HOLLYWOOD vs. THE BIBLE Int'l "Live" Events

DUE TO THE NATURE OF TODAY'S TV PROGRAMMING CHOICES THIS PAGE IS ALWAYS UNDER CONSTRUCTION

Lloyd Bailey
(Professor of Religion, Mount Olive College).
(Link)

A) Mr. Bailey, identified as a Bible Scholar, states that "there is no boat there (on Ararat) and there never has been."

My Comments: How can a Bible Scholar deny the very thing he claims to be? Bailey denies that Noah's Ark was built with a smelting method. According to Bailey, the Hittites, around 1500 B.C.E. first started smelting Iron 1,000 years after (loose approx.) supposedly Noah's Flood occurred (2500 B.C.E.).
Russian archaeologists discovered Iron smelting furnaces in 1972 that date to 2500 B.C.E. (E.M. Blaiklock, p. 313). Bailey is caught with his own words in that he denies the idea that 1000 years prior to 1500 BCE (Bailey said 1,000 yrs in the interview) there was iron smelting. What is most interesting is that the furnaces were discovered near Ararat where the Ark landed. Hee hee!! The Lord has a great sense of humor! When did Noah's Flood occur? I believe the flood occurred pre-Hasssuna (5500 B.C.E.) and that tablets contained the story of the Flood from this general period. Others believe the flood occurred around 4100 B.C. (Ubaid period) or 2600 B.C.E. > the era of King Gilgamesh. I reject this belief.

Sources: The Search for Noah's Ark on The History Channel.

Further Study: The New Int'l Dictionary of Biblical Archaeology by E.M. Blaiklock and www.NoahsArkSearch.com.

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C. (Charles) Lynn Batten
(University of California)
(Link)

A) C. Lynn Batten stated the following, "I think many people nowadays find their faith challenged and rather than look at the nature of faith, what they try to do is stretch the Bible to make it factual in the most fundamentalist sense of the word."

My Comments: A question Mr. Batten, if inquiries about the Bibles facts are unacceptable, why is it that Luke investigated the claims about Jesus before he wrote his gospel and this fact was included in chapter one of that gospel? I do not think faith is a rival to evidence. Apologists do not stretch the Bible to conform to their beliefs and Mr. Batten, you are one of those that enjoy challenging our faith. Good! Perhaps now people will get off their rear ends and find out why they believe what they believe. Hee hee!

B) "If you read it carefully, you will see that there is one version that says that the animals are taken aboard the ark two by two another version that says they are brought on the ark two by two if they are unclean and seven by seven if they are clean. This suggests you've got at least two stories being brought together by an editor." (quote/paraphrase).

My Comments: Mr. Batten, a Literature Professor not a Biblical Scholar, has a right to his opinion which is purely what it is, an opinion. Unfortunately little or no rebuttal was given in defense of the biblical position afer his comments. It is important to understand that just because an academic makes a statement DOES NOT mean he is correct is his assessment. Some television viewers see the letters (Ph.D) behind the name of an interviewee and assume it's the one and only truth. Do your own research. Concerning the animals aboard the Ark...What Mr. Batton fails to realize is that both can be true of the same event. The seven by seven does not negate the two by two.

Sources: Mysteries of the Bible - Noah and the Flood on The Biography Channel.

Further Study: Noah's Ark: A Feasibility Study by John Woodmorappe, The Explorers of Ararat by B.J. Corbin, www.noahsarksearch.com.

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Helen Bond
(University of Edinburgh).
(Link)

Bond on Pilate & Trial

A) Concerning Pontius Pilate Bond said, "Pilate is tended to be seen as a rather weak character, in actual fact though Pilate as really quite different. What we know about him from outside sources shows a competent, strong Governor not at all the weak character of the gospels."

Comment: Pilate was not weak in the gospels. A weak leader who had enough power that others needed to ask his permission before legal proceedings? Pilate did give in to Jewish leaders outside of the gospels according to Josephus. (Antiq of the Jews 18.3.1) > "…but they threw themselves upon the ground and they laid their necks bare and they said they would take their deaths very willingly rather than the wisdom of their laws be transgressed. Up which Pilate (s) was deeply affected with their firm resolution to keep their laws in violable, and presently commanded the images to be carried back from Jerusalem to Caesarea."

A2) "Pilate essentially has won the day. Not only has he got rid of Jesus, who was a troublemaker, and he wanted to get rid of him anyway (unbiblical), but he's also goaded the chief priests into this terrible declaration that they have no king but Caesar. All in all it was a good day's work for Pilate."

Comment: Pilate's good day's work? Executing an innocent man? Pilate DID have reservations about killing Jesus. If indeed Pilate wanted to get rid of Jesus it would only be to please the priests and keep the peace and not because he desired Jesus' death prior to the priests bringing Jesus to him! The gospels mean to portray Jesus as one whom Pilate wanted to set free. The presentation of Barabbas before the people was clearly an attempt to set Jesus free.

Bond on the Money Changers and Jesus

B) "…and it's extremely exciting because we have on the one hand the ancient sources (apparently the Bible is not an ancient source according to Bond) that show this wildly unpredictable dangerous city. On the other hand we have the gospels (What did I tell ya?) saying Jesus is there whipping up the crowd or doing his part to make them even more excited (Jesus was intentionally creating a disturbance? Hmm?) adding to the difficulties and tensions of the whole place."

