Biblical Criticism & History Forum - earlywritings.com

Chris Hansen wrote: ↑Wed Dec 21, 2022 3:41 pm

lclapshaw wrote: ↑Wed Dec 21, 2022 1:28 pm May I ask, why not?

I'll just leave this here: https://the-orbit.net/almostdiamonds/20 ... d-carrier/

Aside from that, I don't think he does good history, and the way he treats his critics is awful (akin to how I use to as well; something I've been working on). Also, he just a really inflated sense of self. Like... I've never seen any academic in the world abuse the word "peer review" into meaninglessness like he has.

We get it Richard. You were "peer reviewed." We don't need you to post it 50 times a day.

I am frankly nonplussed about his hitting on female students and while you may not be impressed with his "good history" I personally found his book OHJ to be heads and shoulders above the disappointing crap being published at the time. He can be caustic, I'll give you that, but shit, I don't suffer fools well myself.

Sounds like the messenger is being killed for the content to me.

Lev,

I thought Carrier was like a breath of fresh air when I first saw him, I think, on the old Internet Infidels discussion board. He used the antikythera mechanism as his icon. Unfortunately, his mystique was marred by his incredibly large EGO. I don't recall if he was banned for abrasiveness or just left out of frustration due to many members who did not properly recognize his brilliance (in Carrier's POV, at least). He could throw in good observations at times, so actually I was sad to see him go.

He talks all the time about how he is a properly trained "historian" (IIUC he has a degree in the History of Philosophy, a subject he never speaks about). From what we have been discussing here about Philo's Platonic/Stoic themed adaptation of Genesis, and use of Philo by Clement of Alexandria and Origen, this would be a great subject for Carrier to show his stuff and engage with Runia et al ... only he does not.

Since then, I think Carrier has almost acted psychopathically. Now he is the apologist for a mythical Jesus that seems to have little to do with the development of philosophy, paywalls, bourbon and the gift of free love from "geek groupies." Oh, he charges a large sum per hour (not per line or word) to translate pericopes from Greek & Latin texts. WTF? He's become the Jim Rockford character* of the modern age, but not in a good way.

DCH

*Anyone remember The Rockford Files, a US TV series about a quirky private investigator who had a knack for solving weird cases on a shoestring budget? Loved his Pontiac Firebird (his character couldn't afford a top of the line TransAm). This was one of James Garner's iconic mid-career character roles. But I digress ...

I've been watching the Rockford Files on Prime for months. It's Maverick set in the modern age (or at least the 70s). Lot of fun. Angel, Rockie, Beth.

Since I have a great respect for Richard Carrier's views and I have started this thread, I have to dissociate myself from the ongoing defamation of this historian by some users.

Secret Alias wrote: ↑Fri Dec 23, 2022 11:53 pm I've been watching the Rockford Files on Prime for months. It's Maverick set in the modern age (or at least the 70s). Lot of fun. Angel, Rockie, Beth.

Ohh dude! Beth! For sure!

Just bing watched the whole series and found it fascinating, not for the plot lines but for the glimpse into the last time we had a huge inflation increase. I was in my teens when it happened but only really understand it now.

Fun show.

Associating the baptism with the forgivenness of sin is a late development, invented by Judaizers. The more original meaning is imbuing the charismatic spirit, itself Judaization of the hermetic Nous.

mlinssen wrote: ↑Tue Dec 20, 2022 8:54 pm
And that is why I keep telling everyone that the only way to research this specific area and field is via the original manuscripts, in their original language: not because I like to say that, on the contrary: I like, love and desire to level all thresholds and to give everyone the chance and opportunity to study anything, and all of my work serves that purpose by being open access to all, by referring almost solely to freely, publicly and directly obtainable sources via handy hyperlinks: this so-called academic area is entirely dominated and controlled by Christians, which is the sole reason for its lack of advancement.

(...list of comments on what I think are translators of Thomas)

How does Patterson Brown fit into your list of translators of Thomas?

mlinssen wrote: ↑Tue Dec 20, 2022 7:19 am Quantity doesn't equate quality, Dick

Although he's spot on about Ehrman, of course
...
That's the order, and all of it can be demonstrated, and that the canonicals are dependent on Thomas has been demonstrated as nauseam already. What else needs to be done?

And who gives a damn about "Paul" - he has nothing to say, and Acts is the most obvious falsification of them all

There's a lot still to be done: I disagree about Acts - can you look at Paul on Trial and the videos and see if the idea of "Acts as History" fits better - there are a lot of little details that ring true, like the Pythia.

The Constantinian Church is who gives a damn about "Paul" - "he" has just the right things to say about moving the sabbath to the "Lord's" day (Constantine's Lord - not Christ's - Sol Invictus) and Passover to OEaster, and vilifying the Pentateuch.

So what else needs to be done is:

• Decide what goes in the canon now that we pitch out the Faulines: we voted for Thomas, and tentatively Philip and Truth.
  (The NHL is a library with a range of subjects - some of it Valentinian gnostic and some of not.)
• Elaborate what were the beliefs of Early Ebionaen Christianity with Matthew and Thomas and without the Faulines. Throwing the Faulines out leaves a lot of room for the good stuff.

("Quantity doesn't equate quality, Dick", and volume comes from someone pushing an agenda.)