Switch89

Here's something I found over at the Nazareth Myth website:

The Mythicists’ Forum, a consortium of New Testament scholars, together with American Atheists, Inc.,are pleased to announce the 2010 Mythicist Prize.

THE PRIZE:The sum of $1,000 (U.S.) will be awarded to the author of a submitted essay which, in the opinion of the judges, sheds light on the origins of Christianity and, at the same time, supports the proposition that Jesus of Nazareth did not exist.

ELIGIBILITY:Anyone is eligible to submit an essay.The prizewinning contribution will be published in 2010, along with submissions of distinction which merit an Honorable Mention.The publisher will be announced at the time of the award.

SUBMISSION:Contestants are limited to one essay each. Three copies of the work should be mailed in one package to:
2010 Mythicist Prize
386 E. 29th AvenueEugene,
OR 97405U.S.A.

DEADLINES FOR RECEIPT OF SUBMISSIONS:From the U.S.A.: Dec. 1, 2009.From other countries: Dec. 15, 2009.

LANGUAGE OF SUBMISSION:Essays must be written in one of the following languages:English, German, French, Italian, Spanish.

JUDGES:René Salm, Robert M. Price, Frank R. Zindler, Earl Doherty.The decision of the judges is final.The prizewinner will be announced at the 2010 American Atheist National Convention.(Note: If no submission is deemed worthy of receiving the Mythicist Prize, then the prize will not be awarded.)

FORMAT:Essays must be 30–100 pages in length and double-spaced. Submissions should preferably be printed (or typed) on both sides of the paper. Footnotes or endnotes are permissible and a bibliography is required. Pages are to be numbered, with the author’s name and the title of the essay on each page. Also, the author’s name, address, as well as email should appear on the first or cover page. Submissions via email and digital files on computer disk are not permitted, but contributors should be prepared to supply a digital copy of their essay if requested.

For further information, please write to “2010 Mythicist Prize” at the address above,or email Mr. René Salm at rjs@epud.net.

mountainman

Also displayed at www.atheists.org/Mythicist_Prize

Clivedurdle

A joint effort?

Agree structure, people write sections?

Toto

This would need to be an individual effort, and would probably only appeal to someone who has already done much of the research and theorizing.

Self-Mutation

I thought skeptics could explain the rise of Christianity in 4 simple words:

"Paul made it up."

Why then does this group of skeptics want 30-100 pages in length? I thought Christianity was easily false? :huh:

Toto

That's one possible explanation, but it needs to be fleshed out with the details of what made Paul's message attractive and successful. And not everyone agrees that Paul was the originator.

The fact that Christianity seems obviously false to so many people does not mean that there there is a single explanation of how it arose.

Switch89

I don't believe Paul made it up. I think such a theory would not be credible at all.

Clivedurdle

I don't think it says that in the rules, but we don't have to submit it!

Roger Pearse

It's unbelievably depressing to me to see a group of people get together explicitly to fabricate a lie. No-one believes what they're trying to say; not even themselves. "Hey, let's offer a prize and see if someone can come up with some kind of plausible excuse, because it's so damn convenient."

Yuk.

bacht

"The truth shall make you free"

We've already had two millenia of Jesus history Roger. If the gospel story is true why shouldn't it be able to withstand a full skeptic onslaught?