Comment: Was Jesus' intention to bring stress to the city or whip it up? Jesus' turning over the money tables was his disgust at the abuse of his Father house not a premeditated act.

I will give Bond a few points on one biblical accuracy in that she believes Judas was a betrayer. YEAH! Give her a gold star with a smiley face.

Bond on the Gospels

C) Miss Bond believes that the gospels John and Luke were written in the 80's or 90's C.E. (A.D.)

My Comments: What do Conservative Scholars believe concerning the dating of the gospels? > They weren't interviewed. The Discovery Channel must have lost their phone numbers. A good ol' phone book or the internet might have been a good source to contact the Conservatives.

Sources: Mary:Mother of Jesus on Ancient Evidence > The Natl Geographic or Discovery Channels. The Real Disciples of Jesus on Ancient Evidence > The Natl Geographic or Discovery Channels. Pilate: The Man Who Killed Christ on The History Channel)

Further Study: Pontius Pilate and In the Fullness of Time by Paul Maier. Papers by Dr. Charles Aling of the Institute for Biblical Archaeology.

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James H. Charlesworth
(Princeton Theological Seminary)
(Link)

A) James H. Charlesworth believes that the flight into Egypt of Jesus' family was a matter of fiction.

My Comments: So is it not safe to say that Matthew was a writer of myth according to Charlesworth? What portions of Matthew can we trust?
Charlesworth did not say.

B) James H. Charlesworth (discusses Jesus' wisdom at the temple at age 12) >"To know as much as he knows you have only two options. God zapped him and told him everything he needed to know or he spent a lot of time reading and studying and debating. The New Testament supports only the second one. Where does this man get such knowledge? He's not spending the whole day out there farming or fishing. He's studying and thinking and he's discussing with the great minds." (Source: JESUS: THE COMPLETE STORY, The Discovery Channel).

My Comments: God zapping Jesus seems to a cute phrase > If you want cute…buy a puppy. Charlesworth seems to forget that Jesus was the Messiah and he studied and read. Why can't both be true? The New Testament supports only the second one > not true. What great minds were in Nazareth? Jesus was not a man yet > (Where does this man get such knowledge?) your Bar Mitzvah occurred at 13 not 12. See Luke.

C) Labeled as a Biblical Historian Charlesworth also denied the betrayal of Jesus by Judas and his arrest because everyone knew where to find Jesus.

My Comments: No evidence was presented in this program to support the belief that the events at Gethsemane were fiction. The Bible contradicts Charlesworth in that Judas knew but the Soldiers and Guards did not know where to find Jesus (John 18:2).

D) Charlesworth also believes that the handing over of Jesus was a way for the religious leaders to talk to Jesus and Jesus could present his ideas to them.

My Comments: If this is true why didn't they talk to Jesus publicly? He didn't do anything in secret. See John 18:20,21.

E) James H. Charlesworth discusses Jesus baptism: "I would say it was probably the biggest turning point in his life. Jesus must have had a moving experience when he realized okay I've got a task to do and obviously he thought it was a task God had him do." (Jesus: The Complete Story, The Discovery Channel).

My Comments: Jesus knew he was the Messiah at a young age why would he all of a sudden realize it at baptism? The voice from heaven was for the hearer's not Jesus. Jesus knew his identity. Folks, this is Sunday School stuff.

F) James H. Charlesworth: "I think there was the temptation there to lead a military or a very powerful political move but then he realized what he had seen as a young boy the burning of Sepphoris he realized that those who live by the sword are going to die by the sword. Luke says he would often spend all night in prayer, Mark says he would get up very early long, long before dawn and go out and mediate and prayer and think. We have a human, let's not forget the human-ness of Jesus. I think he's trying to find out what am I to do." (Jesus: The Complete Story, The Discovery Channel).

My Comments: Notice that Charlesworth leaves out God the Father completely as if Jesus is completely on his own. The Bible tells us that Jesus only does the Father will and does what the Father does (John 5:19-30). Jesus knew his mission. He wasn't guessing from day to day like a confused person with identity issues. Notice how Jesus is downgraded to "us" status as if he's confused and searching. (Jesus: The Complete Story, The Discovery Channel).

G) Charlesworth on Jesus clearing the Temple: "Obviously many, many people would have been very proud of what he did. Probably some of them would have been soldiers that were guarding the temple. Certainly none of the priest, none of the soldiers in the temple did anything at that time to stop him. What is in Jesus' mind? Why does he turn around now and walk out? What is going on Jesus?" (Jesus: The Complete Story, The Discovery Channel).

My Comments: Charlesworth makes multiple errors here. The reason why they (Priests) did nothing was because the crowd wanted to listen to Jesus and get healed (Matt. 12-17, Luke 20:48). Jesus did not leave nor walk out according to Matthew. This was not a single event Jesus did this twice according to Luke.

I) James Charlesworth believes that the priest wanted Jesus stoned not crucified (this is NOT what the Bible states via the voices of the priests themselves....(Luke 23). Charlesworth: "If there were priests that turned him over to Pilate they may have in their mind lets get this great man this one is the trouble-rouser this one that has problems, gather crowds, let us put him with the Roman authorities for a day or two. I don't think that the High Priests thought that he might be crucified. Would a Jew who is religious want that happened to another man who is religious? (Jesus: The Complete Story, The Discovery Channel).

