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All (103) Mike Winger (103)
Mike Winger idea 2019-06-19

Scholarly consensus: Jesus mythicism is not a live discussion in academic New Testament studies or history

Mike Licona characterizes the state of scholarly opinion on mythicism

scholarly consensus Jesus mythicism historicity of Jesus
Mike Winger idea 2019-06-19

Bart Ehrman's statement: mythicist view has no foothold among modern critical scholars

Quoting agnostic/atheist scholar to demonstrate non-Christian scholarly consensus

scholarly consensus Bart Ehrman Jesus mythicism
Mike Winger idea 2019-06-19

Maurice Casey (agnostic) concludes mythicist arguments are completely spurious, put forward by incompetent and unqualified people

Quoting another non-Christian scholar on mythicism

scholarly consensus Jesus mythicism historicity of Jesus
Mike Winger idea 2019-06-19

Joseph Hoffmann (agnostic, Harvard/Oxford) calls mythicists the greatest threat to calm academic study of religion next to fundamentalism

Third non-Christian scholar quoted condemning mythicism

scholarly consensus Jesus mythicism historicity of Jesus
Mike Winger idea 2019-06-19

Analogy: Entertaining Jesus mythicism is like scientists debating Flat Earth, or historians entertaining Holocaust denial

Illustrating the scholarly view of Jesus mythicism's credibility level

Jesus mythicism historicity of Jesus argument from analogy
Mike Winger idea 2019-06-19

Non-Christian sources for Jesus: Josephus, Tacitus, and Lucian of Samosata all mention Jesus

Overview of non-Christian historical sources for Jesus

Josephus Tacitus historicity of Jesus
Mike Winger idea 2019-06-19

Tacitus places Jesus's execution under Tiberius Caesar while Pontius Pilate was procurator; both Tacitus and Lucian are hostile to Christianity

Significance of hostile sources attesting to Jesus

criterion of embarrassment Pontius Pilate Tacitus
Mike Winger idea 2019-06-19

Paul as historical witness: he knew Jesus's brother James, persecuted the church, and lived in the same region and time as Jesus

Discussing Paul's evidence for the historical Jesus

1 Corinthians James (brother of Jesus) Paul 1 Corinthians James (brother of Jesus)
Mike Winger idea 2019-06-19

Argument: Paul's conversion is inexplicable if Jesus were fictional — he was in Jerusalem at the same time as the crucifixion

Using Paul's personal proximity to events to argue against mythicism

Paul Jesus mythicism historicity of Jesus
Mike Winger idea 2019-06-19

The Gospels (especially Mark and John) contain eyewitness testimony, serving as evidence for a historical Jesus

The Gospels as historical sources

John the son of Zebedee Peter Gospel of John Gospel of Mark
Mike Winger idea 2019-06-19

The rapid genesis and spread of the Christian movement is hard to explain if Jesus were fictional and not within living memory

Sociological argument for historical Jesus

Jesus mythicism historicity of Jesus early Christianity
Mike Winger idea 2019-06-19

Josephus mentions Jesus twice: Antiquities 18.63 (disputed) and Antiquities 20.200 (virtually undisputed)

Explaining the two Josephus passages

James (brother of Jesus) Josephus James (brother of Jesus) Antiquities of the Jews
Mike Winger idea 2019-06-19

The Testimonium Flavianum (Antiquities 18.63) was interpolated by a Christian, but most scholars think an authentic Josephus reference to Jesus underlies it

Scholarly consensus on the interpolation question in Josephus

Josephus Origen Antiquities of the Jews
Mike Winger idea 2019-06-19

Louis Feldman (leading Josephus scholar, Jewish, non-Christian) believed Josephus mentioned Jesus in both passages, estimated 3-to-1 or 5-to-1 ratio of scholars who agree

Expert Josephus scholarly opinion on the authenticity question

John Meier Josephus historicity of Jesus Testimonium Flavianum
Mike Winger idea 2019-06-19

Tacitus spells "Christos" correctly even while initially writing "Chrestus" — the full passage explicitly identifies Christ as executed under Pontius Pilate under Tiberius

Addressing the "different group" objection to Tacitus

Pontius Pilate Tacitus historicity of Jesus
Mike Winger idea 2019-06-19

Richard Carrier's claim that all extra-biblical sources simply copy Gospel accounts is refuted by Tacitus's late date and hostile stance

Refuting Carrier's hypothesis that non-Christian sources merely echo the Gospels

Richard Carrier Tacitus Jesus mythicism
Mike Winger idea 2019-06-19

The dying and rising gods parallel argument fails because Paul and non-Christian sources still have to be explained independently of the Gospels

Initial response to the Greco-Roman dying/rising gods parallel argument

Paul Jesus mythicism historicity of Jesus
Mike Winger idea 2019-06-19

Analogy: Parallel details in the B-29 Empire State Building crash (1945) and 9/11 do not mean 9/11 was copied — you need a causal connection

