Vorkosigan

Haha. I wanted to enter the debate but Debate.org won't accept applications from Taiwan where I live -- high risk area. *sigh*

Meatros

Can you create a user identity, but you just can't participate in debates?

Here's a link to international users, I'm not sure if it will help.

ApostateAbe

Cool, the spot is still open. I am not so good at playing devil's advocate, but I hope you have a worthy opponent all the same. I compiled a list of things that Paul apparently believed about the recent historical Jesus, if this helps.
N/A
It is among the easiest mythicist debates to win, but be sure to avoid the pitfalls of using quotes from Paul that are either forged or interpolated (according to scholars). They will of course use ad hoc speculations for each passage of evidence, because they really don't have a choice. You don't know exactly what they those ad hoc speculations are going to be, but you can still preempt them in general by pointing out that the theory with the least ad hoc speculations is the most likely hypothesis (i.e. argue from C. Behan McCullagh's, Justifying Historical Descriptions (or via: amazon.co.uk)). You should also preempt the counterpoint that false belief about the historical Jesus can be conflated with no belief about the historical Jesus, as that is also a very common counterargument in this debate.

Meatros

I think I misread your position - I was taking it to mean that Paul believed in a physical resurrection, contra Carrier's position of a spiritual resurrection.

Coffee hasn't kicked in. Still going to be a good one.

I'm not sure who on Debate.org could give you a good run for the money though.

Meatros

As an FYI, in order to vote, you need to have participated in three debates. I *think* this was to prevent vote bombing and spammers, but I'm not 100%.

Toto

Mithras posts split here

Meatros

AA has suggested that I could surrogate for you, if you wish to debate the topic. See here.

Send me a PM here and I'll give you my email address and we can firm up things.

ApostateAbe

Cool, I just now sent Vorkosigan a PM, so he'll know about it as soon as he gets online.

ApostateAbe

The first round of arguments for and against the doomsday-cult-leader Jesus has been submitted. The contender is a liberal Christian who believes Jesus was a commendable moral teacher and the world's first Marxist.

http://www.debate.org/debates/The-hi...cult-leader/1/

Meatros

I have to read this later today - I did a scan of it and I think it will be interesting.

Unfortunately I don't have enough debates under my belt (zero) to vote, but I'll be curious how people vote and what reasons they give.

There seem to be some Christians/atheists/Muslims who know there stuff (Reformed, popculturepolka, Trent_H, JoshBrahm, and Contradiction being competent Christians), so I'm going to be very interested in your debates (and fellow II members). Although, the last three typically debate homosexuality and abortion.