GakuseiDon

It will be interesting to see the hit to Ehrman's credibility on this board once he comes out with an anti-mythicist book. I don't know of any scholar leaning towards a HJ and with an anti-mythicist position who isn't portrayed by mythicists as "intellectually dishonest", "unprofessional", "culpably dishonest in discussions of historical methodology", etc, etc.

Maybe we should start a pool: how soon will the first charge of "intellectual dishonesty" be raised against Ehrman on this board after he publishes his e-book? A week? A day? Before he even publishes it? I vote the last one.

ApostateAbe

It certainly will not be long, because such a thing has already happened (I can almost-certainly remember) after that drama on the Infidel Guy radio show that was put in a YouTube video. I don't expect that Ehman's publisher is happy releasing that e-book. The bulk of Ehrman's fan base is made of people like that.

I also expect that Ehrman will delay releasing the e-book. Jesus-mythicism is a big topic, bigger than I think either Ehrman or his publisher earlier realized.

hjalti

So do we have a release date for that book?

ApostateAbe

On Sale: 11/22/2011

hjalti

I love e-books! (although I don't know if I will buy it, I really doubt that there will be much new in it)

ApostateAbe

I don't think there will be never be anything new in it, either. The novelty will be on the cover page--a highly-respected agnostic scholar who has made a name for himself through criticism of Biblical claims.

Horatio Parker

I'm not an academic, but "hack" seems too strong. Is being a member of the Jesus seminar not a valid credential?

ApostateAbe

There are no minimum standards for membership in the Jesus Seminar, though I suppose it is better than nothing. I have a preferred standard for making such judgments.

There are a number of things that help to establish the credibility of an expert in any field. Here are some positive qualifications:

1. Has a graduate degree in the relevant field from a high-ranking accredited academic institution
2. Holds a teaching or research position in the relevant field at an accredited academic institution
3. Has authored articles published in respected peer-reviewed journals
4. Has authored publications that are positively cited by many other experts in the same field
5. Has opinions that are representative of a significant portion of other scholars in the same field

There is a different list of criteria for judging the lack of credibility of an expert. Here are some negative qualifications:

1. Has positions that are strongly ridiculed or condemned by many other experts in the field
2. Has positions that strongly align with the same non-academic special interest group that supports the expert's living
3. Has been convicted of plagiarism or other serious forms of academic dishonesty

Such criteria are somewhat universal for judging the credibility of experts for professionals from the outside of the field.

Robert Price has not enough positive qualification and too many negative qualifications.

GakuseiDon

Excellent! Only 90 more good-night sleeps!

From the website:

For years Bart Ehrman has been routinely bombarded with one question: Did Jesus Exist? As a leading Bible expert, fans and critics alike have sent letters, emails, posted blogs, and questioned Ehrman during interviews wanting his opinion about this nagging question that has become a conspiracy theorist cottage industry the world over. The idea that the character of Jesus was an invention of the early church-and later a tool of control employed by the Roman Catholic Church-is a widely held belief and Ehrman has decided it's time to put the issue to rest. Yes, the historical Jesus of Nazareth did exist.

Known as a master explainer with deep knowledge of the field, Ehrman methodically demolishes both the scholarly and popular arguments against the existence of Jesus. Marshalling evidence from within the Bible and the wider historical record of the ancient world, Ehrman tackles the key issues that surround the popular mythologies associated with Jesus and the early Christian movement.

Those committed to the "non-existence" theory will need to read this formidable scholar's counter argument while the more traditionally minded will enthusiastically support Ehrman's definitive answer to the question. Perfect for the vigorous online debating community, this eBook original will be a must read for anyone interested in Jesus, the Bible, and the birth of Christianity.

"[T]his nagging question that has become a conspiracy theorist cottage industry the world over" and "Perfect for the vigorous online debating community" -- I'm not sure how to take that. :constern01:

aa5874

What nonsense you post. You are engaged in LOGICAL fallacies with your regurgitating "AD HOMINEM"

One does NOT need to be a Scholar to PRESENT EVIDENCE or credible sources from antiquity .

One does NOT need to be a Scholar to argue that Pilate was the Governor of Judea or that Caiaphas was high priest when Tiberius was Emperor.

No Scholar can argue for an historical Jesus without credible sources of antiquity.