BYP Hosts Biblical Archaeologist & Scholar James D. Tabor May 7th!

[Philo Sofee]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U2eIkcErUik

You are all cordially invited to attend a significant discussion with biblical archaeologist, historian, Dead Sea Scrolls & Early Christian scholar Dr. James D. Tabor and the BYP this Sunday, May 7th, at 5:00 P.M.

Please note 5:00 P. M. an hour earlier than normal.

We will be discussing Paul ascension and the ascension motifs in Mediterranean and early Jewish religions in Jesus & Paul's day.

[drumdude]

In a stunning coincidence DP just posted the following:

From time to time, whether on the internet or in pamphlet form or even in a triumphant personal email sent directly to me, I run across dismissals of the story of Jesus as purely fictional — on the grounds that all of the important facets of his life were merely (and obviously) borrowed from the legends of other dying-and-resurrecting gods, etc. I wrote a column back in mid-2012 in which I briefly responded to this fairly common atheist approach: “‘Parallels’ of prophets not parallel.” I think that I’ll respond to it briefly once again:

In one of his bestselling books, the British evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins declares that “all the essential features of the Jesus Legend . . . are borrowed — every last one of them — from other religions already in existence in the Mediterranean and Near East region.” (Richard Dawkins, The God Delusion [New York: Houghton Mifflin, 2008], 119-120)

But is this true? Almost certainly not. There is scarcely a modern expert in any relevant field — I can think, at the moment, of none — who would agree with Professor Dawkins, a passionate writer but a man who has shown virtually no interest in or acquaintance with the relevant historical scholarship.

Again Daniel valiantly assaults the straw man. Dawkins agrees with the scholarly consensus that Jesus was a real historical person.

Mr Dawkins then gave his overall opinion on the whole matter, stating Jesus was most likely real, but doubting the stories of the New Testament.

He added: “The balance of probability, according to most but not all scholars, suggest that Jesus did exist.

https://www.express.co.uk/news/weird/11 ... ns-spt/amp

Will be excited to hear you discuss the Mediterranean motifs that formed the supernatural narrative elements that were bolted on to the historical Jesus after he died.

[Philo Sofee]

I talked with him yesterday and we're going to focus on Mark, but he will talk of Paul also. His approach to the Gospel of Mark really is fascinating and I do believe Academia is leaning the way he expounds. I know Ehrman is on board as well. I am excited to learn at the scholars' feet, and share it with everyone.