Jesus Interrupted critique.
A reader recommends this item on Biblical genre.
Finally, for those who enjoy that feature, the May 2009 Screwballs of the Month are up on the toon site.
May 27, 2009
Two quick notes:
- Have a plug for an apologetics conference, Ready for Answers, that's this weekend in NC. See here for information. Our own guest writer, Nick Peters, will be part of it.
- My new book Trusting the New Testament is officially out -- see here to order!
May 2, 2009
Multiple announcements here....
- It's time for a major step in the process of conversion of the site to an educational resource. You can see what's ahead in sample here as I redid a whole folder of material (the "copycat savior" stuff). To discuss these changes and the rationale behind them, see a TWeb thread here. I'll continue to make these changes for the next few weeks, but won't announce them here unless they are of significant note.
- I've also updated the 2009 Ministry Manifesto to report on progress.
- I had a debate on Premier Christian Radio with Ken Humphreys of the fringe website jesusneverexisted.com which you can listen to here. The question isn't whether or not "I killed Kenny" (since that was a given that I would) but whether it was worth the effort to take the time. Please give me feedback yea or nay.
- Xulon Press apparently lost my file for Trusting the New Testament but have made up for it by putting the mss. on a "rush". Still, it looks now like it will be out in June.
- For those who enjoy that feature, the April 2009 Screwballs of the Month are up on the toon site.
- Congrats due to two Tekton readers: One, the anonymous author of the Conservapedia article on evolution and to Lita Cosner for another CMI coup.
- A reader also asks that I post a link to a petition asking Richard Dawkins to debate William Lane Craig. See here to sign up.
April 14, 2009
Finished comments on Chapter 7 and 8 for the response to Jesus, Interrupted. That finishes the project.
April 13, 2009
Began comments on Chapter 7 for the response to Jesus, Interrupted. Looks like we'll finish comments in 2-3 days. Congrats also to Tekton guest author Lita Cosner for another item on Creation Ministries International.
April 10, 2009
The new E-Block is "live" on the air! Here are the contents:
- The Prosperity Preachers Series: Joyce Meyer, Part 2 -- a look at Meyer's theological books.
- Chapter Previews: The Embarrassment of Riches --From my book Trusting the New Testament, on the NT textual tradition versus secular works.
- E-Block Book Snaps:
- Robert McElvane's Grand Theft Jesus
- Philip Jenkins' The Next Christendom
- William Lobdell's Losing My Religion
- The Ghosts of End Times Past, Part 4: Hal Lindsey's Late (But Not So Great) Eschatology -- A look back at popular "end times" books of the past. This time: Snapshot of three decades of Hal Lindsey.
- The Paul Fan Club, Part 1 -- A look at Douglas del Tondo's Jesus' Words Only
- The Adventures of Herc and Rom -- are Hercules and Romulus "copycat Christ" figures?
- Holy Internet! -- guest author Lita Cosner reviews religious Internet resources
- Unmodern Biography -- guest author James Pinnington takes a comparative look at the Gospels and ancient biography.
- Ask the Perfesser -- Questions of the month submitted to our expert, Professor Sam Nullanvoid.
That will be all until next week -- a blessed Resurrection Day to all!
April 9, 2009
Finished comments on Chapter 6 for the response to Jesus, Interrupted.
April 8, 2009
Continued comments on Chapter 6 for the response to Jesus, Interrupted. Also added a link to a commnentary on the book by Ben Witherington.
April 7, 2009
Began comments on Chapter 6 for the response to Jesus, Interrupted. Also, the fundraiser for the Resurrection book is now complete. Our thanks to all who contributed!
April 6, 2009
Finished comments on Chapter 5 for the response to Jesus, Interrupted.
April 3, 2009
Continued comments on Chapter 5 for the response to Jesus, Interrupted. There's also a special addendum contributed by a reader titled Ehrman vs. Logic, History, and the Law in which Ehrman's debate with William Lane Craig is critiqued in terms of logical and legal fallacies committed by Ehrman.
April 2, 2009
Continued comments on Chapter 5 for the response to Jesus, Interrupted.
April 1, 2009
Finished comments on Chapter 4, and started comments on Chapter 5, for the response to Jesus, Interrupted.
March 31, 2009
Continued comments on Chapter 4 for the response to Jesus, Interrupted.
March 30, 2009
Started comments on Chapter 4 for the response to Jesus, Interrupted.
March 27, 2009
Finished comments on Chapter 3 for the response to Jesus, Interrupted, including adding a chapter 3 sample. Relatedly, a reader recommends a link here (PDF format) with a transcript of the debate between Ehrman and James White.
March 26, 2009
Continued comments on Chapter 3 for the response to Jesus, Interrupted.
March 25, 2009
Began comments on Chapter 3 for the response to Jesus, Interrupted.
March 24, 2009
Finished comments on Chapter 2 for the response to Jesus, Interrupted, and there is now also a sample posted from this chapter commentary.
March 23, 2009
Continued comments on Chapter 2 for the response to Jesus, Interrupted.
