Index: S
S, Acharya
Christ-myther who uses badly outdated sources. Later wrote under the name D. M. Murdock. Now deceased.
Sabbatai Sevi
Pseudo-messiah cited by some as a social parallel to Jesus; see here for an analysis.
Sabbath
Should we keep a Saturday Sabbath? I discuss that here. Related objection: Does the command being in stone make it stick more?
Sacrifice
  • If Jesus didn't stay dead, how could his death have been a real sacrifice? [Off Site]
  • The idea of sacrifice in cultures worldwide and in the OT [Off Site] Was Jesus' death a violation of the command against human sacrifice? [Off Site]
  • Sagan, Carl
    Popular Skeptic of the recent past; more subtle but not as harmful as he appears. See here for comments.
    Salibi, Kamal
    Purveyor of an odd theory that OT events, and NT Christianity, had its origins in Arabia rather than Palestine. See here.
    Salivahana/Samdhimati
    Alleged pagan copycat Christ. Comments here.
    Salm, Rene
    Claims Nazareth did not exist. See chapter in my book Shattering the Christ Myth.
    Salvation
    See also Atonement.

    Sanders, John
    Promulgator of "open theism" (or neotheism). See here.
    Sandoval, Chrisi
    Review of Can Christians Prove the Resurrection? by Nick Peters
    Sanford, David
    Review of If God Disappears
    Sanhedrin
    Ancient Jewish political body.
    Sargon
    Ancient Assyrian king. Did his birth story influence Moses'? See here.
    Satan
    Is the Satan of the OT different than the one in the NT? And, Is his biography in Ezekiel and Isaiah?
    Schaberg, Jane
    Feminist theologian who thinks Jesus was the product of sexual malfeasance; see here for some comments.
    Schei, Ken
    Author of Christianity Betrayed, a rather odd speculation piece that makes Paul a bad guy.
  • General comments on his book
  • Specific comments on his view of Peter vs. Paul
  • Schonfield, Hugh
    Author of The Passover Plot, which is seldom used today, though theories such as the one it promulgated, of Jesus faking his death, continiue to be offered; see an example refuted here. One of Schonfield's lesser known works is The Authentic New Testament, the cover of which alleges to capture "the true meaning and atmosphere" of the NT. This seems to be mainly publishers' verbiage; most of the unfamiliar translations are non-controversial (i.e., apostles are called "envoys"); the only key verse noted that is perhaps controversial in the rendering of Phil. 2:15 as saying "in godlike form" rather than "the form of God." Yet even this is not entirely unacceptable, if we understand that "God" here is not a proper noun, but a general noun like "deity", and other key passages about Christ (John 1, Col. 1:15-18) are if anything more clear in Schonfield's translation in indicating the deity of Christ.
    Schucman, Helen
    A Course in Miracles examined
    Scientology
    Watchman Fellowship essays
    Secret Gospel of Mark
    Is the Secret Gospel of Mark a genuine document? [Off Site] See also Stephen Carlson's book The Gospel Hoax.
    Segal, Gerald
    Jewish anti-missionary.
    • Articles
      • Critique of The Jew and the Christian Missionary
    Seneca
    Roman author and philosopher.
    Septuagint (LXX)
    "Why don't we use the Septuagint for our OT?"
    Serapis
    Were early followers of Serapis called "Christians"? -- part of a reply to C. Dennis McKinsey
    "Servetus the Evangelical"
    Kermit Zarley pretending to be an expert on the Trinity. See our article here.
    Shapiro, Lawrence
    Review of The Miracle Myth by Nick Peters.
    Sheaffer, Robert
    Author of The Making the Messiah. Comments on Sheaffer's book.
    Shepherding
    Used by some groups as a control mechanism. See comments here with how this is used by some "Christian" groups.
    Shermer, Michael
    Major Skeptical who likes to debate and get on TV. Shermer's Cozy Delusion by William Dembski [Off Site]
    Shorto, Russell
    Journalist/author. Review of Gospel Truth
    Sinuhe
    Alleged copycat source for the Exodus story. See here.
    Sitchin, Zechariah
    Way out there guy. We recommend this site.
    Slavery
    Major issue for some Skeptics as it is presented in the Bible. See Glenn Miller's series here. See also our ebook on slavery here and Will Lawson's post here.
    Sloan, Gary
    Skeptical writer. Analysis of political "interview with Jesus"
    Smith, George
    Author of Atheism: The Case Against God, a book I find highly deficient in areas I know something about. Comments on Smith's book.
    Smith, Ken
    See summary points here.
    Smith, L. Ray
    Proof that just because you buy a domain name "bible-truths.com" doesn't mean you know the Bible or are telling the truth.
    Smith, Mark
    Webmaster of "jcnot4me.com". As I find nothing new on his site that I have not already answered I have no plans to write anything about him, but if you have questions about where to find answers to what he writes, contact me by email.
    Smith, Morton
    Deceased skeptic who condemned G. A. Wells, but otherwise wasn't agreeable.
    Social Security
    Is it evil? See here.
    Sola Scriptura
    Sola Scriptura Extremis -- on misuses of the doctrine by those who refuse to examine Scripture in context. R
    Son of Man
    Important title used by Jesus. See here for a discussion.
    Soul Sleep
    Doctrine often associated, but not necessarily connected with, annihilationism. See here.
    Spanish Inquisition
    Are Christians taking a bad rap for this one?
    Sparks, Kenton
    Review of God's Word in Human Words here
    Spencer, Michael
    AKA "Internet Monk." Comments.
    Spong, John Shelby
    Episcopalian super-liberal who can't figure out why no one goes to super-liberal churches.

    • Articles
    Spurgeon, Charles
    Profile here
    Stanley, Charles
    Profile here
    Stark, Thom
    Inept liberal Christian who may as well give it up for fundamentalist atheism and save us some time.
    Stevens, Neville
    Dislikes Galatians. See here.
    Still, James
    Secular Web denizen.
    Strauss, David Friedrich
    Author of The Life of Jesus Critically Examined, a book with some merit, but ultimately grounded on Strauss' deistic attitude. Comments on Strauss' book.
    Suetonius
    Pagan author of a history possibly mentioning Jesus.
    Swedenborgianism
    Watchman Fellowship overview
    Sweet, Leonard
    Emergent guru. Comments.
    Swindoll, Chuck
    Profile here
    Synoptic Problem
    Q and Marcan priority hub