Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Toto · 02-04-2008, 12:09 PM

I'm still trying to find out the status of this, but I did find this essay which Hoffman wrote in 1993, which he has recently republished in connection with the Jesus Project:

Jesus Through the Lookinglass

There are some slightly sarcastic comments on the Jesus Seminar and the various quests for the historical Jesus, as well as the gospel of Thomas.

Quote:

The story really begins with a 1959 book by James Robinson, The New Quest for the Historical Jesus, which made the point that the old quest (Schweitzer, Wrede, et al.) had raised the wrong sorts of questions. Theology had accepted the "indistinguishability" of Jesus from his time and culture to such an extent that only two solidly historical possibilities existed: either he never existed (a notion rejected out of hand by most New Testament scholars) or if he did was one of a pack of messianic enthusiasts who preached God's soon-to-come judgment of the world. In a curious sort of logic, it was reckoned that since the Jesus of history could not be reconstructed and would not be of much good to the church if he were, it was best to leave him buried. The risen Christ - that was something else again. Even if the Resurrection was not (historically speaking) historical (geschichtliche), it was still a great story (Historie) and really what Christianity was all about anyway.

The natural reaction to this sort of radical skepticism was radical skepticism, a kind of Newtonian countermotion to the endless attempts to find parallels, analogies, echoes, and shadows of Jesus and his teaching in the thought of his contemporaries, but no physical traces of the pale Galilean prophet. Thus, Robinson noted that the original "positivistic" quest for the Jesus of history had been brought to a standstill with the general recognition that the gospels are "proclamation" (Greek: kerygma-read "propaganda") and had no interest in providing details of his day-to-day existence. Robinson omitted to say that the same vested interests would have prevented any attempt to record the "actual" words of Jesus, though he did recognize that the gospel writers were not really concerned to record factual detail.

Doug Shaver · 02-05-2008, 02:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toto

Jesus Through the Lookinglass

Great reading. Thank you very much for that link.

Malachi151 · 02-05-2008, 05:43 AM

I'm disappointed in this so-called project. I haven't been able to find out anything about the status of it. The website looks dead. I've mailed them two of my books, and several articles and haven't heard anything back at all, not even an acknowledgment or "stop sending us crap", or anything. I met Dr. Hoffman in Colorado one time and spoke to him briefly. Dunno, maybe its just me, but I haven't been able to find out anything about this project or been able to elicit any response.

Toto · 02-05-2008, 10:01 AM

I have been assured that the project is delayed but will have its first meeting in May.

Clarice O'C · 02-05-2008, 10:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toto

I have been assured that the project is delayed but will have its first meeting in May.

I'm very glad to hear that. Thank you. I wonder who the fellows and fellowesses will be.

mountainman · 02-05-2008, 04:27 PM

FWIW I sent the committe my thesis on Bullneck's involvment
with the Jesus Project in the fourth century last year. The
response indicated that they had printed and referred the
article for the consideration of the committee.

I dont expect they'll be spending much time on it, since the
twisted moebic nature of the surviving christian literature
has not yet fully recognised, and the hobby horse of the
biblical investigator, scholar and historian is a mass produced
mono-thematic affair all about the HJ.

The ancient evidence has two sides. At present a super
expressway and media outlets promote one side of the
evidence. Sooner or later, people will become more mature
and introspective and objective in their consideration of
all the various options available to explain christian origins.

Best wishes,

Pete Brown

Toto · 02-11-2008, 01:09 AM

I am now informed that the first meeting has been postponed to September. I am afraid that this may be on the timetable of the Journal of Higher Criticism.

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02-05-2008, 05:43 AM	#173
Malachi151 Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Colorado Posts: 8,674	I'm disappointed in this so-called project. I haven't been able to find out anything about the status of it. The website looks dead. I've mailed them two of my books, and several articles and haven't heard anything back at all, not even an acknowledgment or "stop sending us crap", or anything. I met Dr. Hoffman in Colorado one time and spoke to him briefly. Dunno, maybe its just me, but I haven't been able to find out anything about this project or been able to elicit any response.

02-05-2008, 10:01 AM	#174
Toto Contributor Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Los Angeles area Posts: 40,549	I have been assured that the project is delayed but will have its first meeting in May.

02-05-2008, 04:27 PM	#176
mountainman Contributor Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Falls Creek, Oz. Posts: 11,192	FWIW I sent the committe my thesis on Bullneck's involvment with the Jesus Project in the fourth century last year. The response indicated that they had printed and referred the article for the consideration of the committee. I dont expect they'll be spending much time on it, since the twisted moebic nature of the surviving christian literature has not yet fully recognised, and the hobby horse of the biblical investigator, scholar and historian is a mass produced mono-thematic affair all about the HJ. The ancient evidence has two sides. At present a super expressway and media outlets promote one side of the evidence. Sooner or later, people will become more mature and introspective and objective in their consideration of all the various options available to explain christian origins. Best wishes, Pete Brown

02-11-2008, 01:09 AM	#177
Toto Contributor Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Los Angeles area Posts: 40,549	I am now informed that the first meeting has been postponed to September. I am afraid that this may be on the timetable of the Journal of Higher Criticism.

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