Illustrating that parallel details alone prove nothing without demonstrating causal connection

historicity of Jesus argument from analogy dying and rising gods
Mike Winger idea 2019-06-19

Historians are unpersuaded by pagan parallels because the parallels are not actually that similar; Asclepius is the closest pre-Jesus parallel and only heals/occasionally raises dead

Examining specific pagan parallels to Jesus

historicity of Jesus dying and rising gods pagan mythology
Mike Winger idea 2019-06-19

Apollonius of Tyana, the closest post-Jesus parallel, did not believe in resurrection and has only one account of an after-death appearance — in a dream to one disciple

Examining the post-Jesus pagan parallel most cited by mythicists

resurrection Apollonius of Tyana historicity of Jesus
Mike Winger idea 2019-06-19

Mythicists must composite multiple figures (Dionysus, Horus, Asclepius, Apollonius, Hercules) to approximate Jesus — historians reject this method

Exposing the composite methodology of Jesus-myth parallels

Apollonius of Tyana Jesus mythicism historicity of Jesus
Mike Winger idea 2019-06-19

Analogy: Compositing Lincoln, JFK, and fictional David Palmer to "prove" Obama is a myth illustrates the fallacy of the mythicist composite method

Illustrating the logical fallacy in compositing pagan parallels

John F. Kennedy Abraham Lincoln Jesus mythicism Barack Obama
Mike Winger idea 2019-06-19

Richard Carrier's claim that Paul only describes a Jesus in outer space, never on earth

Presenting a key mythicist argument from Richard Carrier about Paul

Paul Richard Carrier Jesus mythicism
Mike Winger idea 2019-06-19

Romans 1:3 refutes the "outer space Jesus" claim — Paul explicitly places Jesus as a historical descendant of David born in the flesh

Exegetical refutation of Carrier's cosmic Jesus interpretation

Romans 1:3 Paul Richard Carrier Davidic descent
Mike Winger idea 2019-06-19

Some mythicists argue "James the brother of the Lord" means a fellow believer, not a biological brother of Jesus

Mythicist reinterpretation of Paul's reference to James

James (brother of Jesus) Paul James (brother of Jesus) Jesus mythicism
Mike Winger idea 2019-06-19

Refutation: Paul and Jesus use "brothers" for all believers, but Matthew names four brothers of Jesus including James — confirmed by Josephus

Multiple source attestation for James as biological brother of Jesus

Galatians James (brother of Jesus) Matthew 13:55 Josephus Galatians multiple attestation
Mike Winger idea 2019-06-19

John 7 records Jesus's brothers not believing in him during his ministry, then Acts records them as believers after resurrection — this disbelief/conversion arc supports biological relationship

The conversion of Jesus's brothers as evidence for their biological relationship

Acts James (brother of Jesus) John 7 Acts James (brother of Jesus) resurrection appearances
Mike Winger idea 2019-06-19

Multiple independent attestation from Paul, Matthew, John (special L), and Josephus — the strongest form of historical evidence — confirms Jesus's brothers including James

Summary of multiple attestation for Jesus's brothers

James (brother of Jesus) Josephus multiple attestation James (brother of Jesus)
Mike Winger idea 2019-06-19

Lack of contemporary accounts of Jesus is explained by low literacy rates (~10%), oral transmission culture, and early Christian expectation of imminent return

Responding to the objection that no writings about Jesus exist from his lifetime

argument from silence oral tradition historicity of Jesus
Mike Winger idea 2019-06-19

Roman historians didn't mention Jesus more because he wasn't significant to Roman history — they didn't even mention Pontius Pilate, known only from Philo, Josephus, and NT sources

Explaining the relative silence of Roman sources about Jesus

argument from silence Josephus Philo
Mike Winger idea 2019-06-19

Argument from silence illustrated: Josephus omits his own capture by Romans from his autobiography; Grant's memoirs never mention the Emancipation Proclamation

Further examples showing argument from silence is a weak form of evidence

argument from silence Josephus historicity of Jesus
Mike Winger idea 2019-06-19

Objection that scholars affirm historicity only because they signed faith statements is refuted by citing atheist/agnostic scholars who agree

Responding to the claim that Christian bias explains scholarly consensus on historicity

James Crossley John Dominic Crossan scholarly consensus Bart Ehrman historicity of Jesus
Mike Winger idea 2019-06-19

Suggestion to mythicists: attend the Society of Biblical Literature annual meeting and ask scholars directly whether Jesus existed

Practical advice for those skeptical of scholarly consensus

scholarly consensus historicity of Jesus Society of Biblical Literature
Mike Winger idea 2019-06-19

Virtual scholarly consensus on historical facts about Jesus: lived in Palestine, believed special relationship with God, performed astonishing deeds, taught in parables, criticized Jewish leaders, crucified under Pilate

Summarizing the bedrock facts about Jesus accepted by virtually all historians including non-Christians

scholarly consensus resurrection crucifixion of Jesus
Mike Winger idea 2019-06-19

