Jesus, Interrupted.

by cyberjesus 5 Replies latest watchtower bible

  • cyberjesus
    cyberjesus

    Has anyone read B. Ehrmans, Jesus Interrupted? I am half way through and I find it fascinating. Have you read it? What are your thoughts?

  • BurnTheShips
    BurnTheShips

    I am familiar with Ehrman, having read some of his work about 10 years ago when I was trying to figure out how the JWs were wrong. However, I haven't read this book.

    This seems to be a well written critique.

    http://www.reformation21.org/shelf-life/jesus-interrupted.php

    BTS

  • glenster
    glenster

    According to CNN, Ehrman writes in the conclusion of the book: "Doctrines such
    as the divinity of Jesus and heaven and hell are not based on anything Jesus or
    his earlier followers said. At least 19 of the 27 books in the New Testament are
    forgeries. Believing the Bible is infallible is not a condition for being a
    Christian."

    Michael J. Kruger, Associate Professor of New Testament at Reformed Theologi-
    cal Seminary has called it "a book full of ironies" and "intellectual schizo-
    phrenia." He cites a number of examples stating that, "it purports to be about
    unbiased history but rarely presents an opposing viewpoint; ironic that it
    claims to follow the scholarly consensus but breaks from it so often; ironic
    that it insists on the historical-critical method but then reads the gospels
    with a modernist, overly-literal hermeneutic; ironic that it claims no one view
    of early Christianity could be "right" (Walter Bauer) but then proceeds to tell
    us which view of early Christianity is "right;"..." Similar criticisms have
    been voiced by Ben Witherington, Professor of New Testament at Asbury Theologi-
    cal Seminary noting Ehrman's idiosyncrasies as "not the voice of the critical
    consensus on the NT. He could be called the popular voice of one particular more
    liberal or radical interpretation of the data."
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesus,_Interrupted

    I recommend Larry W. Hurtado's books on the topic of the earliest ideas about
    Jesus.
    http://theophilogue.wordpress.com/2010/01/22/book-review-how-on-earth-did-jesus-become-a-god-larry-w-hurtado/
    http://books.google.com/books?id=Xi5xIxgnNgcC&pg=PA132&lpg=PA132&dq=rainbow+%22jewish+monotheism+as+the+matrix%22&source=web&ots=h7srqzHfiL&sig=zbJnJwWOgWPfNuv7vOo6jmvURjo#PPA111,M1
    http://www.forananswer.org/Top_JW/Hurtado_Monotheism.htm
    http://books.google.com/books?id=_MH-_ZQuZrgC&pg=PA113&lpg=PA113&dq=lord+jesus+christ+devotion+to+jesus+in+earliest+christianity+by+larry

  • cyberjesus
    cyberjesus

    I read that critique last night but the writers seem (to me) that he is critiquing Ehrman more than the facts or reasonings stated. Also what can a defender of the Bible say about someone who exposes negative facts about it? I started researching the bible trying to believe in it. I ended up not trusting it at all. And still I want to know more about it. Its addicting.

  • PSacramento
    PSacramento

    Bart had his one "crisis of concsience" and it took him away from Christianity and his works reflect that.

    He is as bias in regards to the views he has and sees as "the truth" as most evangelical scholars are about their views.

    His books make for a great read and his raises valid points and questions, you just have to look elsewhere for counters to his arguments.

  • BurnTheShips
    BurnTheShips
    I read that critique last night but the writers seem (to me) that he is critiquing Ehrman more than the facts or reasonings stated.

    Yes, there is some criticism of Ehrman himself, especially at the beginning of the review. However, there is a great deal of criticism of his facts and reasonings too which get developed later on. Some of them are very strong and convincing, in my opinion.

    Also what can a defender of the Bible say about someone who exposes negative facts about it?

    Ehrman has critiqued the NT, and some are critiquing Ehrman's critique. I am, by the way, familiar with some of the internal inconsistencies in the Gospel accounts. It is clear that they exist, to me. I do not, however, agree with all of Ehrman's "facts."

    Its addicting.

    It is, isn't it?

    It's such an important book--regardless of what personal meaning it may have for you (or me).

    BTS

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