March 20, 2009
Continued comments on Chapter 2 for the response to Jesus, Interrupted.
March 19, 2009
Started comments on Chapter 2 for the response to Jesus, Interrupted.
March 18, 2009
Finished comments on Chapter 1 for the response to Jesus, Interrupted. Congrats also to Tekton reader Lita Conser for more articles on the CMI website, here, here, and here.
March 17, 2009
Got a surprise for subscribers to the E-Block -- a Special Edition which will be a response to the new Bart Ehrman book, Jesus, Interrupted. Bart Ehrman has now gone "over the edge" with his dishonesty as far as I am concerned, and that has warranted a special response from our quarter. We'll be adding to this series over the next month or so.
I've left the intro open for all to read, but reading most (or all) of the rest will require an E-Block subscription.
As an aside, in the future you can expect Tekton to produce things like this in book form at a rapid-fire pace, if all goes to plan.
March 13, 2009
Y'know, Friday the 13th has always been one of my lucky days....I'm glad to have two of 'em in a row....
So, what's up?
February 13, 2009
Yes, it's been a while, but as readers of the "anti-blog" know, I'm stil at work in the background. I plan to have my next book, Trusting the New Testament, to the printer by Feb. 28.
That means, too, that it is time to start the fundraiser for the next book, which will be a defense of the Resurrection. You can learn more about that project on this page, and we'll now have a graphic on the front page for the fundraiser.
On the side, I did add a review of a book to the site, of another book on the Resurrection: Josh and Sean McDowell's Evidence for the Resurrection.
The February 2009 E-Block is out; here are the contents:
- The Prosperity Preachers Series: Joyce Meyer, Part 1 -- a look at Meyer's self-help books.
- Chapter Previews: Was Jesus Illiterate? --From my book Trusting the New Testament.
- E-Block Book Snaps:
- Rick Warren's Purpose-Driven Church
- Eckhart Tolle's A New Earth
- Clinton Chisholm's Revelations of Ras Tafari
- The Ghosts of End Times Past, Part 3: Robert Faid Marks the Beast -- A look back at popular "end times" books of the past. This time: Robert Faid's Gorbachev! Has the Real Antichrist Come?
- Stone Sabbath -- on an argument sent to me by a reader that commandments engraved in stone apply to everyone.
- Cursin' 'Bout my Generation -- on the teaching of "generational curses."
- Ask the Perfesser -- Questions of the month submitted to our expert, Professor Sam Nullanvoid.
For a subscription to the E-Block, check here!
January 5, 2009
The big news today is on two fronts. First, I have updated 2009 Manifesto to include a new project for 2009, involving the production of evangelism materials (both for training and for personal evangelism). Second, today we officially launch Tekton Apologetics University, or TAU for short. I'll talk more about this later in the week on my anti-blog.
Otherwise, there's also a brief guest addendum to the Dr. Laura letter item, and for those who enjoy that feature, the December 2008 Screwballs are up on the toon site.
December 22, 2008
The headline for today -- aside from our 18th wedding anniversary at the Holding household! -- is the posting of a 2009 Manifesto indicating ministry projects and projections. Tekton needs your support to reach these goals, so check it out!
In other news:
- I have been debating Frank Zindler of American Atheists on the subject of the Christ myth. The setting is a secular, neutral website called Opposing Views. It's here. John "Big Blog Lie" Loftus is also in on this one, on my side of the question as it happens -- and you can tell he doesn't like that-- and Zindler's not looking too happy either after propping for, and getting called down on, such absurd ideas as that Tacitus' reference to Jesus was forged in the 15th century (kind of silly stance, given our possession of Tacitean mss. from the 11th century).
- Tekton's on TV! Back in November I did some interviews with Dr. Craig Johnson's Veritas Forum and you can have a peek at those here (more are on the way). You can get a peek at my trim new look after I threw 55 pounds overboard this past year or so.
- I have a new item up with my friends at CMI, this one on trendy Bible translations and accommodation in missionary work.
- American Vision has a new resource on that ridiculous Zeitgeist film; see here to order it!
That'll likely be all for the year, save that the Manifesto will be updated as needed. A blessed Christmas to all!
December 12, 2008
Since I'm working on my book Trusting the New Testament, this is a perfect time for this...I was asked to post this notice of an excellent new resource, and I am happy to do so:
Two DVD videos on the reliability of the New Testament manuscripts
Several have asked about getting a hold of Dr. Daniel B. Wallace's plenary address, delivered at the Evangelical Theological Society's annual meeting in November 2008; others have wanted to get his lecture at apologetics conferences and in churches on whether our Bible today essentially reflects the wording of the original text. Both of these lectures are now available as video DVDs. They would make great Christmas presents-and the price is nominal. The ordering information is available below.
"Is What We Have Now What They Wrote Then?"
A lecture at an apologetics conference in Providence, Rhode Island, 2008, about whether our printed New Testaments today accurately represent the original text.
