It's not that the mythicists shouldn't be challenged; they clearly should. And if they're genuine scholars (as many of them are) they would surely welcome the engagement. But Did Jesus Exist? has turned out to be a disappointment all round, doing little more than stirring up a hornet's nest of largely justified indignation. Now it seems he's also getting walloped from the historicist centre-ground. Both Stephanie Fisher and Maurice Casey (author of the somewhat stroppy and high-handed Jesus of Nazareth) have levelled some pertinent criticism at Ehrman's assunptions and insinuations. Jim West has the details. Interesting to note that Ehrman refused to allow this criticism to appear on his blog, calling it "mean spirited."
Which seems a bit rich given the approach he takes in his own book.
Jesus of Nazareth
Here's another take on Ehrman's book:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.religiondispatches.org/books/atheologies/5890/inventing_jesus%3A_an_interview_with_bart_ehrman
Very interesting. Stephanie's comments appear no harsher than many of the mythicist comments that Ehrman has allowed past moderation. It makes me curious about what else he might not be allowing through.
ReplyDeleteAs a mythicist, I don't mind the traditionalists' divisive infighting. Bart E admits mythicist "numbers do appear to be increasing". That's for sure!
ReplyDeleteNeil G, Dr McGrath's arch nemesis, has, again, come under withering attack from Steph Fisher's poison pen.
ReplyDelete