Ted Hoffman

Which approach has the greatest impact? How can we tell?

I exchanged email with someone who I dismissed as overly polemical recently and have been thinking...

Doherty's Example

Doherty's work was scholarly and was well within mainstream NT scholarship in terms of his approach, his ideas (like Pauline scholarship, datings etc), methodology, language and his presentation. He tried as much as possible to make a convincing case of the Jesus Myth theory. Sometime after his book was published, he was recognized by many (friend and foe) as the doyen of the Jesus Myth Hypothesis - of this age. His opinion was respected and other Jesus Mythers like Archaya S and Freke and Gandy were dismissed as crackpots and loose cannons - at least by the few people I interact with. Oftentimes with good reason: their methods were not above reproach, they made egregious errors and relied on bogus or inexistent scholarship.

The NT Scholarship responded by turning their collective backs on Doherty's work and, it appears, their wishes may come true when Doherty diverts his energies to issues of Rationality and Humanism. Of course a few scholars have read his works and appreciated it, but the bulk have quietly read the book, grimly turning the pages, then firmly locking it away and sedately burying their stiff heads deep in the sand. Perhaps waiting to hear two taps on the soles of their boots, followed by "You can come out now, he's gone".

Archaya Takes it All

In the meantime, the popular works of Archaya S and Freke and Gandy keep "inspiring" new initiates every day. Of course, among those that are keen, they dig deeper and realize that they are wrong in certain respects, but at the same time, they have so many questions and issues to settle, that they never get to look at Christianity and the Bible in the same way.

Doherty's 'fans', like me, spend our times digging deeper, learning the Greek and opening hidden doors. We engage with relatively more informed people in debates and form a clique that make up about 0.1% of the world's population - meaning, our thoughts have just as much impact as those of homosexuals (no offense intended - I am just using them as an example of a minority group).

Archaya's fans, their minds 'blown', their imagination captured and adrenaline pumping, run off to share their exiting experiences with the next person and soon, all their friends know about the idea...Its no wonder that The Christ Conspiracy is the Hottest Selling Jesus Myth Book Today

Amazon Sales Ranks
Earl Doherty, The Jesus Puzzle #68,282
Timothy Freke, Peter Gandy The Jesus Mysteries: Was the "Original Jesus" a Pagan God? #26,171
Acharya S, The Christ Conspiracy: The Greatest Story Ever Sold #6,238

What Really Matters?
At the end of the day, Archaya will have made a greater impact on peoples lives (on average) than Doherty's scholarly book. Because 99% of the world is made up of average people who are attracted by sensation, who are slothful thinkers, and who will never set an eye on War of The Jews, or even hear of it.

In a world where the Bushes are winning and Televangelism is the norm, and in a world where a sucker is born every minute, and people are lazy and willing to believe in crap and not bother to investigate, is it wise to follow Doherty's footsteps?

I don't mean to follow Archaya's footsteps either, or publish potboilers, but I am beginning to think we those of us who plan to publish in future, or those of us interested in the exchange and promulgation of ideas on Christianity should start thinking about numbers and how we can change the tide of Christianity. Otherwise, we will die as drops in the vast ocean of religion.

The way I see it, NT scholarship is dominated by Christian scholars. They have to be rigorously challenged on their own terms but the wider public also ought to be given a taste of the stuff. In simple language and in a format that grabs them.

What is To Be Done?

Shall we be forced to release two copies: Scholars Edition and Popular Edition?

Or shall we just play the game on their own terms and adopt Buddha-like patience, hoping that one day, people will 'notice'?

How wide has the impact of Dutch radicals on the general public's knowledge about Christianity been?

What are your Thoughts on this?

muidiri

Interesting question. I have nearly no knowledge of this sort of in-depth analysis of the bible and related texts (hence I read these things and try to learn some)... but I have a LOT of experience reading textbooks and other "for learnin' stuff" books. In my experience, I retain more knowledge, and pay much more attention to the book which is well written. It is entirely possible to write a very informative book with a lot of technical information, and yet be entertaining.

I suppose that sensationalism will get the initial sales... but it won't make it last. I personally would prefer to see something informative, but well written - include some good analogies and anecdotes, clear wording and a little touch of humor here and there. My math books are always more fun when there's a little touch of humor every 60 pages or so, and I retain the information better if there is some little bit of an emotional connection.

Just my .02 from a reader's standpoint...

Ted Hoffman

Hi Muidiri,

I get your point but its not just about writing in an interesting and engaging manner, its about CONTENT - not presentation per se.

Sensational content, hyperbole, leaps of logic, polemics, dramatic revelations, scandals etc - that kind of stuff - it seems to be able to sell...

Frank Zindler for example, in his correpondences, he writes soberly and is guided by facts, but look at his website - calling Nazareth Oz etc and calling the Bible a Book of fiction...

There is stuff that catches readers...they go: "What?" "You mean...?" "Jesus, I have never seen..."

Anyway, I am thinking which way is most effective....

Chris Weimer

well, there's nothing wrong with sensationalism. I mean, even I still strum through Eisenman, not because I agree with him, but he's a good read and an interesting story. (I like long, tortuous books, ICYDK) It's a way of selling to the people. But for people working on veritable scholasticism, it is better to publish the real works.

People will long be in ignorance. Only now are some people catching up about brain functions. My advice? Don't advocate a book banning, but instead a rebuttal and a correction of the popular sells. Will people buy it? Who cares! Dan Brown is turning people further into the Jesus complexity and away from Christianity, and even though he isn't accurate, it is still remarkable.

Just my 2c.