"Challenges in New Testament Textual Criticism for the 21st Century"
A plenary lecture at the annual Evangelical Theological Society meeting in Providence, Rhode Island, 2008, on current issues in NT textual criticism.
The price of each video DVD is $10 plus $3 S&H. The price of both video DVDs together is $15 plus $3 S&H. Texas residents also will pay 8.25% sales tax. Allow two to four weeks for delivery.
To order, go here.
December 9, 2008
The second E-Block, for December 2008, is up! Here are the contents:
- The Prosperity Preachers Series: Joel Osteen, Part 2 -- a look at criticisms of Osteen's ministry.
- Chapter Previews: One at the Expense at the Other --From my book Trusting the New Testament, a chapter on whether written tradition destroys oral tradition, as some scholars claim.
- E-Block Book Snaps:
- Nicholas Perrin's Thomas: The Other Gospel
- Deepak Chopra's The Third Jesus
- David Sanford's If God Disappears
- The Ghosts of End Times Past, Part 2: J. R. Church's Psalm Reading -- A look back at popular "end times" books of the past. This time: J. R. Church's Hidden Prophecies in the Psalms
- The Plain Truth -- about the "doctrine of perspicuity".
- Oh, Christmas Tree! -- are Christmas trees pagan, phallic symbols?
- Momma God -- a look at a cult that is making waves, the World Mission Society Church of God
- Ask the Perfesser -- Questions of the month submitted to our expert, Professor Sam Nullanvoid.
Also, here is a temporary place to order my new book for youth, Blowing the Doors Off, until we get it on Amazon.
December 1, 2008
Time for transition! My new email address is jphold@att.net. I'll try to keep forwarding on the old Earthlink address as long as possible. Also, for those who enjoy that feature, the November 2008 Screwballs are up on the toon site.
November 24, 2008
The new book for youth is out! This one won't be on Amazon, though; you have to get it direct from the printer. The title is Blowing the Doors Off! Looks like you can't order it just yet, though.
November 10, 2008
Couple of new links to report:
- Video of the debate between Mike Licona and Bart Ehrman. See Ehrman lose big time. And those slides Licona uses, hmmm...does the style in some of those remind you of anyone's artwork around here? (hee hee)
- CMI added my latest article, titled Dawkins' Ironic Hypocrisy.
Just back from a good trip to LA....for the details, see my anti-blog linked above.
October 27, 2008
Well, I got the first Tekton E-Block up a few days early! Subscribe to the E-Block to check out these new items:
- The Prosperity Preachers Series: Joel Osteen, Part 1 -- Is this popular preacher teaching "word faith" -- or is he just, "a happy face"?
- Chapter Previews: The Tale of William Tell --From my book Shattering the Christ Myth, a chapter of the evidence for Jesus versus the evidence for a figure scholars agree did not exist.
- E-Block Book Snaps:
- John Loftus' Why I Became An Atheist
- Dan Barker's Godless
- Philip Comfort's Encountering the Manuscripts
- Stanley Porter and Gordon Heath's The Lost Gospel of Judas
- The Ghosts of End Times Past, Part 1: Edgar Whisenant's Rapture Recall -- A look back at popular "end times" books of the past. This time: Edgar Whisenant's 88 Reasons Why the Rapture Could be in 1988.
- It's Heretic Season! -- Tony Burke on Modern "Heresy Hunting"
- Ask the Perfesser -- Question of the month submitted to our expert, Professor Sam Nullanvoid.
October 22, 2008
- I've decided to use the blog space I picked up from John Loftus in his "fake Holding hate blog" debacle to give detailed, daily updates on what I do behind the scenes. You can check that out here.
- The first Tekton E-Block will be out on time -- I expect to post it November 1, with more content than originally anticipated.
- I'll be in the Los Angeles area the weekend of Nov. 7-9 helping a local pastor with some projects. If you're in the area and want to meet, let me know.
- Added some new info to the Francis Collins section of the article on Religulous.
- Did an item for my friends at CMI, which you can see here. I've also got an item in the latest Christian Research Journal reviewing Andre Comte-Sponville's Little Book of Atheist Spirituality.
October 8, 2008
I have some very interesting material on Bill Maher's deceptive tactics related to his visit to the Creation Museum in Kentucky. My thanks to Ken Ham and the staff there for providing this material and giving us permission to use it. You'll find it here.
I'm also moving this up from the last entry to keep it on notice:
Time for a major announcement. I have decided to start a new feature sometime in November -- a Tekton "e-zine" titled the E-Block. The E-Block will be made available to subscribers in exchange for a very modest annual donation. Material will be posted as PDF and HTML files which subscribers would gain access to with passwords. The subject matter will mostly be topics Tekton has never touched before: Controversial Christian figures (e.g., Joel Osteen, emergent church types); "faith of the founding fathers" questions, etc. There'd be 2-3 major articles plus 2-3 depth book reviews per issue. Addresses to atheists won't be entirely absent but they won't be the focus of the feature articles.
