tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6409501448248880480.post1554485606163181474..comments2022-03-23T04:19:03.120-04:00Comments on The Magical Lotus: Jesus The Magician (Post 5: Chapter 4 Summary)Karmaghnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11645214733153084017noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6409501448248880480.post-34889608966430212502011-01-29T16:27:16.175-05:002011-01-29T16:27:16.175-05:00@RO
RO said, "Ok, but he said Jesus literally...@RO<br />RO said, "Ok, but he said Jesus literally practiced cannibalism. Is that his conclusion about Jesus the Magician?"<br /><br />It is not his conclusion about the real/historical Jesus. It is his conclusion as to what was said about him by many of his contemporaries. He is working with early non-Christian material that gives alternate presentations of Jesus and what he was doing in Palestine.Karmaghnahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11645214733153084017noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6409501448248880480.post-1464556340333451722011-01-29T12:07:42.348-05:002011-01-29T12:07:42.348-05:00Ok, but he said Jesus literally practiced cannibal...Ok, but he said Jesus literally practiced cannibalism. Is that his conclusion about Jesus the Magician? <br /><br />I guess I don't understand the sketch of Jesus' life. I should probably read the book.Rufus Opushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10806987441760167537noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6409501448248880480.post-10917921588035332672011-01-28T17:59:30.498-05:002011-01-28T17:59:30.498-05:00*Correction -
The last sentence of my reply to RO ...*Correction -<br />The last sentence of my reply to RO should read:<br /><br />I do think its inclusion is more to give the reader the "flavor" of the kinds of reports circulating by those who did NOT become his disciplesKarmaghnahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11645214733153084017noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6409501448248880480.post-52515050165068956192011-01-28T17:52:42.740-05:002011-01-28T17:52:42.740-05:00@Rufus Opus
I too have taken issue with many of Sm...@Rufus Opus<br />I too have taken issue with many of Smith's arguments. Some I find to be highly conjectural. I am willing to admit, however, that some of my difficulty may be due to Smith's simplification of some of the elements of his arguments in order to have his book appeal to a wider audience.<br /><br />In defense of Smith,however, my short summaries of his work does not do justice to his arguments which are, even with much of it simplified, complex and subtle. Also, it is important to keep in mind when reading Smith that he is NOT seeking to uncover the historical Jesus (at least up through Chapter 5). He is only trying to present the views about Jesus that were held by those who were contemporaneous (or roughly so) with Jesus. The historical veracity of whether Jesus did or did not have magical tattoos (spells) carved on his flesh is not a concern. What is of concern is that this is something that was said of him. It is important for Smith because he does not see such reports as individual attacks upon Jesus. He sees them as surviving data from traditions stemming from views of Jesus by those who witnessed Jesus' activities. Keep in mind that Smith's sketch of Jesus life is a composite of the varies reports from different sources. I do not think Smith advocates that anyone espoused such a story in its entirety. I do think its inclusion is more to give the reader the "flavor" of the kinds of reports circulating by those who did become his disciples.Karmaghnahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11645214733153084017noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6409501448248880480.post-28668116745290398812011-01-28T09:53:01.167-05:002011-01-28T09:53:01.167-05:00You know, I've been enjoying this review, and ...You know, I've been enjoying this review, and it's brought up a lot of interesting things, but Smith's summary of the life of Jesus is the stupidest thing I've ever heard. Ever. The gaps and irrational leaps of "logic" are huge. Human flesh? Tattoos? That's just ignorant. If he had one tattoo, he wouldn't have been allowed in the Temple. Ever. He would be a pariah, no one would come and listen to him. feh, there's too many ways to tear this apart, and I'm too pressed for time. But highly annoyed.Rufus Opushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10806987441760167537noreply@blogger.com