First off, it is Carrier's observation - although I have checked it out and found it accurate - and frankly he has a PH D in history which I daresay beats some guy waving a bible around.
I also disagree about the argument from silence which is a canard that jesus freaks trot out whenever their nonsense does not show up in the record. Usually, they misuse it or truncate it by ignoring the admonition that the silence must be in a context where one would expect the evidence to be. To wit, when an inscription about Thutmoses III does not mention Alexander the Great this should not ring any alarm bells as Thutmoses predated Alex by over a thousand years. However, when the 2d century xtian writer, Justin Martyr does not mention "paul" or any of the named gospels which you guys hold so dear, that silence speaks volumes.
To anyone who is willing to listen, that is.
I also disagree about the argument from silence which is a canard that jesus freaks trot out whenever their nonsense does not show up in the record. Usually, they misuse it or truncate it by ignoring the admonition that the silence must be in a context where one would expect the evidence to be. To wit, when an inscription about Thutmoses III does not mention Alexander the Great this should not ring any alarm bells as Thutmoses predated Alex by over a thousand years. However, when the 2d century xtian writer, Justin Martyr does not mention "paul" or any of the named gospels which you guys hold so dear, that silence speaks volumes.
To anyone who is willing to listen, that is.