From here on, all new material on the Tekton site – except updates to older articles – will appear solely in the e-zine. I have found this step necessary because in order to "grow" Tekton to the next level, I will need to set up some consistent sources of funding. The E-Block is one of two projects of this sort I have in the works; the other project is still being researched and developed but may appear by the start of 2009.
If you would like to subscribe to the E-Block, please go to this page. I daresay that if everyone who reads this page monthly had a subscription, I would never have to post one of those more obnoxious fundraisers of the sort I did for the New Testament reliability book!
October 4, 2008
- I went to see Religulous...lame. See my report here.
- For those who enjoy that feature, the September Screwballs of the Month are up on the toon site.
- Jake O'Connell, a contributor to Shattering the Christ Myth, is debating Richard Carrier here on the resurrection body.
- Reader blog plug: here.
September 26, 2008
Kibbles and bits...
- I'll be going to see Religulous; check the article for more informatiom.
- I've decided to start a new feature sometime in November -- a Tekton "e-zine" that will be made available to subscribers in exchange for a very modest annual donation. Material would be posted as PDF and HTML files which subscribers would gain access to with passwords (just like on the toon site).
The subject matter will mostly be topics Tekton has never touched before: Controversial Christian figures (eg, Joel Osteen, emergent church types); "faith of the founding fathers" questions, etc. There'd be 2-3 major articles plus 2-3 depth book reviews per issue. Addresses to atheists won't be entirely absent but they won't be the focus of the feature articles. More details next month.
- The youth gift book is in final editing stages and will be sent to Xulon Press on Monday or Tuesday; work on the NT reliability book also continues as I am well into the third section out of four planned, on NT authoriship issues.
September 23, 2008
Added more to the Religulous article, including quotes from a review, some comments on weird beliefs Maher has (per a Wall Street Journal article), and...a note on what are apparently the showtimes nearest me...uhhh, good grief!!!! You have to see this to believe it!
September 7, 2008
Rare Sunday upload as I got an email on my Religulous article too good not to share...! It was hilarious and shows the kind of mentality Maher attracts.
September 3, 2008
- For those who enjoy that feature, the August 2008 Screwballs of the Month are up on the toon site.
- Added a reader contribution and some comments to the Why Johnny Can't Believe article.
- On the project front, still taking notes for the NT reliability book (mostly right now on textual criticism)....finished the first draft of the youth gift book and will now spend some time on the illustrations (heh, I get to draw as part of ministry effort)....and considering a project where I do a film rebuttal to Religulous in which I go back and interview the people Maher talked to and set the records straight. May be too rich for my blood, but I'm asking around to figure that out.
August 28, 2008
Added some more material to the item on "Religulous" and edited the former contents.
August 27, 2008
Yawn...Dan Brown....Brian Flemming....the "lost tomb of Jesus"....Zeitgeist....oh dear, here's another fad. The new Bill Maher film titled Religulous. I was asked to scout for some material on it, so I figure I may as well do my part. I'll take the "clearinghouse" approach I did with the lost tomb thingy. Here you go. I'll update it as I find stuff, maybe even go see the movie when it comes out near here. I understand the popcorn is good.
August 20, 2008
WHOA! One more motivated individual stepped in and donated the rest of what was needed for the youth gift book, so we'll close that fundraiser puppy down, not to be seen again until it's time for the next Bulding Block series book, probably March or April of next year. Also, congrats again to Tekton reader Lita Cosner for a new article with CMI.
August 19, 2008
To begin: Yes, I've lowered the goal amount for the youth book; this is because I won't need as much time as I expected (I had done more than I realized on it) and won't be needing as many illustrations. We're about halfway to the goal now; if you want to help close the gap, updated details are here.
I also have three new book reviews:
I also wanted to highlight something. As is known, I don't cotton to James White's Calvinist teachings, but some comments by his daughter, Summer, on the Alpha and Omega ministry blog deserve to be highlighted:
As a generation that is being taught it is impossible to know anything for certain, one of the most recent attacks upon Christianity has been launched, packaged, and peddled to my peers brilliantly.If you are unaware of the movie Zeitgeist, you need to become aware; it is spreading like the plague on the internet, YouTube, and across college campuses, and it will challenge your beliefs in an entirely new way. Although its attack is weak, and very few accredited scholars in the area of mythology or history would vouch for its credibility in any way,its simplicity and eagerness to destroy the God of the Bible has begun to romance far too many of my acquaintances.
The premise is simple, and far from new: the Bible is a conglomeration of plagiarized myths that pagans had already come up with ages before Christ.I would beg Christians to not dismiss this absurd assertion. It isgoing to be a field in which Christians are going to be forced to be knowledgeable of within the next few years because it is the grounds upon which colleges and "academics" today will turn a blind ear to a good witness. We must understand that the arguments found in Zeitgeist, to the unschooled and the unbelieving, are extremely convincing.
