PyramidHead

I notice in most popular bookstores there really isn't a section dedicated to objective biblical scholarship. In the "Biblical Reference & Other" shelf at Borders there are mostly just books about how great the Bible is. Where should I turn if I want an entry into the actual research in a book format? Specifically, it would be nice to know who has the most to say about (a) mythical vs. historical Jesus (b) authorship of the gospels and (c) archaeological or geographical elements of the OT. I have only a tiny selection at the bookstore to choose from and hundreds upon hundreds of texts online, so can anybody point me in a good direction to start? Thanks.

Toto

Richard Carrier will have a book out this year on the general topic of the historicity of Jesus. For an exposition of the case for mythicism, there is Earl Doherty's Jesus - Neither God nor Man or his earlier Jesus Puzzle (Doherty's books do not seem to be available on Amazon right now.)

How often and how creatively can you say "anonymous?"

You can start with Who Wrote the New Testament?: The Making of the Christian Myth (or via: amazon.co.uk) by Burton Mack

The Bible Unearthed (or via: amazon.co.uk)

Andykiwi

"Rescuing the Bible from Fundamentalism (or via: amazon.co.uk)" by John Shelby Spong


I haven't read the book, but I love the title!

Clivedurdle

What is that?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/8380268.stm

PyramidHead

Thanks! Anything by Friedman or Erhlman worth reading? I saw his name on a few of the books today.

Toto

Anything by Ehrman is good.

Joan of Bark

Friedman's Commentary on the Torah (or via: amazon.co.uk)is interesting, but it contains some absurd statements about Hebrew polytheism and the fourth commandment. Much of it is Torah apologetics. I understand that his Who Wrote the Bible (or via: amazon.co.uk)is better.

Doug Shaver

I would work on the assumption that there is no such thing as objective Bible scholarship.

I do endorse the recommendations you've gotten so far, but if you get any of those books, do not assume anything about the authors' reliability when you read them. Pay close attention to their arguments and whatever they claim is the evidence supporting those arguments. Make them earn your trust. They will earn it if they deserve it.

andrewcriddle

Borders UK (and Borders Express) had been for some time separate companies from the American bookshop chain.

The American Borders is still going strong.

Andrew Criddle

Chili

Only once, perhaps, but always by the person "in the know" . . . which means that Matthew and Mark were not written by a self indulging author but by those in the know who knew better that is why they presented those two Gospels wherein "the author is not in the know."