(January 8, 2014 at 9:42 pm)Minimalist Wrote: It works like this.
Some bible-thumping shithead says "No reputable scholar doubts the historical jesus."
Some one says "I doubt the historical jesus."
Bible-thumper says "Then you are not a reputable scholar."
The bible cannot be used to prove itself. Period.
Look, I'm by no means a Bible-thumping shithead nor do I find there to be any credible evidence for the Resurrection. I'm merely stating the fact the overwhelming majority of biblical scholars, secular and non, do not doubt that a man named Paul wrote a handful of the New Testament letters in the first-century. Don't take my word for it though. Do textual criticism as others have. Of course there will always be crackpots, just as there are those who deny the Holocaust or evolution, but atheists who want to promote critical thinking should not fall for rubbish arguments simply because we find religious dogmas to be absurd.
