tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4351238851805936208.post519840139643855787..comments2023-08-10T05:16:43.427-04:00Comments on A New Atheism: The Christ Conundrum : A Brief ExaminationKitty Hundalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08059516048494064191noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4351238851805936208.post-66626631705635931292011-06-05T17:28:27.424-04:002011-06-05T17:28:27.424-04:00Hey Cameron,
Josephus never mentions Jesus by nam...Hey Cameron,<br /><br />Josephus never mentions Jesus by name. It seems that the Christus cult was known and it was known that their leader was crucified as were many leaders of various Jewish cults of the day.<br /><br />I can't speak for others but I use the name Jesus simply out of convenience when talking about the historical figure who led the Christus.<br /><br />I'm not a historian so I could be wrong but I'm not aware of any contemporaries who wrote about the Jews when Jesus was supposed to have lived. And these cults were not only common but many of the leaders were crucified if the Romans considered them troublemakers.<br /><br />Josephus was commissioned to write a history of the Jews and as a Jew himself he would have been familiar with the stories.Kitty Hundalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08059516048494064191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4351238851805936208.post-25110782110208833672011-06-05T02:20:52.474-04:002011-06-05T02:20:52.474-04:00The question I have about Josephus is who his sour...The question I have about Josephus is who his source was? How did he know Jesus lived? Did he have access to contemporary sources that no longer exist and that no-one (including Josephus) mentions anywhere in the historical record? Or did he infer Jesus' existence from the fact that the cult believed he existed? The latter seems to make more sense and doesn't really add any credibility to the claims that he was an historic entity.Cameron Reillyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01133720731037606441noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4351238851805936208.post-24344462266020296902011-05-29T11:24:51.981-04:002011-05-29T11:24:51.981-04:00According to Carruth, Mark is a Gentile and not a ...According to Carruth, Mark is a Gentile and not a Jew based on his writings.<br /><br />This is interesting given the fact that Matthew and Luke, both Jews, used Mark as their source and Mark doesn't take Paul's position that Jesus was divine.<br /><br />I've notified the author through the publisher that I've posted this and have invited him to join this and the other discussion occurring on AvC.<br /><br />Hopefully he'll have some time to give his input.<br /><br />Thanks for your comments.Kitty Hundalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08059516048494064191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4351238851805936208.post-29794083154113191402011-05-29T11:20:29.146-04:002011-05-29T11:20:29.146-04:00Josephus only confirms 3 points:
1. The Christus e...Josephus only confirms 3 points:<br />1. The Christus existed.<br />2. They had a leader.<br />3. The leader was executed.<br /><br />Everything else mentioned is either debatable or definitely suspect like the references to Jesus by name and his brother James, etc.<br /><br />However, given the Bible also mentions James as Jesus brother, even if that reference is an interpolation I would give them that one :-D.Kitty Hundalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08059516048494064191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4351238851805936208.post-14868088804286840852011-05-29T11:17:29.028-04:002011-05-29T11:17:29.028-04:00I don't disagree with your comments on Josephu...I don't disagree with your comments on Josephus and the fact that there are no contemporary writings on Jesus. IMO that just indicates that the Christus cult was very insignificant and just one of numerous Jewish cults of the day and Jesus was just one of many "messiahs" killed by the Romans simply because they were considered to be troublemakers.Kitty Hundalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08059516048494064191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4351238851805936208.post-69492891875656491022011-05-29T02:32:47.266-04:002011-05-29T02:32:47.266-04:00Hi man.Hi man.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4351238851805936208.post-50855097273083721662011-05-29T00:57:52.648-04:002011-05-29T00:57:52.648-04:00Thanks for the review, I'll certainly be picki...Thanks for the review, I'll certainly be picking up a copy of the book. It seems to me, though, that Josephus isn't much of a source for the historical arguments for Jesus. He doesn't claim to be or know any eyewitnesses. Reading the relevant sections of his books just seems to suggest there was a Chrestus cult in the first century, something that isn't in doubt. And the NT scriptures aren't much help either, as we can be fairly certain Mark is the only book that can claim some originality and we have no idea who wrote it and therefore have no idea as to the credibility of the author.Cameron Reillyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01133720731037606441noreply@blogger.com