Comments on: What is Biblical Monotheism?

By: James

James — Fri, 01 May 2009 00:37:55 +0000

Thanks for this post, YTD. If you don’t mind, I’m going to link to this post in my own post on the subject which collects two quotes by Mark Smith.

http://lehislibrary.wordpress.com/2009/04/24/mark-smith-modern-monotheism-not-an-ancient-concept/

By: Stephen M (Ethesis)

Stephen M (Ethesis) — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 11:34:08 +0000

BTW, this is a great essay: http://www.slate.com/id/2132974/entry/2132989/

It cautions Christians of different denominations about getting overconfident about their particular beliefs. Almost all Christians see their own beliefs as grounded in the authentic New Testament facts; the criterion suggests that very few facts are actually undisputable.

For all the rigor of the standard it sets, the criterion demonstrates that Jesus existed. Here are some facts in the Gospels that embarrassed the early church: Jesus was baptized by John (a great theological problem). He preached the end of the world (which did not come). He opposed the Temple in some way (and this opposition led directly to his death). He was crucified (a disreputable way to die). The inscription on the cross was “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews” (the church never preached this title for Jesus and shortly lost interest in converting Jews).

By: Stephen M (Ethesis)

Stephen M (Ethesis) — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 11:31:36 +0000

The problem that Hurtado is facing is whether or not Biblical Judaism is monotheistic or not. One either ignores the facts or changes the evangelical definition if one wants to agree that classic (Judaism of Moses) Old Testament is monotheistic.

Edinburgh University Divinity School: Prof. Larry Hurtado has a number of google entries if you are interested Douglass.

By: CJ Douglass

CJ Douglass — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 22:27:31 +0000

Are we sure Hurtado is an evangelical Christian? This seems to be what LDS have been saying to evangelicals for years.

Also, I wonder if he thinks this same model works for the “are Mormons Christian” question. Or, should we take as “Christian” the religious beliefs and practices of people who describe themselves as Christian? I wonder how Hurtado feels about weeding out heretics.

Or, here’s another one: Should we take as “Mormon” the religious beliefs and practices of people who describe themselves as Mormon? Even if they practice polygamy in a shady compound?

I could go on…