Freethought & Rationalism Archive

lex · 12-05-2008, 04:02 PM

Opinions, definitions, impressions and analyses sought regarding this notion. Thanks, lex.

wavy_wonder1 · 12-05-2008, 04:14 PM

I believe it's hard to assign a clear-cut genre to any of the four gospels. They combine aspects of several genres.

But 'obituaries'? Honestly I think such a suggestion in an academic setting would be laughed out of existence.

Thanks,
E.L.B.

Doug Shaver · 12-06-2008, 07:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lex

Are the four gospels obituaries?

I am aware of no facts that would support that hypothesis.

Splarnst · 12-06-2008, 08:07 AM

You're going to have to expand on this idea if you want real feedback rather than immediate dismissal as an unsupported, absurd conjecture.

Toto · 12-06-2008, 09:45 AM

An obituary is a modern literary form, in which a deceased person's life is condensed for newspaper readers. The gospels are too long and complex to be obituaries.

Clivedurdle · 12-06-2008, 11:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Revolutionary

You're going to have to expand on this idea if you want real feedback rather than immediate dismissal as an unsupported, absurd conjecture.

But there is something wonderfully ockhamite about it all being the ramblings of a death cult, with a big death of a god and last days.

lex · 12-06-2008, 07:03 PM

wavy wonder1, its a question, not a suggestion. Doug Shaver,its a question, not a hypothesis. Revolutionary, its a question, not a conjecture. Toto, where there no obituaries before newspapers? and what is the measure of "too long and too complex"? Was there an analogue for "obituary" in ancient history? I am not touting a position,
I ask as an interested layman. Thanks, lex

Toto · 12-06-2008, 07:14 PM

Obituary opines that obituaries started as brief funeral announcements around the advent of the printing press.

Quote:

. . .
During the late 1800s John Thadeus Delane, an English editor of the London paper "The Times", saw the potential for obituaries and began promoting publishing them. This entailed newspapers recognizing a person's death as a solemn and important event that needed more than just a terse announcement. As a result, obituaries grew in length and elaboration, containing short prayers, poems, and brief biographies.

At the onset of the 1900s modern advances in printing technology allowed obituaries to contain images; this allowed obituaries to become more elegant, but more solemn as well. . . .

The closest ancient equivalent would be the funeral oration. But the gospels are not funeral orations - because Jesus was not supposed to be dead and gone.

Sheshbazzar · 12-06-2008, 07:17 PM

Perhaps the word you are seeking is -eulogy-?
A paean of praise of indeterminate length, a recounting of the high points and accomplishments of an individual's life?

lex · 12-06-2008, 08:42 PM

Thanks Toto, Delane is mentoned on many sites other than wikipedia.Funeral orations, at the time the gospels were published, appear 1-formal, 2-delivered at the service, 3-of greek tradition, and 4-an ostensible stab at the truth.The gospels 1- may be formal, 2-may not be a tombside story, 3-of non-greek tradition, and 4-selling the sizzle and not the steak.Whether jesus was dead and gone may not have guided the resultant texts.

Thanks Sheshbazzaar, Im looking for more than a word, though eulogy is a tidy synonym that, like obituary, can praise or poison the memory of the deceased.
Thanks, lex

12-05-2008, 04:02 PM	#1
lex Regular Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Prophylaxis of Evil Posts: 317	Are the four gospels obituaries? Opinions, definitions, impressions and analyses sought regarding this notion. Thanks, lex.

12-05-2008, 04:14 PM	#2
wavy_wonder1 Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 88	The genre of the gospels I believe it's hard to assign a clear-cut genre to any of the four gospels. They combine aspects of several genres. But 'obituaries'? Honestly I think such a suggestion in an academic setting would be laughed out of existence. Thanks, E.L.B.

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12-06-2008, 08:07 AM	#4
Splarnst Contributor Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Jacksonville, Florida Posts: 13,161	You're going to have to expand on this idea if you want real feedback rather than immediate dismissal as an unsupported, absurd conjecture.

12-06-2008, 09:45 AM	#5
Toto Contributor Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Los Angeles area Posts: 40,549	An obituary is a modern literary form, in which a deceased person's life is condensed for newspaper readers. The gospels are too long and complex to be obituaries.

12-06-2008, 07:03 PM	#7
lex Regular Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Prophylaxis of Evil Posts: 317	wavy wonder1, its a question, not a suggestion. Doug Shaver,its a question, not a hypothesis. Revolutionary, its a question, not a conjecture. Toto, where there no obituaries before newspapers? and what is the measure of "too long and too complex"? Was there an analogue for "obituary" in ancient history? I am not touting a position, I ask as an interested layman. Thanks, lex

12-06-2008, 07:17 PM	#9
Sheshbazzar Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: On the path of knowledge Posts: 8,889	Perhaps the word you are seeking is -eulogy-? A paean of praise of indeterminate length, a recounting of the high points and accomplishments of an individual's life?

12-06-2008, 08:42 PM	#10
lex Regular Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Prophylaxis of Evil Posts: 317	Thanks Toto, Delane is mentoned on many sites other than wikipedia.Funeral orations, at the time the gospels were published, appear 1-formal, 2-delivered at the service, 3-of greek tradition, and 4-an ostensible stab at the truth.The gospels 1- may be formal, 2-may not be a tombside story, 3-of non-greek tradition, and 4-selling the sizzle and not the steak.Whether jesus was dead and gone may not have guided the resultant texts. Thanks Sheshbazzaar, Im looking for more than a word, though eulogy is a tidy synonym that, like obituary, can praise or poison the memory of the deceased. Thanks, lex

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