Summer White notes examples of arguments concerning Mithra, Attis, etc. and briefly comments on each. Then she says:
Zeitgeist is truly an offensive work of fiction, if not a complete joke on a scholarly level. Ironic, then, that it will be your college campuses and your professor's classrooms that these inane, baseless assertions will be force-fed to you. Be prepared as possible. God has given you the tools. Know your enemy. Light up the darkness.
For years I've heard people say to me, "Uhhh, why do we need to know this stuff? Why do you think churches should teach about it? It's of no use to me." Etc, etc.
Does this answer your question?
Late add on: For those who may be wondering, I'm barely being affected by Tropical Storm Fay. We didn't even get serious wind and rain here until last night, and right now, it's doing the same thing, and it's hardly comparable to one of our summer thunderstorms. The east coast of central Florida is getting hit hard, but not here.
August 13, 2008
Wow, this is pretty big. Readers may recall an on-again, off-again project I had in mind for a college-bound "gift book" for youth. Bottom line: A "motivated individual" has supplied backing for the basic printing of the book; so now I am posting a new mini-fundraiser for other expenses associated with it. See the details here. This is not as high a goal as the last one and is a bit more flexible.
Other than that....
July 31, 2008
Added a response on the Shattering hub page by Jake O'Connell to the mouthings of Joe "the Jackass" Wallack on one of his chapters.
July 30, 2008
Whew, the backlog from my vacation wasn't as bad as I expected. We recommend a new series by Glenn Miller on Middle Platonism as it has definite connections for the Christ myth idea as promoted by some folks out there. I also have an original article up related to the question raised by Atlantic Monthly: "Does Google Make Us Stoopid?" My answer -- it sure can!
July 18, 2008
One last bit before I'm off until the 29th. Wanted to note a reader's startup blog here, and I added a review of Shattering the Christ Myth to the hub page by a qualified, interested party...who? Look and see. :) See ya'll later.
July 15, 2008
I added a reader review of the latest edition of Craig's Reasonable Faith to my (much) earlier review here. Also, for those of you who want more info on that tablet thingy the less-informed Skeptics are getting all excited about, find their chill pills here and here.
One other note: I'll be on the road very soon for several days and back at the end of the month. I'd like to ask readers (as I normally do) to hold off on correspondence until August 1. I'll try to check mail on the road but I don't know how successful that will be.
July 10, 2008
Still taking notes on oral tradition, but also:
July 7, 2008
- We have a guest piece by "M. S." on mathematics and Christianity
- While looking for stuff on oral tradition, found a "response" from a wah-wah Skeptic named "Vridar" to some of my points on Detering. Vridar's one of those sorts who thinks appealing to alleged "bias" is an answer to an argument, so he's also won a Screwball Award on TheologyWeb. If he sees this and has the guts, we'd like to have him show up there and entertain us. :D
July 6, 2008
Re the latest bit about that stone tablet discovered, which several people wrote me about, Ben Witherington says the word on that here. And while you're there, be sure and check out his demolition of Viola's Pagan Christianity.
July 3, 2008
Whup! Exactly one year after I officially became JPH, Shattering the Christ Myth is out.
In other news, I have found out that the earliest I can start going back to school for a history degree is Fall 2009, since applicants are only considered once a year.
July 2, 2008
For those who enjoy that feature, the June 2008 Screwballs of the Month is up on the toon site.
June 30, 2008
Late add-on: Check out this apologetics conference in Kansas City.
- Reader submission for our article on fantasy, on the topic of the "Yu-Gi-Oh" material.
- I've been reading a fascinating book for the study on oral tradition, titled Wax Tablets of the Mind. From it I have also added a couple of notes for the essays here on Gospel precision and inspiration.
- At request, updated the item on the Holy Spirit with commentary on three new verses.
June 25, 2008
I just approved the design of the cover for the Christ-myth book; you can see it here. I'm also still working on the oral tradition section of the NT reliability book. The issues are fairly clear and this will be a substantial update to articles here on oral tradition.
June 23, 2008
By request, a little "what is" piece on wisdom.
June 17, 2008
Three new book reviews:
Meanwhile, on the publication front:
- I have approved back cover copy and the galleys for the Christ myth book.
- On the NT Reliability book, I'm plugging away at the section on oral tradition still; it's gradually taking more shape -- 6 chapters, 2 of them by guest authors, according to the current plan. I've also learned that I can check out books from the local college library, which will make things go faster.
June 9, 2008
Received an email that was particularly poignant, so I asked for and got permission to reproduce it (some personal details altered for privacy):
Please help me. My son has left our born-again Christian church and now says that he doesn't believe that Jesus ever existed and has taken his wife and my grandchildren down this same path of destruction. I do not believe that any of them were saved before this happened but they were hearing the Word and always in our prayers.
My son also believes in every conspiracy theory that is out there - i.e. America was created to be the cesspool of the world; the world is controlled by German Jews (which includes the Queen of England and her husband) who are the elite of the Freemasons and are in turn controlled by Satan himself; Bush sacrifices babies in the basement of the White House; Bush blew up the World Trade Center with the help of his brother (not Jeb); there is an entire inhabited world in the middle of the earth, the porthole is in the South Pole; and dozens of other outragious things.
