Ted Hoffman

This is a book idea developed along similar lines to Michael Shermer's Why [People] Believe in Weird Things (or via: amazon.co.uk)
Whereas Shermer examined Paranormal beliefs[UFOs], Psychics, Holocaust Deniers, Anti-evolutionists and so on
This one should focus on subjects like:

1. Shroud of Turin
2. James Ossuary
3. Existence of First Century Synagogues
4. The historicity of Biblical Partriarchs
5. Noarchian Flood
6. The Empty Tomb
7. The existence of Nazareth in the first century
8. Historicity of Pauline Jesus

Any other ideas you can think of that can be added to this list?
Any suggestions a criticisms of the idea of having such a book?

Ben C Smith

Yes. Jesus mythicism.

Ben.

Ted Hoffman

Yes, even that. There are no sacred cows. If you can devote a chapter to it, we can find some space for it. So long as you meet the following requirements:

1. Demonstrate that a sizeable number of Biblical Scholars subscribe to the idea.
2. Demonstrate that it is an incorrect idea or one that is not based on positive evidence.

PhilosopherJay

Hi Ben and Ted,

How about the notion of an historical Jesus Christ living in the first century. That should qualify as the granddaddy of all bizarre beliefs. It seems to have been introduced by the mad North African lawyer Tertullian around the year 200 and has spread like an infectious disease for 1800 years.

Warmly,

PhilosopherJay

Ben C Smith

Hi, Jay.

Such a statement, like all statements that credit a known writer with the invention of an historical Jesus, leaves me wondering why that writer is credited at the expense of others.

Justin and Irenaeus, for example, preceded Tertullian. Justin and Irenaeus appear quite committed to an historical Jesus Christ living in century I. How then is it that Tertullian invented the notion?

Ben.

RUmike

Ted, do a "sizable number of scholars" really subscribe to the Noarchian flood?

RED DAVE

Innerrancy itself is the weirdest idea of all.

RED DAVE

Ben C Smith

Or the Shroud of Turin? Maybe some ultraconservatives, but how many?

Ben.

Diogenes the Cynic

I would take the flood off that list (because as RUmike points out, it's not something widely believed by scholars) and replace it with the Exodus.

Toto

I think you miss the point of Shermer's work. These are not weird things. They are factual assertions that might or might not have evidence in support of them, which evidence might or might not be faked.