GakuseiDon

Yes, if Tom starts to present himself and his views as representative of the Jesus Project, then that will be very bad. If he is just helping out in an editorial/administrative capacity, then this would be good for him. How one takes on responsibility is an indication of their character, and I'm hoping being acting Assistant Director will make him much less combative, and more careful about his claims.

I'll invite him onto this board to see if he can give us an idea on what his duties entail.

I think all we can do is wait until they start publishing papers. It sounds like their first goal will be to try to build a methodology whereby historical data surrounding early Christianity can be evaluated, which is something that can only be good (and which is why it is a shame that April won't be involved now). So it might be a few years away before they even start looking at specific hypotheses.

GakuseiDon

I just posted this on Tom's blog:

________________________________________

Hi Tom,

On the Internet Infidel's FRDB forum, we are discussing the Jesus Project here:
http://www.freeratio.org/showthread....254159&page=10

We see that you are listed on the Jesus Project website as "currently acting Assistant Director of the Jesus Project".

I assume that the Jesus Project have appointed you as Assistant Director -- congratulations!

I know there has been controversy in the past over the titles you've given yourself, so if you get a chance, can you give some details about what your duties are as Assistant Director of the Jesus Project?

Also, I know that the RRS has had an antagonistic relationship with many theist and atheists over the last few years. What is your involvement with them now?

Regards,
GDon

IGExpandingPanda

What is an Assistant Director? This is a rather vague and cryptic title. It could be he just opens the mail, well, if he wasn't in PA.

Rook is no editor, granted neither am I, but his writing is awful. His recent blog it looks like he got an editor on board and it's still filled with a ton of Rookisms.

We already know that April DeConick will not participate in TJP mainly based on her interaction with Rook, and it looks like Mark Goodacre made a similar position.



http://www.jesus-project.com/intro.htm

This isn't Rook. I'd have no objection if he was just an Assistant director, but he's listed as on of the 39 "fellows".

But hey, get Rook in here.

thedistillers

Maybe I'm wrong - and historians can correct me if I am - I don't see why historians would spend so much time and energy to create a "project" about a 2000 year old insignificant preacher, unless there is a theological motivation. So it seems difficult to avoid activism with that kind of project. :huh:

GakuseiDon

It looks like the webpage has been updated:
http://www.jesus-project.com/fellows/verenna.htm

Original entry:

Thomas Verenna, currently acting Assistant Director of the Jesus Project, is co-editing a collection of essays with Thomas L. Thompson to be published through the Copenhagen International Seminar focusing on the issue of the historicity of the figure of Jesus.

Current entry:

Thomas Verenna, currently acting as assistant to the Director of the Jesus Project, is co-editing a collection of essays with Thomas L. Thompson to be published through the Copenhagen International Seminar focusing on the issue of the historicity of the figure of Jesus.

I have to wonder how the original entry came about, but the updated version sounds more accurate. Good luck to him.

IGExpandingPanda

Because of the profound effect the bible has had on our culture.

As English speakers it's important for us to realize how much we owe to the "authorized edition" of the bible as well as pirated Shakespeare quatros, guys sitting in the audience with pen and quill just like some people use camcorders today. Even taking a step back, the founding of the Holy Roman Empire Constantine. A HUGE amount of history is a direct result of presuming that a little man from Nathereth existed.

Personally, I don't actually care if he did or didn't. It wouldn't change my world view one iota. The net effect is the same.

GakuseiDon

My post in Tom's blog has been deleted.

IGExpandingPanda

You can try contacting him directly, or better yet escalate the matter to other fellows on The Jesus Project.

I'm sure I can dig up Thomson's e-mail address.

Found it

Toto

NO YOU DO NOT KNOW THIS.

April DeConick wrote some doubtful posts on the Jesus Project last year, and has been consistently negative about the whole premise.

Do not ascribe extraordinary powers to Rook.

youngalexander

I would be reluctant to ascribe any powers to Rook.

Good grief Panda, I thort that we had finished with that twerp over at Dawkins.

TJP has diminished greatly in my estimation.