Anyone else out there want to say we don't need better education in our churches, or that we can just ignore things like
Zeitgeist and either go emergent, or make people feel better, etc.?
I also added a link to a TWeb thread on the front page, about Rene Salm's Myth of Nazareth. Salm is evidently calling on people to post positive reviews at Amazon to counter the one I posted exposing him as a liar, so we're going to pull out all the stops to publicize or exposure of him.
Last: We've had dry weather here in Central FL for a while, but some thunder over my head just now reminds me to offer an annual reminder that at any time for the next few weeks I may have to pull the plug on everything to keep the computer from getting zapped.
June 6, 2008
Been plugging away on the NT reliability book, specifically the chapters on oral tradition, but I also had time for a couple of things:
June 3, 2008
Yes indeed. A gift received this past weekend in the mail put the fundraising goal over the top for the NT reliability book, so we've closed down that appeal. We might just open another one in 2009 when it is time for the third Building Block project.
June 2, 2008
- Not much farther on the book fundraiser! Only about $150 to go! I'll be checking out some books from the local seminary library for it tomorrow.
- For those who enjoy that feature, May 2008 Screwballs of the Month are up on the toon site.
- Added: Special congrats to Tekton reader and guest writer "Nick P." for some excelllent grades!
May 23, 2008
- If you've been watching the graph on the front page, you know that we've been closing in on the fundraising goal for the next book in the Building Blocks series. Our thanks to all who have taken part so far! We have only about $1200 to go.
- The New Covenant Church of God (aka "The Little Cult That Couldn't") has issued an alleged reply to our articles; see here for our retort.
- Got a slew of book reviews as we catch up with the backlog:
May 16, 2008
- The Christ-myth book is in the printer's hands now; I'm told that I was eligible for a special "rush" printing, which means we'll see it in print as early as July 1. Just a rough target, let's say. I've also updated the book's hub page with links to reviews of books on the mythicist thesis, plus a link to a TWeb thread in which we're discussing Rene Salm's The Myth of Nazareth and some clear examples of dishonesty and incompetence on his part.
- By the way, after the book on NT reliability I will likely look to do on on the Resurrection, then maybe one on doctrine, and somewhere in there something on the subject of Christianity in crisis (see below).
- Any readers near the University of Connecticut? The webmaster of the new Classic Apologetics website needs something there copied.
- Great response so far on our drive last week to raise $5,000 for the next book in the Tekton Building Blocks series! I've formalized the drive with its own page right here and a graphic box on the front.
- Would like to recommend this to readers...I've been saying the same thing for years! It's inspired me to work up a new 3-part teaching series which will also touch on postmodern Christianity and the harm it does, as well as add some more to the Why Johnny Can't Believe article.
For the next week, I'm going to catch up on book reviews, then get right to work on the new Building Blocks book.
May 8, 2008
Multiple announcements here today...
- For those who enjoy that feature, the April Screwballs of the Month is up.
- On a personal front, it looks like starting next spring I will be going back to school, taking the first steps to a doctoral degree -- in history. Up until now I never had the finances for it, but that looks to be taken care of now, so barring anything out of the ordinary, I'll start on that in 2009.
- I've started a hub page for the Christ myth book, which I will send to the printer on May 15. You can read about the chapters and topics, as well as who the contributors will be.
- Last but not least. I noted that Internet Infidels denizen Richard Carrier recently hoisted a "pledge drive" to support himself while he writes a book about the Christ myth, asking for funding to the tune of $20,000. He was successful in this fundraising effort and it took only about a month. Obviously I do not play the game of many of my opponents when it comes to objecting to fundraising -- if one of the Infidels can raise funds, more power to them.
But seeing as how Carrier was a) successful; b) used my name in vain to promote his drive, I'm going to pull my own card of the same type. Carrier incorrectly says that Tekton gets "tens of thousands of dollars in donations every year" -- no, sorry. It doesn't. I've operated this mission on a shoestring all these years, and said little about it, since despite what the Skeppies say, I'm not in it for the money. But seeing as how it was taken at liberty to use my name, I'll return the favor, while doing it one better.
The Christ myth book I'm editing is already paid for, thanks to a generous grant. But I want to do the second in the Building Blocks series, the one on the reliability of the NT (issues of authorship, textual criticism, oral tradition, and canon), and try to get it to the printer by December 2008.
So here's MY proposal, and I'll use some of Carrier's own words to let it out, since he felt so free to borrow my name and image to do his fundraising:
Could there be anyone out there willing to fund my work? I'd like to find several benefactors, who would love to pool together to contribute to Tekton to undertake this serious project over the next 8-10 months. That project won't be just anything, but a strident defense of the reliability of the New Testament, an expansion on my previous work on those subjects.
In that time I would finish all the research, read every relevant book on all sides of the questions, thoroughly research every item (not just those I find important), and write a book of professional quality for publication by Tekton's ministry.
