stephan huller

If fair is fair and this is war between the forces of light and darkness, 'reason' and 'ignorance' why the sneaky tactics? It would appear to me that the Christians want it both ways. On the one hand, this is 'kind of a joke' (see Joel's post at McGrath's blog BEFORE he was caught red-handed) perpetrated against a 'sick' lunatic fringe so fuck them but on the other hand there's this - 'I'm a good guy' who would never do such a thing because, among other reasons, I've been moved by the subtlety of Christ's teachings - which is floating in the air. He can't have it both ways. The bottom line is that he hasn't been moved by Christ's teachings but then again - maybe you can't blame Jesus. It is hard to move a 300 pound object.

outhouse

Theres a high road and a low one.


I dont need to know he used his turn signal while being cut off, I just know which road he took.


Im not sticking up for the other guy, I could care less if he' s apologetically inclinded and wrong. I purposely avoid extremes left or right.


Im not taking sides, but if you play in the sewer, dont complain about the smell.

stephan huller

And these references to Joel's weight aren't a complete laughing matter. The fat jokes are part of a demonstration of why Americans like Joel who can't control their lust and desires shouldn't be allowed to publicly declare themselves to be Christians. They should be called out on it. I've read my share of early Christian texts and feel confident in saying that being a fat fuck would be proof in antiquity that you had fallen short of Christ. Look at the Copts, they never stop fasting. Sarkic weight is sarkic weight. No getting around that. In heretical terms, the flesh is evil and even Paul says "Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus." For ancients this was always puzzling. Does Paul really mean 'never take a break from praying'? The answer from the oldest (Marcionites) traditions is a firm 'yes.' At least then false believers wouldn't have time to stuff a sandwich into their mouths.

outhouse

This whole thread should be closed.


It is the distgusting part of historical studies I despise, the politics.


Everything in this thread is a embarrassment

stephan huller

Really I think this is the most interesting thread to come along at some time. It beats beating the mythicist vs historicist argument on a fucking drum til the end of time or treating the debate like it exists or should exist in some academic void. The reality is - as I point out in my blog post - Vridar was mistreated and chased into the woods by Joel's friends at the Biblioblog Top 50 long before this happened. There was a concerted effort to dehumanize his POV and legitimize attacks against his person - because of his mythicist beliefs. I was there and I was part of it. Instead of shutting down this thread we should memorialize June 27th on the calendar here as the day which calls attention to the plight of dissenters in the greater academic/internet communities.

To be honest, I didn't ever read Vridar's blog more than once or twice a month. I'm not into this mythicist vs historicist stuff or atheist vs religious dynamic. I am only an observer of human nature and the injustice of one human being to another in the name of 'ideas' and beliefs. No one should forget this day. This is the day that all these abstract ideas which no one else cares about except a bunch of men in pajamas boiled over into an event. Never forget.

JoeWallack

JW:
Word Press Release from Jesus' synagogue in 1st century Nazareth:

Normally I'd provide the URL, but for the time being I won't.


Joseph

url=search for "Errors in the Christian Bible" & "Fine scholarship"

Tom Verenna

Updated post from Joel Watts here: http://unsettledchristianity.com/2013/06/run-dmca/

He included screen grabs of emails to Godfrey on Wednesday and of the notice that Godfrey claims he didn't have (though he must have gotten at the same time as Joel got his--yesterday afternoon). When it comes down to it, Godfrey's blog going down is his own fault.

stephan huller

There you go, it's all settled neat and clean. Joel's back to being a great benefactor. Hooray! Glad that was easy

Toto

It is quite easy to overlook email. It is much too easy to use DMCA to stifle the flow of debate.

stephan huller

I'm trying to understand this. It apparently comes down to this timeline:

Maybe I am missing something but I don't find any of this surprising. What changes the question as to what kind of person Joel is. When the issue was brought up at McGrath's site he didn't say 'yeah I did it.' He said in effect 'I have no idea what just happened.'

So no confession then. As I have been writing the implication is clearly Neil is not a biblioblogger, he is not a person deserving a confession. He is subhuman. When it was suggested that Joel was the perpetrator his defenders thought it unthinkable because he is 'not that kind of person' and he stayed quiet. Now all of sudden everything changes? Joel is NOT an asshole for doing this? What kind of a person 'wasn't' he before = an asshole. But now he is that kind of person but not an asshole because he sent an email with a short window of opportunity before taking unprecedented action against a critic.

What was at stake here? And of course you are going to suggest that he had 'no idea' that this would happen to Vridar?