Josephus, Antiquities, 18.116-119Written c. 94 CE. Some have disputed the authenticity of this passage, but it is extant as early as 248CE, as it is referred to in Origen’s Contra Celsus 1.47. The relevant text reads (my highlighting) Source: LCL 433:81-85 It’s unclear whether to make a case of an interpolation by a Christian scribe … Josephus On The Death Of John The Baptist: Interpolation Or Late Date For Mark?

So, in this series of post I talked about the meaning of the death of Jesus. The previous posts were: The Peculiar Case Of The Martyrdom Of Polycarp and interpreting the Death of Jesus (2/2) The Peculiar Case Of The Martyrdom Of Polycarp and interpreting the Death of Jesus: Erasing The Cross From History Paul … Jesus Died According To The Scriptures (Conclusion)

So, in my last three posts I’ve been talking about the question of whether Jesus died by crucifixion, or for some other reason: The Peculiar Case Of The Martyrdom Of Polycarp and interpreting the Death of Jesus (2/2) The Peculiar Case Of The Martyrdom Of Polycarp and interpreting the Death of Jesus: Erasing The Cross … Jesus According To The Scriptures Wrap Up

I talked a bit last time about how the theologizing of Jesus’s death as crucifixion puts into question the historicity of the crucifixion (Jesus could have died another way).  And, in fact we seem to have early Christian groups who did not see the crucifixion or resurrection to be germane to their faith.  The Didache, … Paul And The Super-Apostles

The Unforgiveable Sin Have you ever wondered, if Jesus’s death paid the sin debt in full, why there is an unforgiveable sin: blaspheming the Holy Spirit?  Our earliest gospel Mark comments: This blaspheming the holy spirit is a type of breaking the 3rd commandment, knowingly perverting the will of God like those Jewish elite who … The Unforgivable/Eternal Sin

My previous post in this series was here: https://secularfrontier.infidels.org/2023/02/evolution-no-adam-no-problem/ One of the fundamental problems in getting conservative Christians to accept evolution is that they think if there was no historical Adam, Jesus was unnecessary. The whole plan of salvation falls apart. But, this misunderstands what Paul is doing with the figure of Adam, whereas Paul … Evolution? No Adam, No Problem (Part 2/2)

So, in my previous 2 “By Virtue Of The Absurd” posts, I was looking into some New Testament stories that were absurd on face value, but pointed to some deeper underlying meaning. I just wanted to let Prof Price have the last word as to Paul’s conversion story in Acts, which we should always raise … By Virtue Of The Absurd (post script)

Paul’s conversion is one of the great testimonies to the faith in Christian history.  The arch persecutor of Christians becomes their leading proselytizer and advocate.  Is he not what former atheist Lee Strobel was to the evangelicals? If something about Paul’s conversion story doesn’t smell right, you may be on to something.  For instance, Paul … By Virtue Of The Absurd (2/2)

Michael Nahm“A Guardian Angel Gone Astray: How Not to Engage in Scientific Debates” Keith AugustineAnswering More of the Same: A Reply to Nahm A really interesting journal exchange has been published between Augustine and Nahm regarding the life after death debate.  The journal issue is here:  https://journalofscientificexploration.org/index.php/jse/issue/view/89 Here are some of the topics: I think … Augustine vs Nahm: Soul Survival?

So, in recent posts I’ve been talking a bit about the turning points of Mark and John as the events causing Jesus’s arrest: the temple tantrum in Mark and the raising of Lazarus in John.  We looked at the absurdity of the temple tantrum story.  Also, we began to think about the absurdity of the … By Virtue Of The Absurd