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Politics : Should God be replaced? -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Greg or e who wrote (16819)	3/30/2004 3:46:03 AM
From: Solon	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 28931

"..the sum total of the literary, historical and archaeological evidence from the ancient world dramatically supports the New Testament record on Jesus. Those who claim it does not are sadly misinformed, tragically closed-minded, or dishonest." issuesetc.org "I wonder on what basis you disagree with the above statement? What are your credentials Solon?" __________________________________ If I am to criticize the validity of your opinions on the basis of your background rather than on the strength of your argument and the cogency of your ideas, then I must commit a detestable fallacy of logic. I would not thusly insult you or anyone else on this thread by making the value of their opinions contingent upon real or pretended credentials. Everyone on this thread is given equal opportunity to fair and honest hearing without bearing a prejudicial burden. Your argument here stands or falls on its own merits without regard to money, position, prestige, power, influence, school, or background. The fact that you would attempt to camouflage the poverty of your own position through the introduction of ad hominem attacks simply spreads your insufficiency in argument to an insufficiency in taste and character. What about that statement do I disagree with? All of it. On what basis? The following: He cites no reliable evidence of a literary nature. We have already looked at Josephus, Tacitus, et al and the remarkable thing is that (outside of Christian interpolations) there is no literary evidence for the Bible Jesus. Again, he claims “archeological” evidence. Let us look at his “evidence”: ” Herod the Great ruled at the time Jesus was born is demonstrated by the numerous excavations of his massive public works in the Holy Lane, including the great Temple in Jerusalem” This proves that Jesus was a contemporary of Herod? Begging the question is evidence? ”relating to Jesus’ final week in Jerusalem, an ancient flight of stairs down to the Brook Kidron has been excavated, doubtless used by Jesus and His disciples on the way to Gethsemane at the base of the Mount of Olives, where ancient olive trees still thrive” Again…this is scholarly? This is evidence? And he just goes on and on--begging the question and giving not one shred of "evidence". For you to insult me with this trash talking Lutheran Chaplain is reprehensible. And when this fellow ends his sophomoric rant with the comment that those who disagree with his ill considered and prejudiced tirade are “sadly misinformed, tragically closed-minded, or dishonest”, there is then very little I need to add in confirmation of his own self condemnation. I have painstakingly shown you a variety of reputable sources with interesting arguments which you have been unable to rationalize or dismiss. I have shown you the difficulties which must be overcome in order to assert the plausibility of a Jesus even remotely linked to the Gospels as arising from historical fact (miracles, genocides, magical competence being acquired of foreign tongues, walking through walls, etc.). Mr. Maier has not met the challenge of these difficulties—nor have you. Indeed, by mindlessly quoting him as a source (perhaps thinking we would not read his biased, cocky, and brazen misinformation and misdirection), you have merely moved your own argument from the fragile to the wanky. Let me ask you...what evidence for the historical life of a "Bible Jesus" did Mr. Maier set down which so impressed you? Please feel free to quote. Was it the fact that archeologists have found olive trees over there? Or water? Perhaps the finding of fig trees proves that Jesus withered and killed a fig tree for not bearing fruit out of season? Perhaps this is the sort of "evidence" you find impressive. And they found water. Was this not undoubtedly the very water which Jesus walked upon? Please...here is Mr. Maier's link-- issuesetc.org Show me the "evidence" which so impressed you that you considered him bright when he dismissed hundreds of scholars as being "sadly misinformed, tragically closed-minded, or dishonest"?