Platinum Archives - Page 6 of 10 - The Bart Ehrman Blog

What Would the Apostle Paul Think of The Trinity? Platinum Guest Post by Joel Scheller

Now here's an intriguing question about early Christianity, posed and answered by Platinum Blog member Joel Scheller in a guest post for all you other Platinums. One way to put the question is this: Would the apostle-Paul have been considered an arch-heretic in the fourth century? A good case can be made! Read on. And think about contributing a post yourself, on any topic connected to the blog. Have an idea/thought? Get it out there! For now -- here's Joel's most recent contribution. He'll be happy to address your comments. ****************************** I find it interesting that so much Christian teaching is based on the Apostle Paul’s influence and yet the doctrine on the very nature of God for most Christians seems out of step with what Paul has to say on the subject. To start off with, The Nicene Creed was originally provoked by the question of how Jesus was God in relation to God the Father, with the inclusion of The Holy Spirit in the creed as almost an afterthought, and whose relationship in [...]

BDEhrman2022-11-29T10:59:06-05:00December 16th, 2022|Early Christian Doctrine, Paul and His Letters|

December Gold Q&A

It is time to schedule the Gold Q&A for December! My plan is to record it this weekend -- which means I need your QUESTIONS. So you have something to ask? It can be holiday related, non-holiday related, and anything-related-to-the-blog related. Go for it! I'm more likely to answer questions that are relatively short and to the point than those that go on for a long paragraph. So be concise, I'll try to be informative, and the world will be a happy place. To enter your question on to the list: send it to Diane at [email protected] The DEADLINE for your question is this Saturday, December 17 midnight (whenever midnight is where you live). As has become our wont, we will release the recording in both video and audio -- for Gold members only. I'm looking forward to it! Bart

BDEhrman2022-12-14T11:55:31-05:00December 14th, 2022|Public Forum|

Is It A Sin To Be Transgender? Platinum guest post by Douglas Wadeson MD

Fellow Platinum Blog member Doug Wadeson, MD, is not afraid to take on the difficult questions. Here's one I've never thought of posting on! And one that is as important as it is interesting. As you know, these guest posts are by Platinum members for Platinum members; and occasionally we vote on one to be posted to the entire blog. If you too want to come up with one -- go for it! But for now, here's Doug's post on transexualism and the Bible. He will be happy to respond to your comments. ****************************** I recently read of a horrible incident in which a political candidate in Santa Rosa county, Florida, suggested that doctors who assisted with gender reassignment of young people should be hung from trees.[1] Reportedly this comment was greeted with applause from the audience rather than outrage. Applause for the suggestion of lynching someone? Seriously? Unfortunately, the negative, even hateful attitude toward transgender people and gender reassignment often comes from those claiming to be Bible-believing Christians. Does the Bible say that having gender [...]

BDEhrman2022-11-28T15:33:09-05:00December 9th, 2022|Sex and Sexuality in the Bible|

Our Platinum Webinar: The Infancy Gospels!

Dear Platinum Members, Remember (or if you didn't hear about it the first time, then "member!"): We have our December webinar THIS THURSDAY, Dec. 8, at 8:00 pm ET. I've decided to do something related to Christmas but in an indirect way, a talk on the apocryphal Infancy Gospels. Or at least two of them: The Infancy Gospel of Thomas (not to be confused with the Coptic Gospel of Thomas), which tells tales of the mischievous Jesus from ages 5-12, allegedly written by his brother Thomas; and the Proto-Gospel of James, which tells stories about Jesus' *mother* and her miraculous birth and life, to explain why she was fit to bear the Son of God, allegedly written by his brother James. These are two impeccable authorities: Jesus' own brothers. What could go wrong? I hope you can come. I'll give the talk and then have Q&A. CAn't wait! Here’s the link: https://unc.zoom.us/j/97717226646?pwd=VG1rOFBDcnppV1FNQktJejZsVVZsZz09 Any questions or concerns, let me know!

BDEhrman2022-12-06T20:34:40-05:00December 6th, 2022|Public Forum|

November Gold Q&A

Dear Gold Members, First I'd like to apologize for a mess-up on the monthly Gold Q&A's. It was not until a few days ago that I learned the October one had not been posted. (Don't hesitate to tell me sooner next time!) That was a complete snafu. We collected your questions and I recorded the Q&A and then there was a communication breakdown. I was out of the country and something fell through the cracks; we're not sure what or where, but we're taking steps to make sure it doesn't happen again. So, sorry 'bout that. The October Q&A is being posted now -- hopefully by tomorrow. The November Q&A is a different matter. I have had a family emergency over the past couple of weeks that took me out of action (not just blog action!). But I'm now able to get back on with life as we know it. But that's why the November Q&A is and will be late. On the upside -- you'll get TWO Q&A's in December! And there's another bit [...]

