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Sent: Thursday, October 09, 2003 12:31 AM
Subject: Re:
web projects, debates and interests I'm involved with. So I'm afraid I've
let it slip! There is also another problem which I hope you won't take
offence at. Whilst I don't feel too guilty about taking my time (there is
after all already much material available in our discussion) I am also a
little "demotivated" by some of your responses to myself and others. It is
disappointing that responses to your "challenge" have not been met with a
more adequate response from yourself in our both our existing work and the
discussions you had with e.g. Ed at http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~slocks/asym/babinski-jordan/1.html
etc. i.e. To write a long essay then to be met with curt comments such as
"Does that mean you don't buy the veracity of the Resurrection?" and "I'm
pretty sure I've already answered them" does not inspire to feel that you
are taking our comments seriously, whereas I and others have been at pains
so far to answer every one of your comments. This is also a comment I
have frequently received in feedback on our discussion, so you should be
aware that it is not helping your position - at least in the opinion of those
who write to me (including comments from Christians). For instance you
have not replied in either of your subsequent webpages to my repeated
question (originally from Ed's "Leaving the Fold" book) of how the "500
brethren" vision can be genuine when according to the biblical accounts there
were not that many brethren before the ascension. (First aired from me to you
at http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~slocks/asym/jreply1.html#eye).
I also still find it very odd that you snipped out the mention from my email
of Spong's point that: If the resurrection of Jesus
cannot be believed except by assenting to the
fantastic descriptions included
in the Gospels, then Christianity is doomed.
For that view of resurrection is
not believable, and if that is all there
is, then Christianity, which depends
upon the truth and authenticity of
Jesus' resurrection, also is not
believable. If that were the requirement of
belief as a Christian, then I
would sadly leave my house of faith. With me
in that exodus from the
Christian church, however, would be every ranking
New Testament scholar in
the world--Catholic and Protestant alike: E. C.
Hoskyns, C. H. Dodd, Rudolf
Bultmann, Reginald Fuller, Joseph Fitzmyer, W.
E. Albright, Raymond Brown,
Paul Minear, R. H. Lightfoot, Herman Hendrickx,
Edward Schillebeeckx, Hans
Kung, Karl Rahner, Phyllis Trible, Jane Schaberg,
D. H. Nineham, Maurice
Goguel, and countless others.This is so central to your repeated
unsubstantiated assertion that scholarly consensus is with you that it is most unfortunate that this is precisely
the part
something you will reply to if I put it on a formal webpage? I must admit
that I have never
quite understood why we can't just discuss these issues by email though.
(We have tried
emails a bit in the past - e.g. your challenges at
If Spong (and others quoted at
whole thesis is refuted - surely?
So what I really want to know to motivate me into a quicker than
otherwise
reply is will you reply to all these questions and other unanswered
ones if
I pose them in my next set of webpages? Of course, if there is
anything of yours that
you think I have not addressed (apart from your last webpage of course)
then
please let me know before my next webpage is up so that I don't miss it
again.
My intention is to number each individual point next time to see what gets
answered in order to tie this discussion down and keep it focused. This is
an
experiment I have tried successfully in debate before with others which
prevented
a frustrating time. Unfortunately I already tried this with
you at
though these were replies to your direct email challenges they still went
unanswered.
Also, the last time I asked if you would answer my requests for
clarification on the
points I raised in reply to you that too went unanswered (at same
URL).
Nevertheless, whatever your response I will have a refresh as to
where I was
and get something up ASAP, but don't hold your breath! On the
other hand
please don't think I have forgotten the
discussion!
Meanwhile - thanks for giving me a jog!
Best
wishes,
Steve
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Leaving
Christianity
www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~slocks/decon.html
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