My Comments: How can Jesus be a great man and a trouble-rouser? Would a Jew do this? Yes, if Jesus was considered a threat to their authority. Yohanan was a Jew and he was crucified though we don't know why.

J) Charlesworth: "And then you could hear the mocking "oh you who healed others why don't you come down and heal yourself?" The mocking, powerless. The great powerful one is now left powerless." (Jesus: The Complete Story, The Discovery Channel).

My Comments: Was Jesus powerless on the cross? No! He could have come off the cross if he chose to completely but he yielded to his Fathers will. Jesus said he could summon angels but he did not in order to fulfill what must be in order to save humanity (See Matthew 26: 53, 54).

K) Charlesworth: "Well we do have evidence in some the Dead Sea scrolls, martyrs by the time of Jesus and before the time of Jesus, believing their death their suffering will help atone for the problems in the land." (Jesus: The Complete Story, The Discovery Channel).

My Comments: Is Charlesworth claiming that Jesus was simply one of many Messiahs who went to their deaths for nothing?

L) Charlesworth on those who believe in the Resurrection: "…It is not a rational claim it is an expression of belief." (Jesus: The Complete Story, The Discovery Channel).

My Comments: The definitions of irrational are groundless, crazy, silly, unfounded. Need I go on about Charlesworth's belief on Resurrection?

M) Charlesworth: "My God My God why have you forsaken me" it seems that he's a little bit frustrated. Where the hell are now God when I need you. I think he's simply in a dialogue with God as he always has been. God where are you now?" (Jesus: The Complete Story, The Discovery Channel)

My Comments: Let's see...not only does Jesus use crude language but he and the Father have always had a disrespectable relationship ("as he always has been") ? Sounds like the Bible to me. Yikes!

Sources...
1) Mary: Mother of Jesus on Ancient Evidence > The Natl Geographic/The Discovery Channels.
2) Jesus: The Complete Story, The Discovery Channel

Further Study: The New Testament is a good start. My paper on Jesus in Egypt.

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Eric Cline
(Historian and Archaeologist, George Washington University?)
(Link)

Eric Cline stated that, "The sites (Hazor and Ai) that are said to have been conquered by the Israelites the archaeology shows that most of them weren't even inhabited at that time and the sites that which we do have a destruction are not the ones that are mentioned in the biblical text."

My Comments: Regarding Hazor the site is still under excavation under Amnon Ben-Tor so it premature to make any firm conclusions about the site yea or nay. Regarding the potential sities of Ai. Both Bryant Wood and David Livingstone of The Associates for Biblical Research were digging at two potential sities (Maqatir and Nisya) until things became too dangerous due to the ongoing conflicts to conduct further work. It is premature to make any firm conclusions about the sites "lack" of credibility.

Eric Cline also made comments concerning Earthquakes. Cline's comments were interlaced with the Narrators in that supposedly the Canaanites entered Canaan by opportunism due to massive earthquake upheavals displacing people to other regions.

My Comments: What?

Source: Joshua and the Walls of Jericho on Ancient Evidence > The Natl Geographic or Discovery Channels.

Further Study: Bible and Spade Magazine articles about the search for Hazor, Ai and land occupations.

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Felicity Cobbing
(John Garstang Curator, Excavator).
(Link)

"Kathleen Kenyon was able to examine in minute detail the very, very complex phases of occupation…she was able to see an awful lot that Garstang
had simply missed."

My Comments: How can Kenyon see an "awful lot" when she dug into an impoverished area 1/3 the size of Garstangs excavations at Jericho (Brantley, page 61). Undoubtedly Garstangs work was not perfect but when you die wouldn't you want someone who is protecting and perhaps exhibiting your life's work to defend rather than defame your credibility? With Curators like Cobbings who needs enemies?

Source: Joshua and the Walls of Jericho on Ancient Evidence > The Natl Geographic or Discovery Channels.

Further Study: Bible and Spade Magazine articles about Jericho. Digging for Answers by Garry Brantley.

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Daniel Smith-Christopher
(Loyola University)

A) Historical Consultant for Noah and the Ark: Voyage to a New Beginning, Biography/A&E -1996

My Comments: The historical consultant for this episode and many others, also an interviewee, is Daniel Smith-Christopher. Christopher's on-screen name changes occasionally depending upon the episode. It is unknown exactly what Christopher believes concerning stories from the Bible. For the most part, Christopher is critical concerning biblical history. Christopher believes that Noah's Ark was plagiarized from Babylonian myth, that the rainbow sent by God was actually God's bow of war being laid down, that Satan is not in the book of Job and that David was involved in a conspiracy to murder Ish-Bosheth to get the throne of Israel. All of these beliefs are pure conjecture with no absolute proof from scripture or from archaeology but i'm sure Bible Skeptics love him.

B) Both Daniel Smith-Christopher and Alan Dundes believe that Noah borrowed if not stole or plagiarized (my words) from an earlier text (Gilgamesh) to write the story of Noah.The following quote with my added commentary.. "In the case of Noah and the flood it's very clear that it (was - my insert) borrowed from an older version because we have the older versions. The (way - my insert) in which we are to take the flood story it seems to me is to not necessarily focus on the things that the Hebrews borrowed from the tradition well known to everyone in the ancient near east . The genius of the Hebrew mind is on the changes that they introduce into the stories. The things that are unique to the Noah story." - Daniel Smith-Christopher. (Noah and the Flood, The Biography Channel).

