Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Amaleq13 · 09-26-2009, 08:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JABcomix

In the context of this just being a "made up story", Why would Pontius Pilate give the Jewish crowd, that was gathered outside, the choice of who should be freed and who should die?

The motive appears to be a desire to shift the blame for the death of Jesus from Rome to the Jews.

Your motive appears to be a desire to seem intelligent.

mikem · 09-26-2009, 09:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JABcomix

OMG!

None of you could answer this! I can't believe I've stumped you all! This is incredible!

Have none of you ever taken a high school class where they make you read a fictional story and then ask you to get into the mind of the character? Is it really that hard to do some critical thinking?

What makes you think that the gospels are anything like modern fiction? It makes sense to ask about the pyschological motivation of characters in modern fiction because the authors of these stories, if they are trying to write realistically will have to ask themselves about their characters' motivations and pyschology. And this is based on our deeper philosophical notions about what constitutes an individual.

The authors of the gospels were not writing stories sui generis, they were working with traditions about Jesus that already existed and shaping them to their own theological ends. They were just not that interested in the pyschology of individuals. In short, you cannot analyse these writings in quite the same way as you would a modern story.

As has already been pointed out, Pilate does what he does in the gospels not because he is acting in acordance with pyschological motivations, but because he is simply an actor in a bigger drama with a predetermined end. He simply plays the role assigned to him - and that is all the gospel writers are interested in.

JABcomix · 09-26-2009, 05:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amaleq13

Quote:

Originally Posted by JABcomix

In the context of this just being a "made up story", Why would Pontius Pilate give the Jewish crowd, that was gathered outside, the choice of who should be freed and who should die?

The motive appears to be a desire to shift the blame for the death of Jesus from Rome to the Jews.

Your motive appears to be a desire to seem intelligent.

Fail. You didn't even try.

JABcomix · 09-26-2009, 05:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikem

Quote:

Originally Posted by JABcomix

OMG!

None of you could answer this! I can't believe I've stumped you all! This is incredible!

Have none of you ever taken a high school class where they make you read a fictional story and then ask you to get into the mind of the character? Is it really that hard to do some critical thinking?

What makes you think that the gospels are anything like modern fiction? It makes sense to ask about the pyschological motivation of characters in modern fiction because the authors of these stories, if they are trying to write realistically will have to ask themselves about their characters' motivations and pyschology. And this is based on our deeper philosophical notions about what constitutes an individual.

The authors of the gospels were not writing stories sui generis, they were working with traditions about Jesus that already existed and shaping them to their own theological ends. They were just not that interested in the pyschology of individuals. In short, you cannot analyse these writings in quite the same way as you would a modern story.

As has already been pointed out, Pilate does what he does in the gospels not because he is acting in acordance with pyschological motivations, but because he is simply an actor in a bigger drama with a predetermined end. He simply plays the role assigned to him - and that is all the gospel writers are interested in.

Fail. You're excuse amounts to "my dog ate my homework". There is no excuse for not taking the test.

Doug Shaver · 09-27-2009, 06:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JABcomix

you didn't address why he would let the "Jewish mob" choose between Jesus and Barabbas?

I thought it was rather obviously implied by what I did say. Is this an essay exam?

I'm not playing this game any more until you explain exactly what I have to do to win.

Lugubert · 09-27-2009, 11:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mt 27:15

Now at that feast the governor was wont to release unto the people a prisoner, whom they would.

Argument from silence, but as there is no historical evidence of such a tradition, it at least fits the view that the Jesus stories are made up.

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