Dylan

Probably most of you know this already, but when a Conservative Christian (like Lee Strobel) makes the argument that you should trust the Bible's accounts of miracles because there are other historical accuracies in the Bible....just show em <a href="http://www.religioustolerance.org/chr_jcpa.htm" target="_blank">this article</a>

And there response that it is the devil, well, you can have fun with

AndThen

I enjoyed the article, but for a more comprehensive look at the topic, I recommend "Parallel Myths" by J. F. Bierlein. I came across this book the other day and find it to be a good read.

Peter Kirby

Who is the first writer to use the English phrase "diabolical mimicry"?

best,
PEter Kirby

Vorkosigan

Uh...whoever first translated Tertullian?

Amos

So what is wrong with pagan myths?

All religion is man made and if you can make them work for you there should be no objected to this.

Myths are presented for you to get on the inside of them.

Gregg

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Dylan:
[QB]Probably most of you know this already, but when a Conservative Christian (like Lee Strobel) makes the argument that you should trust the Bible's accounts of miracles because there are other historical accuracies in the Bible....just show em <a href="http://www.religioustolerance.org/chr_jcpa.htm" target="_blank">this article</a>

It's a good essay but a bit outdated, particularly the statement that the "most radical liberal" scholars believe Jesus' biography was lifted from Pagan myths. This is an oversimplification. I strongly encourage you to check out Earl Doherty's Web site at <a href="http://www.jesuspuzzle.org" target="_blank">www.jesuspuzzle.org</a> for a more thorough account.

Most of Jesus' "biography" up to the Passion (and including parts of that as well) was probably lifted from the Jewish scriptures via the process of midrash. Furthermore, analysis of the oldest Gospel, Mark, has shown that it closely parallels the Jewish liturgical calendar and was probably prepared, among other things, to provide "Mark's" community with its own set of liturgical readings.

Gregg

Peter Kirby

Well, the phrase "diabolical mimicry" is not found in the Roberts-Donaldson translation of Tertullian. Do you have a different translation in mind?

Note that I am interested in the first use of the English two-word phrase "diabolical mimicry," which is not the same as the first appearance of a similar concept in English literature.

best,
Peter Kirby

Bede

Those interested in what a real scholar (admittedly embarrassed to be caught addressing such silliness) thinks about pagan parallels can find it <a href="http://www.bede.org.uk/frazer.htm" target="_blank">here</a>.

Yours

Bede

Amen-Moses

A real scholar? I suppose we just have to take your word for that!

Amen-Moses

Steven Carr

Your 'real scholar' writes :-
'I cannot think of a single case in which Christianity can be shown to have borrowed a core doctrine from another religion.'

A 'real scholar' would have heard of Judaism!