BDEhrman2022-11-29T10:48:10-05:00November 28th, 2022|Public Forum|

December Platinum Webinar!

Hey Platinum members! I'm pleased to announce that our next Platinum Webinar for the blog will be on Thursday, December 8, at 8:00 pm ET. Topic TBA. But I'll do my best to choose something interesting, and will let you know what it is anon. Here's the link: https://unc.zoom.us/j/97717226646?pwd=VG1rOFBDcnppV1FNQktJejZsVVZsZz09 Any questions or concerns, let us know. And thanks for being Platinum members: if we can improve your experience, let us be the first to hear you shout!

BDEhrman2022-11-29T10:50:44-05:00November 28th, 2022|Public Forum|

A Challenge Grant to the Blog! Can You Help Match It?

Holiday Season Donation Challenge! I am very pleased to announce that we have received a $20,000 challenge grant from an anonymous donor on the blog. For the challenge to be met, we need to raise another $20,000 among us. C’est possible? One can always hope! I am posting this request for gifts to meet the challenge to the Platinum members of the blog, hoping that we can find some generous assistance with us to meet the goal. It’s obviously a good time of year for generosity; given the state of the world, no time has ever been better. Every penny we bring in will go directly to our charities to support both disaster relief and the ongoing problems of hunger. Can you help us out? We will appreciate anything you can donate, from a buck or two to, well, 20,000. If you choose to make a donation, please do not respond here as a comment on the blog but write us to indicate the amount, and then simply go to the Blog site, scroll down [...]

BDEhrman2022-12-02T15:18:54-05:00November 26th, 2022|Public Forum|

October Gold Q&A

Dear Gold Members, How tempus fugits when you're havin' fun! Time for our October Gold Q&A. Have a question? Give it a shot. It can be anything related to the blog. To enter your question on to the list: send it to Diane at [email protected] The DEADLINE for your question is this Friday, October 21 midnight (whenever midnight is where you live). I will record the session soon thereafter and we'll get it released by October 27 or so. Questions that are short and to the point (a sentence or two) are more likely to be chosen. And feel free to ask a tough one. Outsmart Bart! Bart

BDEhrman2022-11-01T10:45:29-04:00October 17th, 2022|Public Forum|

Suffering, Evil, and the Range Effect Platinum Guest Post by Dennis J. Folds, Ph.D.

In this Platinum Guest Post for all you Platinums, Dennis Folds addresses one of the most consequential and intractable problems of human existence, with his own views of the matter. This is certainly to be controversial? Do you want to controverse? Feel free to make comments! *********************** The problem of suffering has plagued theologians for centuries, and continues to haunt thinkers today, including the prodigious progenitor of this blog. Its cousin, the problem of evil, similarly challenges religious scholars to explain how a just and loving God (JLG) could create a world in which people experience extreme suffering, especially when caused by the intentional (evil) actions of other people. Many conclude that JLG doesn’t exist, and if there is a God, it doesn’t have the attributes we wish it had. In this post I’ll argue that the experience of suffering and the perception of evil are inevitable consequences of biological consciousness, because of a psychological phenomenon called the range effect. As such, suffering and evil are insufficient reasons to reject all notions of a God. [...]

BDEhrman2022-10-06T17:35:16-04:00October 17th, 2022|Reflections and Ruminations|

Vote on your favorite Platinum Post: The Next Round!

Dear Platinum members, We have had some provocative platinum guest posts over the past month and a half , and now it's time to vote to see which of the following will be posted on the blog at large. Take a look. To vote, just send a quick note to Diane at [email protected] Your deadline: this coming Thursday, 10/20/2022 midnight your time. And remember — you’re always welcome to submit a post yourself. Is there anything connected to the blog that strikes your fancy that you’d like others to read about? Any ideas/thoughts you’d like to have disseminated and discussed? Here’s your chance. It doesn't have to be highly learned and informed -- just something you'd like some feed back on . If you're interesetd, just zap me a note -- or send me a post! August 26, 2022 Did Jesus Collaborate with the Romans to Produce His Movement? Ryan Fleming August 29, 2022 Did the Romans Stage Jesus’ Crucifixion? Ryan Fleming September 23, 2022 Why Paul Was Persecuted (Or Claimed He Was) Daniel [...]

