I've been having some riveting conversations lately with ChatGPT on lots of subjects. I thought I'd make a few posts to share some of my conversations. ChatGPT is a bit chatty, so I'm going to highlight the pertinent parts. This one is kind of funny if you just read the highlighted parts.
Sam: Can you tell me whether Jesus of Nazareth existed?
ChatGPT: The existence of Jesus of Nazareth as a historical figure is widely accepted among scholars, and is supported by a significant amount of historical evidence. However, there are some scholars and individuals who argue that Jesus may not have existed as a historical person, or that the stories and accounts of his life were heavily mythologized. The evidence for the historical Jesus includes the writings of early Christian historians and scholars such as Paul, and the Jewish historian Flavius Josephus, as well as independent Roman and Jewish sources.
Sam:: What scholars think Jesus may not have existed?
ChatGPT: There are a small number of scholars and researchers who argue that Jesus of Nazareth may not have existed as a historical figure. These scholars are often referred to as "mythicists," and their views are considered to be a minority position within the academic community. Some of the more well-known figures in this field include Robert M. Price, Richard Carrier, and Earl Doherty.
However, it's worth noting that the overwhelming majority of scholars, including those in the fields of history, theology, and biblical studies, accept the historical existence of Jesus. The arguments and evidence presented by mythicists have been widely criticized by mainstream scholars as being based on a flawed understanding of the historical and cultural context of the time, as well as a selective interpretation of the available evidence.
Sam: Is Earl Doherty really a scholar?
ChatGPT: Earl Doherty is a Canadian author and researcher who is best known for his work on the historical Jesus and the origins of Christianity. He is considered as one of the most prominent figures in the "mythicist" movement, which argues that Jesus of Nazareth did not exist as a historical figure.
However, it's worth noting that Earl Doherty is not a credentialed scholar in the field of history, theology, or biblical studies. He is a self-taught researcher and his work is not peer-reviewed and do not follow the academic standards. His arguments and evidence have been widely criticized by mainstream scholars as being based on a flawed understanding of the historical and cultural context of the time, as well as a selective interpretation of the available evidence. It's important to keep in mind that the majority of academics in the relevant fields disagree with his conclusion, and view his work as not meeting the standards of historical scholarship.
Sam: Are there any New Testament scholars who think Jesus didn't exist?
ChatGPT: The majority of New Testament scholars, including those who specialize in the historical Jesus, believe that Jesus of Nazareth was a historical figure and that the accounts of his life and teachings in the New Testament are based on early oral and written traditions. However, as with any field of study, there is always a spectrum of opinions and perspectives among scholars.
There are a small number of New Testament scholars who have argued that Jesus of Nazareth may not have existed as a historical figure. These scholars are a minority and their views are not widely accepted within the academic community. Their arguments are based on a critical reading of the New Testament texts and the lack of non-Christian sources mentioning Jesus.
It's important to note that their arguments are not widely accepted by their peers and are considered as fringe theories. The majority of New Testament scholars, including those who specialize in the historical Jesus, believe that there is ample evidence to support the existence of a historical Jesus.
Sam: What New Testament scholars think Jesus didn't exist?
ChatGPT: As I mentioned earlier, the overwhelming majority of New Testament scholars believe that Jesus of Nazareth existed as a historical figure, and that the accounts of his life and teachings in the New Testament are based on early oral and written traditions. However, there are a few New Testament scholars who have argued that Jesus may not have existed as a historical person, or that the stories and accounts of his life were heavily mythologized. These scholars are considered to be a minority and their views are not widely accepted within the academic community.
Some of the New Testament scholars who have argued that Jesus may not have existed as a historical figure include, but not limited to, George A. Wells, and Robert M. Price. However, it's worth noting that their arguments and evidence have been widely criticized by mainstream scholars as being based on a flawed understanding of the historical and cultural context of the time, as well as a selective interpretation of the available evidence.
It's important to keep in mind that the majority of New Testament scholars and historians disagree with the conclusions of these fringe theories and consider them as not meeting the standards of historical scholarship.
Sam: Is George Wells really a New Testament scholar?
ChatGPT: George A. Wells is a retired English scholar, who is known for his work in the fields of Germanic studies and historical Jesus research. He is considered as one of the prominent figures in the "mythicist" movement, which argues that Jesus of Nazareth did not exist as a historical figure. However, it's worth noting that George Wells is not a New Testament scholar, but rather a retired English scholar with an expertise in Germanic studies and his work on the Historical Jesus is not considered as part of his main field of expertise.
It's important to note that his arguments and evidence have been widely criticized by mainstream scholars and New Testament experts as being based on a flawed understanding of the historical and cultural context of the time, as well as a selective interpretation of the available evidence. It's important to keep in mind that the majority of experts in the relevant fields disagree with his conclusions, and view his work as not meeting the standards of historical scholarship
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