My Comments: What older versions? Older texts of Genesis? Let the archaeological community know about this! Is it clear archaeologically that the story of Noah in Genesis is from an older version? No! The only prominent version in this and many other broadcasts paralleled with the story of Noah is the Gilgamesh Epic. How do we know that the Hebrews made changes? We do not. Neither does Christopher. There is no evidence for changes nor is there any support that the Gilgamesh Epic occurred, it is myth.

C) Did you know that Satan in Job is not actually Satan? That is what the Daniel Smith-Christopher believes. (Job: The Devils Test. The Arts and Entertainment Network).

My Comments: Let us see If Satan in Job is truly Satan. Is Satan God's Agent or Adversary? The Strong's Exhaustive Concordance tells us saw-tawn' (Satan) means adversary (see Strongs ref. 07854). So Satan is an Adversary not a friend or trusted member of Gods inner circle as another interviewee believes. This very same reference in the Hebrew from Job is clear that Satan in Job is Satan and no one else. Still Danny Boy must know best...Cannot comment any more. Laughing too hard. Sides ache.

D) An interesting moment arises when Christopher, visibly angry, is upset at those looking for the Ark. (Noah and the Flood, The Biography Channel).

My Comments: Christopher believes, as far as I can tell, the whole purpose of the Noah story is to show us how to be righteous, apparently not about history. But wait a minute. You just said, "In the case of Noah and the flood it's very clear that it (was - my insert) borrowed from an older version because we have the older versions. Why the anger? If the Epic of Gilgamesh is a flood story, the older versions you say Moses plagiarized, excuse me, borrowed, might be discovered. Would not you be supportive of the searches if proof (a cube-shaped Ark) was found to support your opinions?
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John Dominic Crossan
(The Jesus Seminar/DePaul University).

A) "It's probably true that there are more mysteries than facts about the birth of Jesus. We don't know really when he (Jesus) was born. We don't know where he was born. And if you go into the virginal conception, virginal birth we don't know how he was born in that sense how he was conceived in that sense. So we almost don't know anything that we would want to know." Quote Source: Mysteries of the Bible, Jesus: Holy Child. The Arts and Entertainment Network with Multimedia Entertainment Inc. and FilmRoos , 1994.

My Comments: Crossan's concerns and opinions can be answered rather quickly though probably not to his satisfaction. If he can be satisfied we know that Herod died in the Spring of 4 BCE according Flavius Josephus so Jesus would have been born in probably 5 BCE if not 6 BCE but no earlier than that because Herod ordered the deaths of the infants two years and younger in and around Bethlehem. Jesus may have been at least a year old at this time. We also know that Jesus was born in Bethlehem in a cave type structure not in a Creche scene nor was he born in Nazareth as some claim (read on) and we also know he was conceived via the Holy Spirit. For someone who claims to be a Christian he knows little about his faith. I know my explanations are a simplification of Crossan's questions because Crossan obviously wants much more which prompts the question. What would Crossan accept as true about the story? Crossan doesn't say which gives me concern. He seems to be a CINO (a Christian In Name Only) yet he is invited to speak at Churches, Conferences and makes multiple appearances on television as a biblical authority. Hmm?

B) "Neither of these stories is historically accurate and neither of them intends to be historically accurate. Neither of them knows exactly what happened and that is why they can be so indifferent. It's not their problem it is our problem if we read them as history." Quote Source: Mysteries of the Bible, Jesus: Holy Child. The Arts and Entertainment Network with Multimedia Entertainment Inc. and FilmRoos , 1994.

My Comments: Crossan claims to be a Christian but can't trust the gospel writers concerning the birth of Jesus? The gospel writers did not intend for the narratives to be historically accurate? Such as Luke's "orderly account" as he phrases it in chapter one verse three? Hmm? I personally believe that Mary was cared for by John after Jesus' resurrection (John 19:27), that she relayed information concerning Jesus' birth to him as well as Matthew and Luke. Matthew and Luke's gospels are overt about the events of Jesus' birth and Johns gospel does say, "…the Word became flesh," in chapter 1 verse 14.

My Comments 2: As we have seen so far the Narrator, interviewee Ronald Hock and John Dominic Crossan all believe that the events surrounding the early life of Jesus, specifically the Massacre of the Innocents, never occurred. If this is true why would the creators of this documentary go through the trouble of dramatizing the Massacre of the Innocents complete with babies crying, screams of women, sounds of commotion, dramatic music and medieval paintings of the event?

C) John Dominic Crossan equates the story of Jesus' birth in Bethlehem (Davidic prophecy) with Lincoln's birth in a log cabin. Source: Mysteries of the Bible, Jesus: Holy Child. The Arts and Entertainment Network with Multimedia Entertainment Inc. and FilmRoos , 1994.

My Comments: Even though Lincoln was born in a cabin in Kentucky (?), Crossan's goal was to express both narratives as elements of folklore or of cultural tradition not historical reality. "Is the prophecy being fulfilled or is history being written to fulfill the prophecy?" This last quote is hysterical not just pertaining to the birth of Jesus but his entire ministry and aftermath. When Jesus was on the cross the Bible tells us that none of Jesus' bones were broken, a fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy (Psalms 34:20). Before Jesus was let off the cross he had already expired so how did Jesus' followers fulfill that prophecy? Slip the Soldiers twenty bucks?

