tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30648257.post918000008599782808..comments2024-02-19T04:50:58.170-08:00Comments on Shuck and Jive: Is Jesus Christ a Myth? A Review of Robert Price's, "The Christ Myth Theory and Its Problems"John Shuckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00798753206614838161noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30648257.post-44982558202007698942012-04-05T14:03:30.783-07:002012-04-05T14:03:30.783-07:00Keep them guessing is exactly it. I appreciate Ro...Keep them guessing is exactly it. I appreciate Robert Price. I think he has a lot to offer. I could never make a decision based strictly on historical scholarly grounds. For one reason, I am not an historical scholar. I am a minister. <br /><br />My last comment has to do with the certainty that some of these scholars seem to possess around this. I doubt them all. I demand to see for myself. I often interpret that Thomas exchange as Jesus rewarding Thomas for doubting and making a special appearance just for him (despite the fact that Jesus scolds him). He scolds him but he rewards him.<br /><br />Home for me is the Jesus Seminar's Jesus. At the end of the day, he preaches. The message of distributive justice is consistent with the heart of the rest of the Bible and it feels right. But that view--that conviction--does not live or die with me based on what scholars come up with regarding what is or is not historical about Jesus. <br /><br />I am happy to keep open about it all and see what happens...John Shuckhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00798753206614838161noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30648257.post-71559415364610850342012-04-05T13:30:49.825-07:002012-04-05T13:30:49.825-07:00Great stuff. Wait 'til I propose an "adu...Great stuff. Wait 'til I propose an "adult spiritual enrichment" class at my UU church on The Mythical Jesus. Some of them think I'm the fundie vanguard, plotting to take over the congregation. Some of them have said I can't possibly be a Christian and not "believe" the resuscitated corpse routine. Keep 'em guessing, that's my plan!<br /><br />BTW . . . I'm intrigued by your final comment that "unless I thrust my hand into his side I [probably] will not believe."<br /><br />Ahhh the mystic will out.Sea Raven, D.Min.https://www.blogger.com/profile/11437086460582996056noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30648257.post-33242257777656762462012-04-05T05:34:13.284-07:002012-04-05T05:34:13.284-07:00I used to hate Martin Kahler for promoting the &qu...I used to hate Martin Kahler for promoting the "historical Christ" over the "so-called historical Jesus," thereby ruining historical Jesus studies for 80 years. Increasingly, I think he was right. Bob Price is truly a very smart, entertaining badboy. If you keep up all these radio interviews you will have to syndicate your show.Dennis Maherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11030902830985145482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30648257.post-19990523489258083332012-04-05T05:29:12.526-07:002012-04-05T05:29:12.526-07:00There is nothing inherently wrong with speculating...There is nothing inherently wrong with speculating what might lie behind a text--so long as one doesn't confuse it with science or history.<br /><br />The interesting thing to me about this approach is that, were the gospels a reasonably accurate account of what happened, this methodology couldn't discern that. If you begin with, "These Things Cannot Be," you have no place to go but to start constructing just-so stories to account for them otherwise.<br /><br />"The genius of Jesus might not have been in Jesus but in his creators."<br /><br />So it was not the unknown Jesus, but the equally unknown "creators"--who are said to have performed similar miracles, and are presumably equally mythical (after all, the books of Acts related how St. Paul was taken for Zeus). So it's like the old essay answer: "Historians have proven that the Iliad and the Odyssey were not written by Homer, but by another man with the same name."<br /><br />Jesus is indeed a character in the gospels, just as Alexander is a character in Plutarch's Lives, as Pericles is in Thucydides' History, as Socrates is in Plato's and Xenophon's dialogues. Even the most "scientific" history is peopled by literary characters. This is a truism. Our own republic consciously emulated the Roman model, with our Capitol, and Senate, and Assembly of the people. We must only hope that future historians don't see our history as mythical because it recaptulates that of the children of Romulus.rick allenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07612435616018593956noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30648257.post-69182912481317929762012-04-04T19:32:52.962-07:002012-04-04T19:32:52.962-07:00Thanks Rob and Deborah! I think it is important t...Thanks Rob and Deborah! I think it is important to engage the more thought-provoking authors, the once that really mess up my certainties help me grow. Price is one of those. I also will be reviewing Dominic Crossan's new book on Parables, how fiction by Jesus became fiction about Jesus! All three have graciously agreed to interview with me. I have interviewed Ehrman and Crossan already, and if all works as scheduled Robert Price next week! It will be a fun Jesus series. Oh and Bishop Spong interviewed me as well. Now I need a catchy title...John Shuckhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00798753206614838161noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30648257.post-73357228646537094152012-04-04T16:21:44.722-07:002012-04-04T16:21:44.722-07:00Thanks, John! I always appreciate your reviews - o...Thanks, John! I always appreciate your reviews - or previews - of great books, and how they relate to faith. I totally want to be part of your church community!Deborahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15888603260448463933noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30648257.post-31744225910276623342012-04-04T10:20:05.265-07:002012-04-04T10:20:05.265-07:00Thanks, John, for presenting a summary of a very c...Thanks, John, for presenting a summary of a very complex topic. Love your conclusion especially "Jesus is just all right with me"!! <br />For me, a key line is this: "The genius of Jesus might not have been in Jesus but in his creators." I totally agree. As I like to say, there is no such thing as objectivity. Likewise, every 'take' on Jesus is a "one of a kind;" and most have something valuable / useful to them, if only to clarify what one thinks or believes. <br />I also prefer to focus less on the 'words of God' in the Bible (over-worshiped, i'd say) and focus more on the 'Word of God' (in the sense of the eternal mystical truth of God's mysterious ubiquity) . Kinda like missing the forest cause of the trees. Sure we need trees, but we also can't lose sight of the whole picture.<br />Strength to your hand, John!Rob Stewarthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00042230973725301073noreply@blogger.com