Bart Ehrman: Certain to Piss Off Fundies

[Minimalist]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bart-d-ehr...40301.html

Apart from the most rabid fundamentalists among us, nearly everyone admits that the Bible might contain errors -- a faulty creation story here, a historical mistake there, a contradiction or two in some other place. But is it possible that the problem is worse than that -- that the Bible actually contains lies?

Most people wouldn't put it that way, since the Bible is, after all, sacred Scripture for millions on our planet. But good Christian scholars of the Bible, including the top Protestant and Catholic scholars of America, will tell you that the Bible is full of lies, even if they refuse to use the term. And here is the truth: Many of the books of the New Testament were written by people who lied about their identity, claiming to be a famous apostle -- Peter, Paul or James -- knowing full well they were someone else. In modern parlance, that is a lie, and a book written by someone who lies about his identity is a forgery.

Most modern scholars of the Bible shy away from these terms, and for understandable reasons, some having to do with their clientele. Teaching in Christian seminaries, or to largely Christian undergraduate populations, who wants to denigrate the cherished texts of Scripture by calling them forgeries built on lies? And so scholars use a different term for this phenomenon and call such books "pseudepigrapha."

You got it, Bart. A tissue of lies!!!

[Judas BentHer]

Bart Ehrman use to be a Fundy. I've not read all of his books. I use to be quite the bookworm but not so much anymore. I do respect and admire his forthrightness however.
His critics remind me of the line in "A Few Good Men" to their insisting the Bible is absolute and true; "YOU CAN'T HANDLE THE TRUTH!"

[Minimalist]

Truth is not as lucrative as the lie.

Religion is, at the end of the day, a business.

What is the function that a clergyman performs in the world? Answer: he gets his living by assuring idiots that he can save them from an imaginary hell.
-- H L Mencken

[Judas BentHer]

"How well we know what a profitable superstition this fable of Christ has been for us!" Pope Leo X

Though Pope Leo did exist, it's a matter of contention that he actually said these words. Whether or not he did is immaterial to the import of the concise description they afford in defining religion as a whole.

A mythic savior of the world, a miserable failure, a lie created from the imagination of men who's names in the testament to his existence aren't even true. So then the question remains; who saves Christians from the lie they expect to save them from god?
After common sense, intelligence and critical thinking have been crucified in the name of holding faith there stands a chance deception is proof of love.

[Godscreated]

Why should I or any christian get upset at the ravings of a deluded atheist lunitic. This man has no idea what he's talking about and in the little statement posted I see his deceptive wording, no since in paying any real attention to this man.

[edk]

Why Christians persist in not spelling "sense" correctly I don't know. Maybe it's because they're so bad at having any.

>This man has no idea what he's talking about
Which man? Also, if you mean the Pope, I would say he has a pretty damn good idea what he's talking about, being the boss.

>Why should I or any christian get upset at the ravings of a deluded atheist lunitic.
Was that a question? I think it must have been because it started with "Why", but I was confused by the lack of a question mark (?) which is the standard method of denoting a question. Mind you, experience of your respect for spelling and grammar should have taught me to be on my guard by now, so my bad, I guess.

In answer to your maybe-question: Why shouldn't you? Doesn't the Bible go on about spreading the good news (one of the nicer ways it says it. Others are more along the lines of "Kill Heathens! ")? I would have thought, if your antecedents failed to spread the good news to their own leader, that should lead you to question whether their good news was in fact a load of bollocks.

[Minimalist]

LOL. Pretty impressed with yourself, eh G-C?

Isn't pride one of your fucking deadly sins? Go tell your invisible friend you're sorry and try not to compare your miniscule brain to Bart Ehrman's. The man knows more about your fucking bible than you can ever hope to learn.

[The Grand Nudger]

Why should I or any christian get upset at the ravings of a deluded atheist lunitic. This man has no idea what he's talking about and in the little statement posted I see his deceptive wording, no since in paying any real attention to this man.

No SINCE eh? Because.. as we all know, without god, nothing makes since.

[Cinjin]

Why should I or any christian get upset at the ravings of a deluded atheist lunitic. This man has no idea what he's talking about and in the little statement posted I see his deceptive wording, no since in paying any real attention to this man.

That's so amusing --- simply juxtapose the words christian and atheist ---- and it's actually word for word EXACTLY what we think of you and Statler.

Yeppers ... I believe whatever
you tell me pastor!
Nope, don't worry, I won't ask any questions.
I'm just a simple minded sheep.
Flock Me!

[Justtristo]

Why should I or any christian get upset at the ravings of a deluded atheist lunitic. This man has no idea what he's talking about and in the little statement posted I see his deceptive wording, no since in paying any real attention to this man.

Far from deluded Bart Ehrman is a respected scholar of the New Testament, whose opinion of the New Testament is in accordance with the majority of his profession. I have read Bart Ehrman's works and I find little in them what other biblical scholars have not said before.

Also you misspelt lunatic by the way.