Dave31

Yes, I would say that mythicism is becoming more and more mainstream as people read books, articles, blogs and view VIDEOS by mythicists. It's slowly catching on because it just makes the most sense, Occam's razor. Of course, academia avoid mythicism like the plague because it turns their world upside down. The fact is that New Testament scholars are not required to study the case for mythicism in order to receive their Ph.D. I agree with Earl Doherty.

There are over 20 passages throughout the canonical gospels claiming Jesus was famed far and wide not a single one has ever been substantiated with credible evidence.

The Gospels: A 2nd Century Composition?

Here's another thread on the mythicist position

ApostateAbe

Dave31, I figure that students of New Testament history are not required to study the case for mythicism before receiving their degrees for largely the same reason medical students are not required to study the case for phrenology before becoming medical doctors. The mythicist theory was effectively struck down a hundred years ago, and it bears relevance only in relation to the 19th- and 20th-century development of historical scholarship. The position that Jesus was merely a copycat of other mythical godmen has always been popular among anti-religious/anti-fundamentalist authors and their atheist audiences, but it has never been generally accepted among critical historians, and it is even less respected among the scholarship today than when it was on the table a hundred years ago and Albert Schweitzer wrote his book against it along with all the other wishful-thinking models of Jesus. It is gaining no more respect among them, either, though it may be gaining ground along with the rise of atheism among the lay public.

bacht

Comparing mythicism with phrenology isn't fair, this is like your creationist slur. Since many if not most of the characters in the Old Testament are questionable historically, why should Jesus get a free pass?

Why do you have to question the integrity of mythicists? Why do you assume illegitimate motives in this approach?

Dave31

I agree with you, bacht. ApostateAbe is about like James McGrath where all they have to offer a discussion of mythicism is ridicule, insults and derogatory remarks aimed at those of us trying to have an adult conversation on the topic of mythicism. They keep claiming mythicism was debunked a hundred years ago, meanwhile:

ApostateAbe

Dave31, I invite you to keep posting that quote of Robert M. Price. I keep making the point that the authoritative opinions of Price are worthless because of the apparent reality that he is indiscriminate with the ideas that he advocates, and that quote is a case in point. I would of course have a more positive opinion of Price had he not hastily reversed himself from that scathing review of Murdock that he published a few years ago.

But, enough of that--let's have an adult conversation. What do you take to be the best argument in support of Murdock's model of the mythical Jesus?

We can talk about that, or we can talk about my argument that I gave--the prophecies of the imminent apocalypse, the deadlines, and the subsequent embarrassments reflected in the earliest Christian writings (I can provide citations to the passages if you need them). Such evidence is strongly expected only from the model of Jesus as a doomsday cult leader and founder of the Christian cult. Whenever we see myths of doomsday cult leaders in history or the modern age, their mythical characters are seemingly always based on an actual human being of the same rough profile, never myth, without exception.

Dave31

And I invite you, ApostateAbe, to keep repeating your position because from where I stand, it shows a severe biases on your part demonstrating why your opinion cannot be taken seriously. People here all know that you have nothing but contempt for anyone who even hints at saying anything positive about Acharya S or her work. So, you can ride that little scooter all you want. It doesn't affect me or Acharya S. Plus, Dr Price removed that 01 "scathing review" from his website in 04 but, I notice you and others here like to keep it close to you like a small child with a little teddy bear.

Sadly for you Dr. Price is not the only one who has recommended her work.

"I can recommend your work whole-heartedly!"
—Dr. Robert Eisenman

"I've known people with triple Ph.D's who haven't come close to the scholarship in Who Was Jesus?"
—Pastor David Bruce, M.Div, North Park Seminary, Chicago

"Thirty years ago, when in divinity school, I might have had second thoughts about becoming an Episcopal priest if a book like D. M. Murdock's Who Was Jesus? had been available to me."
—Bob Semes, Retired university professor of History and Religion, Founder and Executive Director of The Jefferson Center

"Ms. Murdock is one of only a tiny number of scholars with the richly diverse academic background (and the necessary courage) to adequately address the question of whether Jesus Christ truly existed as a walking-talking figure in first-century Palestine."
—David Mills, Atheist Universe

"...I have found her scholarship, research, knowledge of the original languages, and creative linkages to be breathtaking and highly stimulating."
—Rev. Dr. Jon Burnham, Pastor, Presbyterian Church, Houston, TX

"Acharya S has done a superb job in bringing together the rich panoply of ancient world mythology and culture, and presenting it in a comprehensive and compelling fashion."
—Earl Doherty, The Jesus Puzzle

"The Christ Conspiracy—very, very scholarly and wholly researched—is a book for today..."
-Rev. B. Strauss, ex-Catholic Priest, Chicago, IL

"D.M. Murdock could well be the most brilliant, insightful and rigorous theologian writing today."
—Robert Tulip

Do atheists disagree with Acharya's basic premise?

Preachers, priests quietly embrace the Christ myth

E-mails to Acharya from those who've actually read her books

We all know from about 10 years experience that you are incapable of acknowledging that Acharya S may be right about anything so, there's no need for me to waste anytime answering that question for you. Besides, it was already covered in the mythicist position video.

A Brief History of the Apocalypse

That quote from Dr. Hilton Hotema sounds right in line with ...

:huh:

Toto

Hi Dave - an adult discussion of Acharya S's theories would have to involve more than quote mining a few reviews. It would have to involve some give and take and actually examining the evidence. So far we have not been able to have that discussion because her supporters are unwilling to admit any sort of error, and her detractors keep bringing up a few egregious errors that she had made.

ApostateAbe

Dave31, you are the one who wanted to have an adult conversation about this stuff, and now you think it is a waste of time? Bummer. Well, at least you have compiled a somewhat useful who's who of cranks and hack authors of this subject. Would you mind telling me who Rev. B. Strauss is? Thanks.

Dave31

That's just not completely accurate and you know it. Acharya has corrected every valid error years ago on her 'Notice of Errata and Addenda' page. And, I heard her say on a radio show just recently that she is already working on a 2nd edition to Christ Conspiracy (1999). It could be out around this time next year. You also know that according to some detractors here like ApostateAbe, GakuseiDon etc. everything by Acharya S is an egregious error no matter how minor - even when the misunderstanding is their own. They consistently make mountains out of mole hills. Meanwhile, not a peep about the quite serious egregious errors by Richard Carrier; case in point is his Luxor article critique of Acharya and the Luxor issue:

So, it appears that anything will suffice as criticism of Acharya's work even if it's completely wrong. Carrier owes Acharya an apology for such a sloppy criticism. There's a disturbing hypocritical double-standard here by some critics and by Carrier and John Loftus:

Or here's one where Acharya's work was plagiarized by American Atheist National Legal Director. It was endorsed and posted on their website for I think 3 years. So, I guess Acharya's work is just fine for them so long as it doesn't come from Acharya S.

American Atheist Plagiarizes Acharya's Work?

Blair Scott's response is here

People like ApostateAbe, GakuseiDon and others still try to bludgeon her to death with her first book even though she's made all the necessary adjustments and written 5 or 6 more books since then. An adult conversation is impossible with them on these issues and you know that too.

I'm reminded of Acharya's review of 'Jesus: God, Man or Myth?' by Herb Cutner:

Dave31

LOL, You were responded to in post 37 so, don't even try to pretend otherwise.