Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Toto · 12-04-2008, 03:45 PM

If this were in LA, I would be there. I just don't know what's happening in Amherst, or what kind of press coverage CFI will get.

teamonger · 12-05-2008, 12:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toto

I don't know anyone who is going to be there, other than the participants. I would check Richard Carrier's blog.

I was hoping to go, but work got in the way. And yes, a December conference in Amherst might get chilly.

I did go the the Davis conference last year, was pestering Robert Price a bit...

t

Toto · 12-08-2008, 01:57 PM

CFI has put out a press release:

Quote:

At the session this past weekend, participants agreed that a rigorous scientific inquiry was needed, and that the Project would be committed to a position of neutrality towards the sources used as "evidence" for the Jesus tradition. Participants represent a wide variety of perspectives, ranging from Tabor's argument that there is substantial evidence that the tomb of the family of Jesus has been located, to the view that the evidence for the existence of Jesus as an historical figure is not persuasive. "Jesus remains after 2,000 years the most fascinating figure of Western civilization," said James Tabor, author of The Jesus Dynasty: A New Historical Investigation of Jesus, His Royal Family, and the Birth of Christianity (or via: amazon.co.uk). "Scholars now at the beginning of the twenty-first century are able to take advantage of a plethora of new texts, sources, and methods, including the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls, various lost Gospels that are not in our New Testament, and a rich archaeological record." Tabor says that scholars today find themselves uniquely positioned to examine the issue of who Jesus was in new and challenging ways. During the closing conference round-table, Tabor was quick to emphasize that "the Jesus Project repudiates any theological agendas, special pleading, or dogmatic presuppositions." All members of the project share a common commitment to the importance of applying scientific methodologies to the sources used to construct the Jesus tradition.

The Project has outlined a set of priorities for its next meetings, including a "consistent" translation of the Gospels, an inquiry into the causes of the canonization of the existing New Testament documents, parallels between Islam and early Christianity in delineating its sacred books, and the need to carve a middle path between what Hoffmann describes as "Da Vinci Code sensationalism and the truly fascinating story that underlies the history of Christianity."

Papers delivered at the conference will be published under the title "Sources of the Jesus Tradition: An Inquiry," by Prometheus Books in 2009. The Project's next conference is scheduled tentatively for May 2009 in Chicago.

No Robots · 12-08-2008, 02:20 PM

Tnx.

Toto · 12-08-2008, 04:04 PM

The thought did cross my mind: James Tabor may not be the person the historicist faction would prefer to represent them.

Clivedurdle · 12-08-2008, 04:37 PM

Is that press release assuming historicism?

Toto · 12-08-2008, 04:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clivedurdle

Is that press release assuming historicism?

No - why would you think that?

EarlDoherty · 12-08-2008, 10:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toto

Originally Posted by Clivedurdle
Is that press release assuming historicism?

No - why would you think that?

I don't know...maybe because the beginning of the press release more or less states it.

Apparently between conception and realization the idea was abandoned that this would be a seminar that would directly address the question of whether Jesus existed or not. At least that's the way Tom Flynn presented it in Free Inquiry when the Project was first announced. I guess too many feet developed a cold.

Certainly, no recognized mythicist was invited to participate.

Earl Doherty

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Nathan Bupp

Phone: (716) 636-4869 x. 218

E-mail: nbupp@centerforinquiry.net

Quest for the Historical Jesus Begins Anew

Amherst, New York (December 08, 2008)—Scholars gathered this past
weekend, December 5-7, in Amherst, New York, for the inaugural
meeting of The Jesus Project in a renewed quest for the historical
Jesus. The project, sponsored by the secular think tank Center for
Inquiry and its Committee for the Scientific Examination of Religion
(CSER), is an effort by historians, biblical scholars, and theologians
to determine what can be reliably recovered about the historical
figure of Jesus, his life, his teachings, and his activities,
utilizing the highest standards of scientific and scholarly
objectivity.

.....

Toto · 12-09-2008, 01:32 AM

I suspect that the PR person who wrote that was not all that familiar with the issues. The first paragraph talks about "what can be reliably recovered about the historical
figure of Jesus" while the second talks about participants with the "view that the evidence for the existence of Jesus as an historical figure is not persuasive." Then James Tabor is mentioned prominently, as if he were one of the more prominent or interesting people there.

It's a bit frustrating, not knowing what is really going on.

GakuseiDon · 12-09-2008, 10:03 PM

Robert Price talks on the Jesus Project prior to its commencement here:
http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/wb...CLE_ID=1432152

The audioclip runs for about 5 mins. He says that he hopes that the Jesus Project never comes to the point of deciding on the historicity question, since it will mean half the scholars will drop out. He also says that he "and at least one other" (I assume Richard Carrier) are the only mythicists attending the seminar. (Comments taken from memory).

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12-04-2008, 03:45 PM	#21
Toto Contributor Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Los Angeles area Posts: 40,549	If this were in LA, I would be there. I just don't know what's happening in Amherst, or what kind of press coverage CFI will get.

12-08-2008, 02:20 PM	#24
No Robots Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Edmonton Posts: 5,679	Tnx.

12-08-2008, 04:04 PM	#25
Toto Contributor Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Los Angeles area Posts: 40,549	The thought did cross my mind: James Tabor may not be the person the historicist faction would prefer to represent them.

12-08-2008, 04:37 PM	#26
Clivedurdle Contributor Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: London UK Posts: 16,024	Is that press release assuming historicism?

12-09-2008, 01:32 AM	#29
Toto Contributor Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Los Angeles area Posts: 40,549	I suspect that the PR person who wrote that was not all that familiar with the issues. The first paragraph talks about "what can be reliably recovered about the historical figure of Jesus" while the second talks about participants with the "view that the evidence for the existence of Jesus as an historical figure is not persuasive." Then James Tabor is mentioned prominently, as if he were one of the more prominent or interesting people there. It's a bit frustrating, not knowing what is really going on.

12-09-2008, 10:03 PM	#30
GakuseiDon Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Australia Posts: 5,714	Robert Price talks on the Jesus Project prior to its commencement here: http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/wb...CLE_ID=1432152 The audioclip runs for about 5 mins. He says that he hopes that the Jesus Project never comes to the point of deciding on the historicity question, since it will mean half the scholars will drop out. He also says that he "and at least one other" (I assume Richard Carrier) are the only mythicists attending the seminar. (Comments taken from memory).

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