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Old 12-12-2002, 08:14 AM   #1
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Post Only 15% of what was written about Jesus?!

I was sifting through some of the old links I've collected, and I found a rather amazing claim that I'd like to have confirmed before I go whipping it out with any confidence.

According to <a href="http://www.ffrf.org/nontracts/jesus.html" target="_blank">this site, which talks about the immorality of Jesus,</a> the Jesus Seminar has concluded that a mere 15% of what is reported about Jesus in the NT is authentic!

I couldn't find anything about this at the Jesus Seminar site, but I figured that you people would already know all about it.

Is this an accurate claim?

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I realize that I am treating the New Testament flatly, as if all of the words and deeds of Jesus can be taken at face value. I know there is controversy regarding the authenticity of many of the verses quoted above. The Jesus Seminar, for example, concludes that approximately 85% of the words and actions of Jesus as reported in the New Testament are not authentic -- he never said or did most of those things. This nontract is aimed at the "bible believer" who thinks the entire New Testament is inerrant and inspired.
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Old 12-12-2002, 08:55 AM   #2
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I've read both "The Five Gospels" and "The Acts of Jesus" and from what I can recall, that sounds about right. Although that number represents the "he did definately do/say this" category. So it's a little misleading.

Personally, as a jesus myther. I'd put the number a little lower....say...around 0%.


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Old 12-12-2002, 09:02 AM   #3
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Thanks for the reply, Uzzah!

Yeah, it's obvious to anyone who doesn't have to believe in this dribble that Jesus = Mithras, but the fact that these are Christian scholars coming to these conclusions adds to the agony!

Quote:
Although that number represents the "he did definately do/ say this" category.
Ok, this is what I need to know about here. Is the 85% considered to be "probably"?

The way this guy wrote it, he is clearly claiming that they have concluded that 85% of it is certainly, or almost certainly, not true.

[ December 12, 2002: Message edited by: Bible Humper ]</p>
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Old 12-12-2002, 09:22 AM   #4
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Quote:
Originally posted by Bible Humper:
<strong>I was sifting through some of the old links I've collected, and I found a rather amazing claim that I'd like to have confirmed before I go whipping it out with any confidence.

According to <a href="http://www.ffrf.org/nontracts/jesus.html" target="_blank">this site, which talks about the immorality of Jesus,</a> the Jesus Seminar has concluded that a mere 15% of what is reported about Jesus in the NT is authentic!

I couldn't find anything about this at the Jesus Seminar site, but I figured that you people would already know all about it.

Is this an accurate claim?

</strong>
Did they say what the source of that knowledge is or did they just say that it is true.

You know they say 85% of people make up statistics, or is it 75%
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Old 12-12-2002, 09:29 AM   #5
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That figure is based on a vote by the fellows of the Jesus Seminar, which (as I recall - I'm not taking the time to look up the details) is open to anyone with a PhD in New Testament Studies, but which has been boycotted by the more conservative or inerrantist scholars.

The seminar started by deciding (or assuming) who Jesus was, and then deciding what he was likely to have said among the reports in the Gospels of what he said.

The methodology leaves a lot to be desired, but it is an indication of the best that people who have studied the question can come up with.
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Old 12-12-2002, 09:34 AM   #6
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Quote:
Originally posted by Toto:
<strong>...inerrantist scholars.
</strong>
Isn't that an oxymoron? (I'm actually serious. How can an inerrantist be considered a scholar when they have presupposed the conclusion?)
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Old 12-12-2002, 09:45 AM   #7
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So would it be more accurate for me to say that the Jesus Seminar's Christian scholars have concluded that 85% of what is written about Jesus in the NT is *dubious* or *untrue*?

[ December 12, 2002: Message edited by: Bible Humper ]</p>
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Old 12-12-2002, 09:55 AM   #8
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Quote:
Originally posted by Bible Humper:
<strong>So would it be more accurate for me to say that the Jesus Seminar's Christian scholars have concluded that 85% of what is written about Jesus in the NT is *dubious* or *untrue*?

[ December 12, 2002: Message edited by: Bible Humper ]</strong>
Not exactly. They break things down into 4 categories: definitely didn't say it, probably didn't say it, possibly said something like it, and most probably said it (represented by black, grey, pink, and red balls.) I think the 15% refers to the "red", or most probably said it, category. You would have to get the 4 part break down to find out the percentage that is "dubious" or "untrue".

<a href="http://religion.rutgers.edu/jseminar/" target="_blank">Jesus Seminar</a>

<a href="http://www.religioustolerance.org/chr_jsem.htm" target="_blank">Religious Tolerance page on the Jesus Seminar</a>
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Old 12-12-2002, 10:56 AM   #9
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JusticeMachine did state:

Quote:
You know they say 85% of people make up statistics, or is it 75%?
Y'know... I had always heard that it was 42.7% of statistics were made up on the spot by the person citing them.

godfry n. glad
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Old 12-12-2002, 10:57 AM   #10
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Awesome. Thanks a lot, Toto.
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