D) "The major question is whether the virgin birth is to be taken literally as a biological statement about Mary or theologically as a statement about Jesus," stated John Dominic Crossan. Quote Source: Mysteries of the Bible, Jesus: Holy Child. The Arts and Entertainment Network with Multimedia Entertainment Inc. and FilmRoos , 1994.

My Comments: Why can't the virgin birth be theological and biological? Why does it have to be one or the other?

E) "If every one goes back to their ancestral home to be recorded and then goes back to wherever they live that's a bureaucratic nightmare, it not the way the Romans did it. They wanted you recorded where you were working. We want to know where you are to pay your taxes. So it's a story which Luke creates in order to get Mary and Joseph and Jesus, of course to be born yet, to Bethlehem but it is not factual it is fictional," said John Dominic Crossan.
Quote Source: In Search of Christmas. A&E Television Networks and The History Channel, 2002.

My Comments: "For a long time we though that this was just a story and this was just a literary device. Well we've discovered papyri in Egypt now that put a whole different slant on this. The Romans required peasants who had found themselves unable to both pay their taxes to Caesar and provide for their families to return to their villages precisely in order to be down on the farm where they would raise crops and pay the roman taxes. Then that puts some great credibility back in this legend that Joseph and Mary journeyed to Bethlehem on the occasion of Caesar having decreed a tax," acknowledged Richard Horsley. I appreciate Horsley's endorsement of the gospel account of the Census but the word "legend" bothers me. Is the census from the time of Jesus true or legendary? The Census' that required Egyptians to return to their places of birth are dated to about 104 CE and 119 CE. (Paul Maier). If you subtract 119 CE (A.D.) from 126 (14x9), you come up with - 7 or 7 B.C.E. for the Census. The Bible tells us that Elizabeth hid herself from the public for five months (Luke 1:23), Mary visited Elizabeth and stayed for three months (Luke 1:56) after the angel visited her in Nazareth. Six more months would have to pass before Jesus' birth plus the time it would take to reach all corners of the Empire to institute the Census (Maier).

F) "In Matthew's gospel Jesus is the new Moses. So the same way that Pharaoh tried to kill all the children and almost killed Moses, but Moses escaped by divine power, bad Pharaoh becomes bad Herod. This is Matthew working the parallelism between Jesus the new Moses in his life so Jesus must be born as it were and almost killed like the old Moses was." Quote Source: In Search of Christmas. A&E Television Networks and The History Channel, 2002.

My Comments: Minutes earlier Crossan stated that he believed the infamous Massacre of the Innocents could have occurred now Crossan seems to believe in some sort of conspiratorial parallelism. Did Matthew re-create history and make Jesus a new Moses and Herod a new Pharaoh? Did Jesus need the P.R? Did the Massacre of the Innocents occur or is Matthew's account of Herod's wrath a stunt to lend Jesus more credibility to potential Jewish converts to Christianity? Again there is no evidence to suggest this was the case in any credible historical records from the first century but it was on television with Ph.D.'s supporting it! It must be true! Right?

G) Crossan stated, "Christianity has done many things in the name of Jesus for which I as a Christian am ashamed it has also done many good things in the name of Jesus for which I am very glad as a Christian and which makes me very glad to be a Christian." Quote Source: In Search of Christmas. A&E Television Networks and The History Channel, 2002.

My Comments: Simply reading Crossan's beliefs throughout this documentary makes one question if he has a Christian faith at all. Let us take a look at what John Dominic Crossan denies in the Nativity story. Crossan stated that the Census was created by Matthew to get Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem so Jesus would be born there to fulfill prophecy. Secondly, Crossan believes in a type of conspiratorial parallelism involving Herod, Pharaoh, Jesus and Moses. Did the New Testament event called the Massacre of the Innocents occur or was it myth? Was the Massacre of the Innocents simply a reflection from the Old Testament making Jesus a new Moses and Herod a new Pharaoh? Crossan states, "In Matthew's gospel Jesus is the new Moses. So the same way that Pharaoh tried to kill all the children and almost killed Moses, but Moses escaped by divine power, bad Pharaoh becomes bad Herod. This is Matthew working the parallelism between Jesus the new Moses in his life so Jesus must be born as it were and almost killed like the old Moses was." The phrase "Jesus must be born" and "almost killed" lends one to think that the Messiah was born not due to Gods divine plan but via authorial pre-meditation. Thirdly, Crossan does not believe that the Jesus' family escaped to Egypt yet there are geographical and archaeological traditions concerning the route the family took to escape Herod and their journeys throughout Egypt.

H) John Dominic Crossan: "There were probably standing orders from Pilate, anyone who raises their head anyone who does anything subversive, dangerous hit 'em and hit 'em hard and crucify him and hang him out there as a warning. I can imagine Pilate saying, 'I'm not going to have any trouble this Passover." The topic of discussion is concerning Pilates desire to keep peace during Passover and Pilates supposed watchful eye on Jesus." Quote Source: Jesus and Paul: The Word and the Witness. A Peter Jennings Special, ABC.

My Comments: Firstly, Jennings and the interviewees should have defined "crowds" in Jerusalem and what was significant enough to breed suspicion. Secondly, If Pilate was watching Jesus or keeping his eye on him surely he (Jesus) was under investigation. Thirdly, the gospels are very clear that Pilate knew little about the Nazarene after his arrest (John 19:34, Matthew 27:23, Mark 15:4, Luke 23:4, 14, 22). Interestingly Mark 15:4 states that Pilate does not testify against Jesus but they (the Jewish leadership) testify against him so Pilate had no independent information about Jesus but received information solely from Caiaphas and others.

