jules?

An academic question


I am just putting some finishing touches to a Jesus related historical study but it isn’t a thesis and as such I haven’t referenced every opinion. As an instance, I believe it is common knowledge that Catholicism is the number one global religion but I don’t have a source. Certainly, if [in lala land, naturally] my theory becomes a hot topic I would release a tedious and reference heavy tome but what actually deserves a reference?

In science even in archaeology there is a set standard for referencing and it fairly obvious when one is drawing on facts, observations [when and where] and interpretations. But, history is it seems a whole new game.

Over the last few years I have consumed piles of sceptical books on JC and also kept check on the criticism. It seems that not being well-read enough in Christian philosophy can be a means of a attack [as if you need to be of a Christian mindset to be a critic!] alternatively quoting long dead authors renders one out dated. But given there is only so much original data is it essential to make mention of what translation one uses, the page number and publisher? Is it necessary to come to a conclusion and find a researcher who agrees with you? For instance I would join the ranks of writers [such as John Allegro] who consider some of the non-canonical DSS MSS as being associated with the apocalyptic message of the NT. I have been influenced by those writers but I think I have drawn my own conclusions therefore do I need to make reference to a higher authority?

I am not entirely dim and as an instance, I believe John’s Revelation to be an early work and quote studies, authors and sources but so much seems more to do with opinion. I like the idea that Mark was educated and writing in the tradition of Homer as Virgil did, but I not entirely sure where and when that opinion rubbed off on me. Perhaps in this forum.

So in the history arena what is worthy of a reference and what can be argued over later?

semiopen

Google (religion most members) claims that Christianity has the most members by combining the various denominations.

That is pretty easy to find. An error in such a minor point would reflect badly on the rest of your paper.

QuestionMark

You may wish to add this inspirational quote from Jesus:


(Luke 19:27), Take my enemies, who would not have me rule over them, bring them here, and kill them before me.

QM?

Doug Shaver

For any particular article, the final authority is your publisher. The consensus of all the "what-needs-a-citation" articles that I've read seems to be that if you say something that any reader can confirm by checking a good encyclopedia or other standard reference work, then you don't need a citation, and in every other case you do.

One thing to keep in mind is that you don't want to engender the reader's hostility unnecessarily by asserting something as fact that they don't think is a fact, and when you're writing about Christian origins, this is somewhere between difficult and impossible to avoid. I would be very careful to keep in mind the difference between, for instance, "Mark's gospel was written first" and "The scholarly consensus is that Mark's gospel was written first." Nobody can dispute the latter. Some do dispute the former.

Roger Pearse

As an enemy, you must be in fear every time you pass a church. Have you sought police protection? Have you notified your insurer of your increased likelihood of death?

If not, why not? Might it be because they would presume you were insane?

Atheism is not well served by people making statements which they know to be untrue in order to suggest things which they know to be untrue.

All the best,

Roger Pearse

fatpie42

I think you'll find that Islam has a larger membership than Catholicism on a global scale. (I believe that remains true even if you discount Shi'a Muslims.) Even so, it ought to also be remembered that Muslims are less keen than Christians on recognising divisions in their religion. In terms of the entirity of Christianity, there are more Christians than Muslims worldwide (though the numbers of Muslims is catching up). In any case, it would still seem that claiming Catholicism to be the religion with the highest worldwide membership would be mistaken.

Master Coelacanth

I am in fear every time I pass a church! If Christians take control they would kill people like me in front of them without hesitation, like they did over the centuries when they ruled. And then the police would actually take me and put me in front of them.

sdelsolray

As a promoter of the sky fairy Jesus Christ, you must take pleasure in the anticipation that you might assist with his murder of the unbelievers.

Christianity is not well served by those that ignore the commands of its purported leader.

spin

This was for well over a year a dead thread. Why not leave it that way? It's not stimulating any BC&H discussion. Police and sky fairies?


spin

Toto

Good point. This is closed.