I doubt I have any readers so gobsmacking rich (sorry, Carrier's own words) they'd be able to fund this plan all by themselves, but a team of several could, contributing a few hundred each. I DID change a word there. Carrier said "a few thousand." He wanted $20,000. I don't. All I'm looking for is about $5,000 at most, with $1,500 of that going for printing costs and maybe a bit more for a pubicity package for the book, and the rest to ensure that I have the time I need to finish it all. If this work is funded now, the book will be completed within ten months, and will likely appear in print in 2009. I have my previously written material that in effect serves as a preliminary outline for this book. And I won't even have to eat a bug to get the nutrition needed to get my brain operating.
I know Carrier got well financed this way, even though he used my name in vain to do it and reported incorrectly about how gobsmacking much I get each year. Can Christians support an author they like, at least a quarter as well? It would be a shame if not. But if you think this project worth it, or you want to talk about it, please contact me directly by email. Let me know how much you would be willing to pledge to this project, to see it happen. Spread the word, too.
I look forward to hearing from anyone sensible enough to take me up on my plan.
Carrier can have the crazy people to himself. (heh heh)
May 1, 2008
The Christ myth book is in final editing stage now. I plan to have it to the printer by May 15. In a few days I will be beginning a hub page here on Tekton for the project.
There will be no monthly newsletter this time since I only uploaded a single guest piece in April.
Also, a plug for a new blog, Atheism is Dead.
April 14, 2008
Plugging away on the Christ myth book, and I now also have a 2500-word assignment due next month. Meanwhile readers should enjoy the account here of Daniel Wallace exposing the inconsistencies of Bart Ehrman on textual criticism and the NT.
April 7, 2008
For those who enjoy that feature, the March Screwballs of the Month is up.
April 3, 2008
Guest writer Will Green offers a piece that is A Discussion on the Problem of Evil. As for me, the Christ myth book is the main project right now.
March 28, 2008
Banner news, all -- the new "sister website" is up. Though I still have some work left to do on it, the Classics Library has been moved to its own site, Classic Apologetics. It is going to be managed by someone else once I finish all the initial work, but it will remain closely related to our work here on Tekton. I plan to finish work on it sometime in the next week or two.
Meanwhile I'm still working on the Christ myth book targeting a May release to the publisher.
March 25, 2008
Still working on that sister website project as well as the Christ myth book; I did find a neat quote in a book I'm using for that, which has ended up in the article on Gospel Fictions. Otherwise a couple of notes. I have also updated an item on Earl Doherty in light of more recent study.
Reader recommends an item here. I have to love the quote: But Abraham was not an American with sheep and no Ipod.
Finally, I may be travelling up the coast to the Boston area in late July. If you're anywhere along the way, and would like to have me come as a speaker, please let me know: I'm especially interested in presenting the new Building Blocks teachings on the subject of the Christ myth.
March 11, 2008
Paul Jacobsen burps again on The Case for the Real Jesus, with the help of a friend. Time for more Alka-Seltzer. We'll put it on TWeb here so everyone can join in on the laughs.
March 8, 2008
For those who enjoy that feature, the February 2008 Screwballs of the Month are up on the toon site. Also, a notice that I will be working on a new project the next month or so involving a new "sister website" for Tekton. More on that once we're ready to unveil.
March 5, 2008
- Finished up on Fighting Words with just a bit on the last relevant chapter.
February 29, 2008
Nothing new today except news as to what's ahead.
In March I will do both youth and adult "field tests" of the two Building Blocks series (see Feb. 7 entry) of teachings we now have prepared (on the Christ myth, and on NT reliability). This will be at my new home church. I'll be spending a lot of ministry time preparing and honing these presentations, as well as looking for other places to try it out locally. I will also be spending a lot of time on the Christ myth book that will supplement the series.
On the site, I will continue to work on Fighting Words and perhaps post some book reviews, as well as answer any important criticisms of Tekton material. So in short, there won't be much new here for the next month.
February 27, 2008
February 22, 2008
Paul Jacobsen displays the rigors of ineptitude again concerning The Case for the Real Jesus. I'll intersperse response to the latest in the former one here. Also, late addition: Harry makes a fool of himself some more -- see the last link.
February 20, 2008
Yes, when it comes to Skeptics, there's "dumb"...there's "really dumb"....and then there's Harry McCall. Click the link to see his latest adventure in striking inability to understand ancient patronage systems.
February 19, 2008
- Did a little more on Hector "Waaaah, End Biblical Studies" Avalos' other Prometheus piece, Fighting Words.
- Making plenty of progress on the Christ myth book. I'm noting places where I want to do more depth research, since some of my material on these subjects is a few years old, and there may be some new books out since I did the original research.
- Wanted to highlight some good stuff. Here is a promo for a debate between Mike Licona and Bart Ehrman on the Resurrection. I expect Ehrman will get himself handed to himself on a platter once again. Also, here is a whomping good rebuttal to that silly Zeitgeist film.
