My original reason for not reading Robert Price was hearing him speak in various interviews. He knows that his views are ridiculous and that scholars in general don’t take him or his views seriously, but he espouses them for kicks and giggles. But after reading Tony Costa’s review of Price’s Jesus is Dead I’m given yet another reason to not read Price. I’ll say it again, and again, and again: Christ Mythers aren’t worth anyone’s time…
B”H
Not sure if you already knew, but Price is a contributor to IVP’s The Historical Jesus: Five Views. It doesn’t take long for Dunn to take apart his argument. E.g.: here.
I listened to Price’s podcasts once upon a time. Boy, were they bad arguments. Essentially, whenever his thesis would fall apart he’d just declare it all an interpolation without a second thought.
Thanks for linking to the review btw :)
By: Ari on November 8, 2009
at 5:44 am
You know how I feel about Price. I do want to say in his partial defense, that I DO NOT believe he’s so bad because he actually believes what he writes. I believe he’s having too much fun being the “go-to-guy” for atheists who just don’t want to bother with that old carpenter from Nazareth. He likes being their bib studies god. All hail Price!
By: derekalchemist on November 8, 2009
at 7:33 am
Ah-ha! Just read the review! John the Baptist reference in Josephus as spurious!!! What did I say! Price knows that reference does nothing but help the TF. So rather than deal with it like a big boy, he simply declares it in-authentic. Other NT scholars? Josephean scholars? Who cares! He’s Robert Price, revealer of myths, leveler of churches and synogouges (not brave enough to go near Mosques), destroyer of reason…..maybe he wouldn’t agree with the last one….
By: derekalchemist on November 8, 2009
at 7:38 am
Price: “The New Testament texts are like a constantly shifting kaleidoscope, and the application of our methods is the twisting of the tube.… But the next twist will yield something else, and we may not judge it more ‘true’ or ‘accurate’ than the one before. None can carry any particular conviction” (90).
Costa: Not only does this argumentation yield uncertainty; it is self-refuting.
Duh! Who gave this guy two PhD’s? And we wonder why America is in a tough spot…
By: derekalchemist on November 8, 2009
at 7:54 am
[...] got his greedy little hands on a review of Price’s latest tirade Jesus is Dead Tony Costa here. Here’s some [...]
By: The Price is High « The Faith Alchemist on November 8, 2009
at 8:12 am
Yeah, I had a review copy of the Historical Jesus Five Views, and can’t express how ludicrous his arguments come across when put up against real scholars (Dunn, Luke Johnson, Crossan and Bock). I know they gave him a chance since he and Paul Eddy (the editor) are good friends, and since Christ Mythers always complain about not getting respect, but after reading his contribution it’s pretty obvious why they lack respect.
By: Ranger on November 8, 2009
at 10:06 am
Ari: I am aware of that fact, and I was quite surprised when I first heard it a few months back. I wondered why on earth they’d want that view represented since there’s nothing credible to it. Price is actually what’s kept me from requesting a review copy. I just don’t feel like being annoyed by him.
Derek: Yeah, Price is off his rocker. But he knows it and it all seems like a big joke to him. That’s why he’s publishing with American Atheist Press instead of a real publisher. Nobody wants his stuff. BTW, one of his lackeys offered me a PDF copy of this book back before it was officially released. He wanted to me talk to Price about it, but I turned him down for obvious reasons.
Ranger: Sounds about right. The funny thing is that I don’t think there’s any discernible difference between internet layman Christ Mythers and Christ Myther scholars in terms of argument and approach. If you’ve been in an atheist AOL chat room or some kind of Christ Myth message board, then you’ve basically seen the best that guys like Doherty, Price, and Wells have to offer. BTW, will you be reviewing it for a journal?
By: Nick Norelli on November 8, 2009
at 10:44 am
It is interesting that Price prescribes to religionsgeschichtliche Schule, Hurtado’s book you recommended is all about how RS doesn’t work.
By: Nate on November 8, 2009
at 2:26 pm
Nate: Well, Hurtado argues more that Bousset’s argument doesn’t work. I don’t think he wrote off the contributions of the RS wholesale.
By: Nick Norelli on November 8, 2009
at 8:27 pm