I) John Dominic Crossan stated, "Somebody close to Jesus betrayed him" yet Crossan won't say it was Judas. Quote Source: Jesus and Paul: The Word and the Witness. A Peter Jennings Special, ABC.

My Comments: Why not? Is Crossan a big fan of traitors and betrayers? How much do you want to bet he's related to Benedict Arnold, the Rosenberg's and Pete Rose? Crossan and Pete Rose do have the same Moe Howard haircuts. It couldn't be a coincidence. (I say this all in jest of course).

J) John Dominic Crossan stated, "The first question is even more basic, was Jesus buried at all? Roman crucifixion, the purpose of crucifixion was state terrorism and the function was to leave the body on the cross for the carrion crows and the prowling dogs. It's not simply that they made you suffer a lot it meant you didn't get buried. That's what made it one of the supreme Roman penalties, lack of burial. As I read those stories I feel terribly sympathetic for the followers of Jesus because I hear hope there not history." Quote Source: Jesus and Paul: The Word and the Witness. A Peter Jennings Special, ABC.

My Comments: How does one defend the biblical position in the light of Crossan's question? Were crucified victims buried? In 1968 a crucified right heel bone was found at a location in a Jerusalem suburb called Giv'at Hamivtar. Attached to the heel were wood fragments and a nail. The crucified victims name was Yohanan ben Ha'galgol. How do they know the victims name? The name was written on an ossuary or bone box that contained the heel bone (Price, 308-309). Did the Romans leave Yohanan's body on the cross to be eaten by crows and dogs to be potentially carried off? No. He was buried. I am not saying that Romans did not inhumanely treat victims but a blanket statement about post-crucified remains unburied is problematic in the light of archaeological discoveries. In addition to the right heel bone, the victims right arm bone and left heel bone, also penetrated by a nail, were discovered in the bone box (In the Fullness of time, p. 166).

"As I read those stories I feel terribly sympathetic for the followers of Jesus because I hear hope there not history." This quote by John Dominc Crossan should concern many. Firstly, Crossan claimed to be a Christian, "Christianity has done many things in the name of Jesus for which I as a Christian am ashamed it has also done many good things in the name of Jesus for which I am very glad as a Christian and which makes me very glad to be a Christian," stated Crossan." At least two cable documentaries bear this quote. Crossan seems to distance himself from his faith in that he feels sympathy for first century followers of Jesus of which he should still consider himself one even if he is living in the twenty-first century. Secondly, Crossan's hears hope not history in the New Testament. Why would Crossan feel sympathetic towards those that did not exist (ie; historical characters)? This Wayward Son has elevated hope and eliminated history in this statement. Let me be clear in that I have no personal animosity toward Crossan nor does he know that I even exist. I have no doubts that Crossan has worked hard throughout his academic life but I do have issues with his opinions, its impact on an historically illiterate public and his supposed Christian faith.

My Comments 2:

Below are some examples of Crossan's denial of basic Christian tenets.

- Does not believe Jesus was born in Bethlehem.

- Denies the authenticity Matthew and Luke's accounts.

- Does not believe Jesus was Virgin born.

- Denies the occurrence of the Census that brought Jesus to Bethlehem.

- Though Crossan believes that the Massacre of the Innocent may have occurred he equates it with a bizarre parallellism between a new Moses (Jesus) and a new Pharaoh (Herod).

- Jesus did not escape to Egypt.

- Crossan may believe that Jesus was Sinner (Source: Mysteries of the Bible: John the Baptist).

- Crossan will not say that Judas betrayed Jesus but somebody close to Jesus betrayed him.

- Jesus was not buried after his Crucifixion due to Roman custom.

- Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are absolutely not journalistic or eyewitness accounts what happens (say) in the year 30.

- Crossan denied the idea that Pilate may have wanted to release Jesus. " "There is nothing historical about Pilate in the gospel beyond the fact that there was a Governor called Pilate. But the character of Pilate, this…this nice charming person who just wants to get Jesus off and this crowd just keeps shouting against him that is pure fiction."

- Crossan denies the idea that there was a trial before the Jews and Pilate.

- Crossan thinks that Italians should be blamed for the death of Jesus since Pilate was one.

- Crossan denied Jesus called himself Messiah.

- "If we were to find the body of Jesus in a tomb in Jerusalem today and it was without any doubt the body of Jesus. Would that destroy Christian faith? It certainly would not destroy my Christian faith. What happens to bodies, I leave up to God."

- Jesus was Resurrected in Jerusalem's Garden Tomb (Gordon's Calvary location) because it looks aesthetically pleasing like what is described in the Bible. Note: Jesus was more than likely raised to life in the location known as the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. The Garden Tomb is too old to have been a new tomb (John 19:41) in the days of Jesus plus other archaeological supports refute Crossans belief.

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Steven Davies (Davis?)
(Institution?)

A) Mary probably adopted a demon personality as a result of her lifestyle (beatings, abuse, Prostitution) > defense mechanism. Source: The Real Mary Magdalene (Ancient Evidence, BBC/AMERICA, The Discovery Channel.

My Comments: There is no reason to assume or presume Mary Magdalene was a Prostitute neither via scripture nor archaeological history.

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- William Dever (University of Arizona?).

- Allen Dundes (University of California/Berkeley).

- Robert Eisemann (Author).

