Originally posted by NotReallyASecret
Originally posted by Numbers33four
The historicity of Jesus is well established.
It's well established Jesus was a God??? 
No, that he was a real person. I thank you for the link. As I listen to it I'm struck that this young man can't see the forest for the trees. If I
may recommend a book to you, check out
The Five
Gospels which does not contradict this poor fellow, but adds a bit of depth to the issues involved.
You might be surprised that in many seminaries, the basic conclusion is that Jesus was a charismatic man with a message, and that's all. In any case,
this man's "revelation" that the gospels are "full of myth" is kind of like saying "water is wet." Myth and metaphor are how people told
stories before the advent of the printing press and the internet. Finding myth in the gospels doesn't really dismiss them, as this fellow seems to
think. Like many anti-Christians, he takes the stories literally, points out they cannot be true, and dismisses them, apparently thinking people
really believe them and take them literally.
He, and other anti-Christians, might be surprised to learn that theologians are not stupid, literal people. They know full well that the earth is not
6,000 years old, that Eve did not eat a real apple, that Noah did not hold a concert for everyone on the ark.
When I listen to him I'm thinking he is terribly superficial here. He obviously does not begin to understand some of the deeper elements he is
skimming over. I would be surprised if he knows about or can comprehend Quelle, for example. He's a kind of guy who read the Bible and Bertrand
Russell (If I must tell you, he wrote "Why I am not a Christian") then called it good. He forgot to read Albert Schweitzer ("The Qwest for the
Historical Jesus"). he has no appreciation for the more complex issues.
Obviously, this issue is far bigger than a concocted university debate. We can't solve the issues here on this thread. But as for this kid
"destroying Christianity and Jesus." Not a chance. He doesn't even come close. If he thinks he does, he's delusional.
BTW, in conventional terms, I consider myself an atheist, so please don't type me as a misty-eyed believer.
Cheers.
