Bede

AM, if you want to accuse me of lying, do so. Drop the childish innuendo.

Steven, you are being even more pig headed than usual. The whole essay is about pagan religion and according to normal usage, Judiasm is not a pagan religion. So even someone as literal minded as you should realise that 'Justin' is only refering to paganism here.

Yours

Bede

<a href="http://www.bede.org.uk" target="_blank">Bede's Library - faith and reason</a>

Amos

Tell your friend that Christian-ity is not a religion but a mental state of existence.

Religions are -ism and so your scholar flunked the first lessen to be learned in theology.

wildernesse

Bede:

I don't think that Amen-Moses is accusing you of lying--just stating that if you are going to present your evidence as justified because it's from a "real scholar", then it's only fair to give the scholar's credentials and name. I'm assuming that this wasn't written by the saint, but by a contemporary person.

If you are going to argue from authority, you need an authority. An anonymous person is not an authority, nor can I think of any reason to call it a "real scholar".

--tibac

Peter Kirby

Uh, why do we need an authority on this matter? Aren't the relevant texts available to us for our own review and analysis? Let's argue about evidence, not credentials, that's what I say.

best,
Peter Kirby

Bede

Wildernesse, as Peter implies, I think the article I cited is useful because it is plainly written by someone who knows what they are talking about. Apart from pedantic comments with no substance such as offered by Carr, do you have any comments at all? Questioning the authority of a piece is usually the first recourse for those who have no answer to it.

Yours

Bede

<a href="http://www.bede.org.uk" target="_blank">Bede's Library - faith and reason</a>

Kosh

While I agree with Peter, I think Bede has "raised the bar" by calling Justin Martyr a "real scholar" (rather than the sock puppet he is).

Bede, back up your claims of "real scholar". Care to admit who he is?

Bede

Kosh, he's nobody you know. Sorry, but when asked to respect a confidence, I do so. Now drop these implications against my honesty.

B

copernicus

Bede, perhaps you can tell us why this "real scholar" chooses to keep his identity secret? Is he embarrassed by the essay? It does seem rather light on references to existing literature on the subject. You can find plenty of references in the literature that examines this subject in depth, e.g. Gerald A. Larue's highly regarded Ancient Myth and Modern Man. Scholars who write on this subject don't usually find it necessary to use pseudonyms to protect their identity.

Amen-Moses

I'm sorry Bede but anyone who makes the following claim:

"The Christian story makes no connection whatever between Christ and the agricultural year or the rhythms of the natural world."

Has either never been to Church or is sticking his head in the sand. Not someone I would want to claim as a "real scholar"!

Amen-Moses

Kosh

What implications? It's gonna take more than a stern voice to deflect this. You claimed he's a "real author", thus making an argument of authority. So back it up.