The consensus extends well beyond a minimal "one man named Jesus died by crucifixion" — substantial historical data about Jesus is agreed upon

Qualifying the extent of the historical consensus on Jesus

scholarly consensus historicity of Jesus
Mike Winger idea 2019-06-19

Bart Ehrman is in a small minority who deny Jesus was known as a miracle worker during his lifetime; most scholars disagree

Noting limits and minority positions within the broader consensus

scholarly consensus Bart Ehrman historicity of Jesus
Mike Winger idea 2019-06-19

Audience question: "Consensus holds Jesus existed but was not the Christ of the Gospels" — Licona: that is not a consensus position

Audience Q&A — addressing the claimed scholarly consensus against Gospel accounts

scholarly consensus historicity of Jesus Jesus's miracles
Mike Winger idea 2019-06-19

Suetonius's reference to "Chrestus" in Life of Claudius possibly refers to Jesus — but Suetonius is chronologically challenged if it does

Discussing Suetonius as a possible extra-biblical source for Jesus

historicity of Jesus extra-biblical sources Suetonius
Mike Winger idea 2019-06-19

Audience Q on mimesis: pagan parallels fail for the same reasons, plus early Christians were Torah-observant Jews who would not borrow from pagan myths

Audience question about mimesis / pagan parallel arguments

historicity of Jesus dying and rising gods pagan mythology
Mike Winger idea 2019-06-19

Richard Carrier's claim that all historians have concluded the criteria of authenticity are invalid is false — most historians still embrace the criteria

Audience Q about the methodology of validating historicity of Christ

Richard Carrier criteria of authenticity historical methodology
Mike Winger idea 2019-06-19

Only a handful of bona fide scholars deny Jesus's existence — Carrier said there were seven including himself, none widely respected in their disciplines

Quantifying the scholarly minority who deny Jesus's historical existence

scholarly consensus Richard Carrier Jesus mythicism
Mike Winger idea 2019-06-19

Red flags for mythicists: fringe scholarly support + primarily internet bloggers = gullibility warning; comparable to moon landing denialism and Holocaust denial

Warning signs that a position may be a conspiracy theory

epistemology Jesus mythicism historicity of Jesus
Mike Winger idea 2019-06-19

Pastoral observation: many Jesus mythicists are atheists/agnostics who find it convenient to deny Jesus existed rather than grapple with who he claimed to be

Winger's pastoral/spiritual observation about mythicists' motivations

apologetics atheism Jesus mythicism
Mike Winger idea 2019-09-04

Q&A: What did Constantine see — an X or a cross?

A viewer asks about Constantine's famous vision before the Battle of Milvian Bridge. Winger acknowledges the ambiguity without offering a firm answer.

early church history crux decussata Constantine
Mike Winger idea 2020-09-25

Global flood traditions across disconnected cultures support the historicity of a major flood event

Q&A question from Lindsay Pinkert about helping a friend who doubts biblical historical accuracy (flood and Exodus)

Genesis flood apologetics Inspiring Philosophy Genesis flood
Mike Winger idea 2020-09-25

Dr. Titus Kennedy's archaeological research supports the historicity of the Exodus

Recommended resource for the Exodus historicity discussion

Exodus historicity apologetics archaeology Exodus historicity
Mike Winger idea 2020-09-25

Scholarly assumption of a late Exodus date (~1100 BC) obscures available evidence; biblical date (~1400 BC) has stronger support

Explaining why Exodus evidence has been underappreciated

Exodus historicity Exodus dating archaeology historical reliability of Scripture Exodus historicity
Mike Winger idea 2021-02-05

Adam and Eve as historical people: consistency as a Christian requires affirming their historicity, but salvation does not depend on this doctrine.

Question from Loretta Taylor about whether Christian faith requires Adam and Eve to be literal historical people.

Genesis Romans 5 Genesis Romans 5 Adam and Eve
Mike Winger idea 2020-03-18

Q: Could Christians have made up martyrdom claims? Unreasonable for Peter, James, and John — first-century evidence of their martyrdom is strong. Some later apostle martyrdom stories may have been embellished, but the core eyewitnesses clearly suffered for their resurrection claims. Martyrdom proves sincerity, not necessarily truth — but combined with ruling out hallucination, the case is strong.

Q&A — historicity of apostolic martyrdom

apostolic martyrdom sincerity of testimony
Mike Winger idea 2020-08-14

Richard Carrier's mythicist theory (Jesus in outer space, apostles were schizotypal): Carrier is credentialed but widely disrespected in his field, on the fringe of scholarship. His strength is recall of sources; his weakness is unjustified connections between data points. His scholarly language ("perhaps," "what if") masks the extreme nature of his claims. Put the burden of proof on him to defend his theory.

Richard Carrier mythicism — fringe scholarship

Richard Carrier mythicism historical Jesus
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