- Steve Emmel (Copticologist).

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- Tamara Eskanazi (Hebrew Union College).

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- Carole Fontaine (Andover Newton Theological School).
a) God is an inexperienced deity that can't control or doesn't know how to control Adam and Eve (his children in the Garden with the Tree of Knowledge)
(Source: Adam and Eve (A&E's Biography). My Comment: Like an inexperienced parent, God is degraded to the role of worried, and at times, jealous overseer in this A&E documentary. Carole Fontaine of Andover Newton Theological School puts forth this proposition. This idea is ridiculous but hey controversy sells. After all isn't that what's most important in todays programming? The truth, it seems, is too boring for the viewing public so obscure ancient myth replaces reality. Where did this idea come from? The program did not reveal the source. This "failure to reveal the source" is quite common in Bible documentaries.

b) Because Adam and Eve wore animal skins after the fall they were considered similar to animals by God. (Source: Adam and Eve (A&E's Biography).
My Comment: After the fall, Adam and Eve, according to Fontaine, are animal-like creatures according to God (Gen. 3:21). Since Adam and Eve dressed themselves in animal skin how can they not be? How dense is this assertion? I presume that if I dress as an airline pilot I must be a pilot to God. If this is the case I would not get on one of my flights unless insured…"Hey, that's a pretty button. What does that do? I'll press it." Famous last words.

c) Tells unbiblical story about Noah > - Lamech meets with his father and then returns home. Methuselah inquires of his father Enoch. Methus finds Enoch in his celestial home and tells him about Noah (Is Noah cursed or good?). Enoch says that Noah has come to give us salvation from the coming great destruction.
(Source: Noah and the Ark: Voyage to a New Beginning, Biography/A&E -1996).
.... My Comment:

d) Jewish legend: People mocked Noah and he mocked back but he was upset.
(Source: Noah and the Ark: Voyage to a New Beginning, Biography/A&E -1996).
.... My Comment: No biblical/historical evidence for these beliefs.

e) The men and women slept separately as did the animals.
(Source: Noah and the Ark: Voyage to a New Beginning, Biography/A&E -1996).
.... My Comment: No biblical/historical evidence for these beliefs.

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- Paula Fredriksen (Boston University).

- Israel Finkelstein (Archaeologist).

- Marc Goodacre (University of Birmingham)

- Richard Horseley (Historian).

- Tal Ilan (Jewish Historian).

- Karen King (Biblical Historian).

- Ross Kraemer (Historian).

- Rabbi Harold Kushner (When Bad Things Happen to Good People).

- Allan Lloyd

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- Peter Machinist (Harvard Divinity School, Professor of Hebrew/Oriental Languages).
a) Discusses aspects of the Flood story > The Flood, the Noah figure, Noah gathers his family and goes onto an Ark. On the Ark for a period of time which the world is drowned and the Ark lands on a mountain. (Source: Mysteries of Noah's Flood. The Learning Channel, 2002).
....My Comment: He doesn't tell you the many differences between the Flood and the Gilgamesh Epic. (link)

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- Chris Maunder (University of Leeds).

- Gregory Mobley (Harvard Divinity School).

- Andrea Mollinary (Theologian).

- Father Jerome O'Connor.

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- Ian Pliner (Geologist)
a) Said the absence of evidence for a global flood evidence means there was no flood.
(Source: Noah's Ark: The True Story (BBC/The Discovery Channel).
....My Comment: The absence of evidence DOES NOT mean evidence will not be uncovered. My academic background is not in Creationism or the earth
... sciences. I hesitate to recommend Creationist links due to that fact.

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- Peter A. Pitzele
a) Tells unbiblical story about Noah > - Methuselah returns and takes care of Noah. Methuselah tells Noah all the stories (Creation, Adam, Eve etc;) he needs to take upon the Ark and preserve
(Source: Noah and the Ark: Voyage to a New Beginning, Biography/A&E -1996).
.... My Comment:

b) Ham, one of Noah's sons, is least interested in building Noah's Ark/doing as God commands.
(Source: Noah and the Ark: Voyage to a New Beginning, Biography/A&E -1996).
.... My Comment: No biblical/historical evidence for these beliefs.

c) Noah feels guilt as a survivor and not protesting Gods decision.
(Source: Noah and the Ark: Voyage to a New Beginning, Biography/A&E -1996).
.... My Comment: No biblical/historical evidence for these beliefs.

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- Peter Richardson (Historian).

- David Rohl (Questionable conduct and evidence).

- Nahum Sarna (Brandeis University).

- Thomas Schaub (Archaeologist).

- John Shelby Spong.

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- Aron Tendler (Yeshiva University).
a) Noah could pick out cedar trees that could grow up to 50 meters (he had a great understanding of nature).
(Source: Noah and the Ark: Voyage to a New Beginning, Biography/A&E -1996).
.... My Comment: No biblical/historical evidence for these beliefs.

b) Noah plants the cedar trees that will become his Ark. Noah planted the trees and cultivated the wood to fulfill the commandment of God.
(Source: Noah and the Ark: Voyage to a New Beginning, Biography/A&E -1996).
.... My Comment: No biblical/historical evidence for these beliefs.

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- Christine Thomas (Professor of Theology).

