Soul Invictus

Speaking of...did you ever finish that book on the validity of Jesus' death being a proper sacrifice?

Secular Pinoy

Wow, I'm rather surprised that a Christian would be reading Dawkins. IMO, he would fit Doc X's term "ultraskeptical/atheistic." If you're uneasy with Dawkins' religion bashing but still want to research ID, try Ken Miller's Finding Darwin's God, he's a Catholic and a Cell Biologist, and his book is quite recent so he tackles some of the newer ID proponents like Michael Behe and Phillip Johnson.

As for Bible studies books, the Recommended Reading thread has several great books there.

Doctor X

Secular Pinoy:

You know . . . I am almost there and I am surpised. I have just finished the section on midrash and extra-biblical Jewish commentary which . . . are you ready? They start to view the aqueda [Pretentious term for the binding of Isaac.--Ed.] as an example of sacrifice that allows the renewal of an entire people! Interesting. . . . You see, I had seen the whole "died for our sins" and "sacrifice" of Junior as a "later" mythic explanation of an embarassing event--execution. It may still be later in development, but it may also have a basis in Jewish thought much like Christian gnosticism has a basis in Jewish gnosticism. Does one cause the other? I over over simplify the thinking on the death of a beloved son . . . Jewish thought responded to their own martyrs by seeking a basis for proper action--"be like Isaac!"--where later interpretation practically has him binding himself! The Christian mythmaking may simply be the same process without any relation.

I have a number of questions, and I am in contact with the author. When I finish the book and get some more information, I may post it as a thread.

--J.D.

Secular Pinoy

hmmm... [I think he meant Soul Invictus - Ed]

Doctor X

Actually . . . I did!

Scribal error . . . pay no mind!

--J.D.