing up my next book on Ali. I also have heavy

editing and speaking responsibilities, you know.

Not as heavy as your attempt at sarcasm.

[mfbukowski]

Uncle "We have met the enemy, and he is us -- Pogo" Dale

Dang.

You really ARE as old as I am.

[volgadon]

My dad had several of the Pogo books, I remember taking them to 1st grade, and trying to understand what they were all about. A lot of it didn't get through until several years later in retrospection. Then I found an old MAD book with a parody on Pogo and McCarthy-era politics.

[Uncle Dale]

Not as heavy...

Patience, my child -- the muses of sacred humor will bring such a

blasphemer to justice -- (after he racks up another 10,000 MAD MB posts).

You're a great audience, folks. Which reminds me --

An apostle, a stake president and a bishop walk into a bar...

Uncle "that was no lady; that was my wife..." Dale

[Daniel Peterson]

Furthermore, since you and Uncle Dale are the only omniscient members of this board, I'm naturally interested in your opinions.

I know for a fact that Dale is not omniscient.

[Uncle Dale]

...not omniscient.

Jus' you an' me and

the Devil makes three...

UD

[Ariarates]

Thanks for your advice. I suppose I should get somebody wise like you, who understands these things, someone of better character and sounder personality, to write my posts for me.

Yeah, you wish :-)

Perhaps I should be euthanized, but I just can't quite get myself in the mood to go to the vet. Would you be willing to drive me?

Actually, it's legal in my country so if you want, I can set up an appointment. You'd have to be terminal with no hope of recovery, though.

Just avert your gaze, Ariarates. Hold your nose. Sing a favorite ditty. Think of England. Surely there must be at least one or two things in your universe more wearisome and noxious than I am.

At first I thought there would be, but looking at post # 126 made me doubt again. The amount of time and effort you dedicate just to win a pissing contest is not healthy, imo.

[Daniel Peterson]

Actually, it's legal in my country so if you want, I can set up an appointment. You'd have to be terminal with no hope of recovery, though.

I'm not. Several of my critics seem to be, though.

At first I thought there would be, but looking at post # 126 made me doubt again. The amount of time and effort you dedicate just to win a pissing contest is not healthy, imo.

If you had the motive correct, you might have a point.

You didn't though, so you don't.

I was mightily unhappy with the exchanges of that day, and wanted to work out, as much for myself as for anybody else, how they had turned out the way they did. I was astonished at the narrator's reaction to my posts; plainly, he was astonished by my reaction to his. I wanted to sort that out. I now have, to my satisfaction.

[volgadon]

You're a great audience, folks. Which reminds me --

An apostle, a stake president and a bishop walk into a bar...

Did it hurt?

[rockslider]

I just wish rockslider would learn a trade...

so I would know what kind of work he's out of.

guffaw! -- guffaw!

Uncle "attributed to the late, great Henny Youngman" Dale

I cry UNCLE, as in, I give, surrender, please stop!