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- Dr. Steve Tinney (Asst. Curator, University of Pennsylvania Museum).
a) "…here for the first time (referring to the discovery of the Epic of Gilgamesh) was practically verbatim written confirmation that the stories contained in the bible had (occurred - my insert) outside of the Bible."(Source: Mysteries of Noah's Flood. The Learning Channel, 2002).
....My Comment: The Gilgamesh Epic, of whom Tinney is referring, is not even practically verbatim of Noah's Flood. There are 11-12 similarities, 2-3 lines of discrepancy and at least 25 differences between the Bible and The Epic of Gilgamesh. Verbatim? Was Moses a Plagiarist? The first record of proof of stories outside the Bible? Not true if you look at sites discovered which are biblically related such as Gerasa or Jerash (1805), Babylon (1811), Ashkelon (1815), Nimrud (1845), Sennacharib's Palace (1849) > Source: E.M. Blaiklock).

b) "the birds are sent out to look for land."
(Source: Mysteries of Noah's Flood. The Learning Channel, 2002).
.... My Comment: What he doesn't tell you is the different kinds of birds and the order they were sent out. This is an important difference between the stories.

c) Tinney believes that the story may have come into the Bible during the Babylonian Exile.
(Source: Mysteries of Noah's Flood. The Learning Channel, 2002).
.... My Comment: No proof is provided in the program to support this conclusion.

d)

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- Archaeologist Jonathan Tubb.

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- David Vanderhooft (Asst. Professor of Hebrew Scripture at Boston College).
a) "Folklore" comment: "The Noah story contains all the best elements in folklore. A threat to humanity, a sense of precariousness of life, the danger and possibility of interacting with the divine."
(Source: Mysteries of Noah's Flood. The Learning Channel, 2002).
.... My Comment: Vanderhooft degrades the Bible from an historical occurrence to something akin to Paul Bunyon or Johnny Appleseed.

b) "There is very little doubt that the Mesopotamian literary traditions that includes these flood narratives is much older than the Hebrew one."
(Source: Mysteries of Noah's Flood. The Learning Channel, 2002).
.... My Comment: Just because Genesis was "compiled" during the 1400's doesn't mean that it originated with Gilgamesh or that Moses was a plagiarist. The same argument can be reversed. No doubt that Noah had tablets passed down to him from previous generations that were eventually passed down to Moses. The Jews had a strong written and oral tradition. Remember that the Gilgamesh Epic (discovered about 1871) fragments were dated anywhere from 1750-612 B.C. (Randall Price, The Stones Cry Out) over 1,000 yrs of fragments to piece together. No doubt a copy of an earlier text (presumably 2600 B.C.) was written but it has not been recovered so what we see is the opposite of the programs assertion. We have a fragmented copy that dates before, during or after the compiling of Genesis around 1400 B.C. but they don't tell you that fact. The flood story is contained on tablet 11 of the 12 discovered. I personally believe the Flood occurred pre-Hassuna (5500 B.C.) and others believe it happened during the Ubaid period (4100-3750 B.C.). I personally believe that the Tower of Babel events occurred during this period (Ubaid) and not the famed Flood due to the introduction of mud brick construction to build structures including Ziggurats (Tower of Babel). This is just a theory which is all anyone else can academically conclude.

c) Canaanites and Hebrews knew about the stories (Noah's Flood) as "good stories" comment. Vanderhooft degrades the Bible to simple stories and/or fiction. Vanderhooft states that stories, including Noah's Flood, dealt with fundamental problems of the people.
(Source: Mysteries of Noah's Flood. The Learning Channel, 2002).
.... My Comment: Vanderhooft degrades the Bible to fundamental lesson about life not about historical events that may contain lessons.

d) "The weight of evidence within the stories themselves suggest that these are...tales told for reasons other than to tell you what took place at a given moment."
(Source: Mysteries of Noah's Flood. The Learning Channel, 2002).
.... My Comment: Vanderhooft denies the Bible as historical.

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- Peter Wells (pro-Garden Tomb regardless of lack of evidence).

- Larry Wills (Episcopal Divinity School).

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- Rabbi David Wolpe
a) Adam feels like a co-Creator/Partner with God since he names the animals. (Source: Adam and Eve (A&E's Biography). .My Comment: Did Adam feel like a co-Creator with God? Did the act of naming the animals (Gen. 2:19) give Adam divine aspirations? NO! Interviewee Rabbi David Wolpe, of Sinai Temple, put forth this suggestion. Adam's actions and thoughts as revealed in Genesis leads the reader to think that Adam knew his place as man (Gen. 2:16...) and that God was greater than he. What fine programming!

b)

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- N.T. Wright.

- Walter Zanger (Author).

- Richard L. Zettler (University of Pennsylvania Museum/Associate Curator).

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- Bruce Zukerman (University of Southern California).
a) "If you read the stories...the passages in Gilgamesh and you didn't tell people where they come from you'd say this is from the Bible. It sounds almost the same."(Source: Mysteries of Noah's Flood. The Learning Channel, 2002).
....My Comment: My biggest issue is not that there are similarities or that the Gilgamesh records the biblical flood but that differences are not revealed (link). ...The belief that Moses probably stole this story to write parts of Genesis is an obvious conclusion that the makers of these and many other productions
...overtly contend.

b) "Here, we have the smoking gun. Here we have discovered with the Mesopotamian material a story which we now know is far, far older than the
Biblical version…"
(Source: Mysteries of Noah's Flood. The Learning Channel, 2002).
.... My Comment: See response to this issue under David Vanderhooft.

2009