February 11, 2008
Got the ball rolling on Hector "Waaaah, End Biblical Studies" Avalos' other Prometheus piece, Fighting Words, with a brief look at opening chapters. In addition, now that I have the Building Blocks page up, for the next three months I'm going to be working more on the Christ myth book so it can be sent to the publishers in May and hopefully be printed by June or July.
Reader also recommends an interview with N. T. Wright found here.
February 7, 2008
I finished the lessons for the first two blocks of a new series that coordinates basic teaching presentations with in-depth supplemental materials for further information. There will now be a special page on that effort, under which (here on the site) it will be titled the Tekton Building Blocks Teaching Series.
Also, I've posted some guest book reviews that I've been collecting for a while; some are in non-standard formats for the site:
Finally, a reader has an interesting post on his blog titled, "The Christian, Apathy, and Apologetics" that is worth a look here.
February 5, 2008
Finished one of the lessons yesterday, and hope to finish one more (a revamp) today. Meanwhile, for those that enjoy that feature, the January 2008 Screwballs of the Month are up on the toon site, incuding 2007 Platinum Award winners.
In addition, a special congratulatory note for Tekton reader Lita Cosner, who won a chance to present a paper before the National Council for Undergraduate Research!
February 4, 2008
I'm back after my road trip, with plenty to do in preparation for teaching a series of lessons (see Jan. 18 entry): I have decided to prepare a total of nine rather than seven lessons, though some of them are just revamps. However, I do have about two more "originals" to finish crafting this week, plus one revamp. When I get done with that I do have some books to read and review for the site.
On the front page I added a banner for an online course in apologetics readers may find of interest.
I'll also be working on tax receipts and plan to send them out no later than next week.
On the personal side, Cocoa is settling in very well in our home. I'll be making entries on his progress now and then in the thread linked below.
January 28, 2008
I'll be on the road much of the next four days, so I'd like to ask readers to please hold any correspondence until next Monday. As a note, I am advised that you can pick up the excellent book Putting Jesus in His Place at an extra discount just now, so by all means pick up a coy.
I'll also be bringing my new baby home at the end of the week...if you haven't seen him on TWeb (see Jan. 14 entry), here he is:
His name will be Cocoa! See you all next week.
January 23, 2008
Something did come up, something really dumb -- as would be expected from the source, Harry "Obscene Phone" McCall. See the update here.
January 18, 2008
I've transferred some material from TWeb responding to Hector "Waah Waah" Avalos there, into our collection here; and TWeb guest writer Matt Paulson, now a Harvard Divinity student, offers some of his own commentary (link below).
Unless something new comes up, there will probably be no more updates this month on the site, saves perhaps news notes like this one. I need to prepare seven lessons for the new ministry effort (see Jan. 9 entry) and will also be travelling a bit at the end of the month.
January 15, 2008
Hector "Waaah Waaah" Avalos provides us with more amusement on TWeb, and I've posted the last bit of response to End of Biblical Studies. Soon we'll also kick some tail in his book Fighting Words.
January 14, 2008
- Added another chapter entry on The End of Biblical Studies (link below), this one on the historical -- or in this case, hysterical -- Jesus. How hysterical? Hector "Waah Waaaaah" Avalos actually thinks the Christ myth is plausible. Now that's pathetic. Avalos has also had posted a response on John Loftus' blog, which I'll answer by pieces on TheologyWeb.
- On a personal note -- in a couple of weeks, I'll be getting another muse to keep me company! We just sealed an agreement to adopt another sweet little poodle, and he's so much like my last one that it's almost scary! I've started a welcome thread on TheologyWeb here.
January 9, 2008
Odds and ends time....
- See Sam Shamoun wipe the floor with Nadir Ahmed (the man who thinks he can debate cartoons characters) here
- I did another of those Internet radio programs -- check it out here. We discussed the pagan copycat thesis.
- Hector "Waaaah, End Biblical Studies!" Avalos wrote us a nice email which we posted at TWeb in the thread here. We sure hope he pops by for a thrashing!
- I'm formally debating a particularly pathetic Christ myther on TWeb here.
- Finally, a note on the new wave of projects planned for Tekton in coming years. My ministry partner and I discussed goals for 2008, and among these will be the production of teaching-education packages consisting of lectures (for the overview) and accompanying books (for more depth). I'll be doing one package on the idea of the Christ myth and another on four points of the reliability of the NT (textual transmission, oral transmission, NT authorship, canonicity). The goal will be to publish the Christ myth book by June, and the reliability book by December. Thanks to a grant, the Christ myth book is already financed, but if anyone wishes to contribute to the production of the other book, please drop me a line.
January 3, 2008
- Started the new year adding a review of the chapter on textual criticism to the review of Hector Avalos' End of Biblical Studies.
- For those who enjoy that feature, the December 2007 Screwballs of the Month are up on the toon site. You can now also come by TWeb and vote for the 2007 Platinum Screwball Awards for the screwist screwballs of 2007.
New stuff for 2007.
New stuff for 2006.
New stuff for 2005.
New stuff for 2004.
New stuff for 2003.
Go home!