BDEhrman2022-10-16T17:32:24-04:00October 16th, 2022|Public Forum|

Did the Israelites Practice Human Sacrifice? Platinum Guest Post by Joel Scheller

Now HERE is an eye-opening Platinum post, by Platinum Member Joel Scheller for all you other Platinum members to chew on. What do you think? Remember: you too can offer a guest post -- with the chance of it being voted to be published on the entire blog. It doesn't have to be erudite and massively learned: just anything you're thinking of about the Bible, Christianity, or, well, most anything else related. If you don't know if what you have in mind is relevant, zap me a note to ask; if you know it is, write it and send it along! For now, well, check out this provocative one! *********************** What do you think about BBQing your children? When I look back at the raising of my two, fine sons I remember times when the option was probably not off the table. But in all seriousness, there is nothing more repulsive to people than to think of such a thing. Certainly, a believer in the God of our bible would find such a notion [...]

BDEhrman2022-10-06T17:29:43-04:00October 10th, 2022|Hebrew Bible/Old Testament|

The Birth of the Trinity – Platinum Webinar September 2022

Dear Platinum Members, Apologies for getting to this in something less than tout de suite! But here it is, our webinar on the Birth of the Trinity, for those of you weren't able to come and ... for those of you who were! Below is the video:

FreedomBen2022-10-09T15:09:58-04:00October 9th, 2022|Early Christian Doctrine, Public Forum|

The Problem: Not Enough Killing! Platinum Guest Post by Douglas Wadeson

I can't tell you how much I'm enjoying these Platinum posts -- posts by Platinum members for Platinum members with Platinum Content! Here is one that will take you aback--Doug Wadeson, grappling deeply with one of the most disturbing aspects of the Bible. ****************************** Recently we had lunch with a delightful Christian couple, very nice people. They mentioned how their grandchildren were getting such good teaching at their church, especially the Old Testament stories. I suggested, “That probably includes the story of Jericho?” (Joshua 6) “Sure.” “Do you think they were taught what the soldiers were to do when the walls fell down?” “You mean, kill the people?” “Yes, every man, woman and child. So, if I was teaching their Sunday School class, I would pose this question to make it more real for them: Suppose you were one of the Israelite soldiers and you entered a home in Jericho and found a family. Now, would you kill the children first so they wouldn’t have to watch their parents die, or would you kill [...]

BDEhrman2022-09-20T18:10:00-04:00September 30th, 2022|Hebrew Bible/Old Testament, Reflections and Ruminations|

Why Paul Was Persecuted (Or Claimed He Was). Platinum Guest Post by Daniel Kohanski

I am pleased to publish this new Platinum post by Dan Kohanski, on an intriguing and important topic for understanding both the life (and writings) of Paul and the earliest history of the Christian movement. This post is by a Platinum member for other Platinum members. You too can make a post like this. Interested? Just write something up and send it along. It doesn't need to be high level scholarship. Just write up your views about something and get some feedback from others! In the meantime, Dan will be willing to address your feedback on this one. ****************************** (This article is based on research I’ve been doing for my new book, A God of Our Invention: How Religion Shaped the Western World, to be published in early 2023 by Apocryphile Press.)[1] The claim that opposition is persecution is one that occurs throughout the history of Christianity. The last of Matthew’s beatitudes promises that those “who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake” (Matt. 5:10) will be rewarded in heaven. The First Letter of Peter reassures its [...]

BDEhrman2022-09-22T10:10:57-04:00September 23rd, 2022|Paul and His Letters, Public Forum|

Our Next Platinum Webinar! Tuesday September 27

We have scheduled our next Platinum-Only Webinar for Tuesday September 27! I hope you can make it: it's a hot topic. (If you can't make it, we'll be recording it and sending it out) (In fact, we'll be doing that even if you *can* make it) Topic: The Birth of the Trinity Issue: Most people don't actually know what the doctrine of the Trinity is (it's not just that there is a Father, Son, and Holy Spirit...); fewer still have a good sense of where it came from, why it developed, and how. After this webinar, you will! Time: 7:30 - 9:00 pm Eastern Time. Link: https://unc.zoom.us/j/97931736337?pwd=b0JmTlYvK3dmZ3dxK3haWWdSS2cxQT09 Meeting ID: 979 3173 6337 Passcode: 691689 Hope to see you there! = Bart

BDEhrman2022-09-20T16:13:56-04:00September 20th, 2022|Public Forum|

September Gold Q&A

Dear Gold Members, Here we go! Time for our monthly Gold Q&A. Have a question? Go for it. It can be anything related to the blog. To enter your question on to the list: send it to Diane at [email protected] The DEADLINE for your question is this Saturday, September 24 midnight (whenever midnight is where you live). I will record the session soon thereafter and we'll get it released by Sept. 29 or so. Questions that are relatively short (a sentence or two) are more likely to be chosen. And feel free to come up with a stumper! Bart

BDEhrman2022-09-20T16:12:54-04:00September 20th, 2022|Public Forum|

Vote on your favorite Platinum Post: The Next Round!

