Dear editor:
Visiting America in 1962, the courageous theologian Karl Barth was asked to summarize the essence of the millions of words he had published. He replied, "Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so." This answers the declaration of popular atheist Richard Carrier who has decided that Jesus was only a myth. Much of his argument sounds completely far-fetched, and wouldn't be taken seriously by virtually any scholar in the field, except on the very fringes. Even so, his ideas demand a response. Since serious discussion on this limited forum is impossible, I offer a short defense of the two subjects in Barth's statement: Jesus and the Bible. An excellent "Response to Richard Carrier" by Adam Tucker is easily found on the Internet.
Tucker says that virtually all modern scholars of antiquity agree that the Synoptic Gospels are the best sources for investigating the historical Jesus. These scholars also agree that Jesus existed historically, was a Galilean, Jewish rabbi who preached his message orally, was baptized by John the Baptist, and was crucified by the order of Roman Prefect Pontius Pilate. Mainstream historians view Jesus as an apocalyptic preacher, founder of a restoration movement within Judaism. His followers, after his death and convinced he was alive, formed the community which became the Christian Church. Jesus' existence and the scriptures which tell of him are so widely accepted that the calendar era -- A.D. -- is based on his birth.
Christians believe that Jesus has a "unique significance" in the world. In Islam, Jesus is considered one of God's important prophets. Judaism rejects the Christian belief that Jesus was the awaited Messiah. However, all of these three greatest religions acknowledge that Jesus actually did exist. The trusted historian Flavius Josephus tells about Jesus: His life, crucifixion and how His followers believed He had been resurrected. More than 43 non-Christian authors of the era mention Jesus, so to say he never existed is clearly unreasonable. These and other authors also acknowledge the writings of the New Testament; they didn't believe in the Resurrection, but they declare that Jesus' disciples certainly believed, and were martyred in various horrible ways because of this belief!
Interestingly, the atheist believes the writings of Pliney, of which there exists seven fragments: Ceasar, 10; Tacitus, 20; Plato, 7; Herodotus, 8; Demosthenes 299; Homer, 643; yet those same skeptics deny the New Testament of which there are 5,686 fragments!
I urge serious research to find answers about both Jesus and the Bible. To Richard Carrier and other skeptics and atheists, I offer you God's question to Job, found in the oldest book in the Bible: Where were you when I laid the foundations of the Earth? When I created the tides to hold the ocean back? When I placed Orion and the Pleiades in the heavens? After God told of his marvelous works, Job realized that he, the human, was just a pipsqueak by comparison, and said "I will shut my mouth!"
Self-promoting scientists, take note!
Pat Pine Darnell
501-282-3102
Hot Springs
Editorial on 10/01/2015