Dear Platinum members, It's time again again for you to vote on one of our Platinum guest posts, to see which one will be posted on the blog at large. Take a look. It's a wide range and all very interesting. To vote, just send a quick note to Diane at [email protected] Your deadline: this coming Tuesday, 9/6/2022 midnight your time. And remember — you’re always welcome to submit a post yourself. Is there anything connected to the blog that strikes your fancy that you’d like others to read about? Any ideas/thoughts you’d like to have disseminated and discussed? Here’s your chance. It doesn't have to be highly learned and informed -- just something you'd like some feed back on . If you're interesetd, just zap me a note -- or send me a post! June 24, 2022 Onan the Barbarian: How an obscure Bible character affected reproductive rights. Douglas Wadeson July 2, 2022 Which James in Galatians? Gregory Hartzler-Miller July 8, 2022 A Major Forgery in the Hebrew Bible? Dennis J. Folds August 22, [...]

BDEhrman2022-09-01T18:27:30-04:00September 1st, 2022|Public Forum|

Did the Romans Stage Jesus’ Crucifixion? Platinum Guest Post by Ryan Fleming

Here is now the third platinum guest post by Ryan Fleming. As you might expect, it does not get any less controversial! Do you have a reaction? Let's hear it! ****************************** This third in a series of three posts proposes a theory that Christianity was born from Roman manipulation of the religious heart of Jewish resistance to their authority in Judea. It discusses Jesus’ trial, Pilate’s open public defense to a Jewish mob, and the spread of Christianity to Rome. Before the crucifixion, the Jewish court condemned Jesus to death for blasphemy and brought Jesus before Pilate with a fabricated Roman charge of sedition. Pontius Pilate changed the charge to “King of the Jews”. The Jewish elders asked Pilate to alter the inscription to, “This man claims to be King of the Jews.” Why did Pilate demand the charge “King of the Jews” for a Jewish peasant brought before him? Was it out of sarcasm to mock the demands of the Jewish court or was it per his own desire and design that Jesus be [...]

BDEhrman2023-01-14T17:59:55-05:00August 29th, 2022|Historical Jesus|

Did Jesus Collaborate with the Romans to Produce His Movement? Platinum Guest Post by Ryan Fleming

Here now is the second of Ryan Fleming's posts arguing that the Jesus movement emerged from a collaboration with the Romans. It is for you Platinum members only. Are you interested in coming up with a post? It can be on any topic related to the blog. It does not have to be scholarly. It can be your own reflections. You can get some good feed back from others. Go for it! For now, here is Ryan going for it. ********************* This second in a series of three posts proposes a theory that Christianity was born from Roman manipulation of the religious heart of Jewish resistance to their authority in Judea. It discusses Jesus’ ministries, how they were conducive to Roman rule, and the role of “miracles”. Jesus offered teachings very different from Judaism. Jesus was consistently critical of the Jewish religious order; the keepers of the Mosaic Law (Luke 11:45-47 11:52), the scribes (Matt 15:1-7 23:2-3 23:13-29, Mark 12:38-40, Luke 20:46), the chief priests (Matt 21:23 21:31), the Pharisees (Matt 15:1-7 16:6 16:11-12 [...]

BDEhrman2023-03-06T12:34:08-05:00August 26th, 2022|Historical Jesus|

Did the Romans Help Create the Jesus’ Movement? Platinum Guest Post by Ryan Fleming

Platinum member Ryan Fleming has come up with three posts that may strike you as highly controversial. Very interesting ideas. What do you think? Ryan will be able to engage your questions and comments. This is the first of three posts; the others will be posted -- just for you Platinum members -- over the course of the next eight days. ******************* This series of three posts proposes a theory that Christianity was born from Roman manipulation of the religious heart of Jewish resistance to their authority in Judea. Jesus’ ministries were a collaboration with local Roman authority to change the culture of the Jewish people to be more conducive to Roman rule, collection of taxes, acceptance of gentiles, submissiveness, etc. The miracles attributed to Jesus were staged with clandestine support from Rome to enhance the popularity of the movement. The Jewish people saw through Jesus’ teachings as not being divine from their god, saw his teachings as blasphemous, and as such, rejected him and called for his execution. The Roman Prefect, Pontius Pilate, did [...]

BDEhrman2023-01-14T17:55:57-05:00August 22nd, 2022|Historical Jesus|

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