Jesus Mythers and YECs

[Apologiaphoenix]

How do the two measure up?

Linkcreationistsmythicists.jpg

[Boxing Pythagoras]

In general, I feel your concern, here. I used to be a Young Earth Creationist and many of my loved ones still are Young Earth Creationists. Even when dealing with someone I don't know and love who happens to be a Young Earth Creationist, I try very hard not to insult that person. However, I absolutely will not pretend that their beliefs are at all reasonable. Unfortunately, quite often when attacking someone's problematic beliefs, that person will take personal offense even where none was intended.

Interestingly, I find that the same thing is true for Mythicists. I try not to insult any Mythicist with whom I interact; however, they quite often seem to think that any attack on their ludicrous position is a personal attack on them. They often reply to criticism of their views with the same sort of vitriol and fervor that one sees in the Young Earth community, the Geocentrist community, the Flat Earth community, and numerous other such positions. You have no idea how many times Mythicists have said to me, "You only believe Jesus actually existed because you're a Christian!" At which point I simply laugh and ask them if they've actually read anything I've written in the past 10 years.

[Cow Poke]

I just glanced at the title and thought, "Oh, Lord, what has Joyce Meyers done now!"

[Juvenal]

In general, I feel your concern, here. I used to be a Young Earth Creationist and many of my loved ones still are Young Earth Creationists. Even when dealing with someone I don't know and love who happens to be a Young Earth Creationist, I try very hard not to insult that person. However, I absolutely will not pretend that their beliefs are at all reasonable. Unfortunately, quite often when attacking someone's problematic beliefs, that person will take personal offense even where none was intended.

Interestingly, I find that the same thing is true for Mythicists. I try not to insult any Mythicist with whom I interact; however, they quite often seem to think that any attack on their ludicrous position is a personal attack on them. They often reply to criticism of their views with the same sort of vitriol and fervor that one sees in the Young Earth community, the Geocentrist community, the Flat Earth community, and numerous other such positions. You have no idea how many times Mythicists have said to me, "You only believe Jesus actually existed because you're a Christian!" At which point I simply laugh and ask them if they've actually read anything I've written in the past 10 years.

Good to see you again, BP. I changed my username since you were here last, but I'm still the radical strawberry.

The only place I've encountered either of these was in a classroom. In my experience, students are reluctant to respond with vitriol or fervor when speaking to the professor, no matter how strongly they feel about a particular subject.

I had a student bring up Jesus mythicism in a class, once. That's far away from anything on the curriculum, and I can't recall how it came up. If it ever happens again, and I hope it won't, I expect my reaction will be more measured. I'm afraid my instant reaction was, "That's nuts." The student didn't really defend it other than to say that's what others say, even after I mentioned Paul speaking to James, describing him as Jesus' brother.

I've had a lot more young earthers, and because I likewise grew up in that tradition, I know how to disagree gently by pointing out the Jewish apologetic that separates theological time from lived time. Only the latter needs to agree with our measurements. Still, the look on one young man's face was simply tragic. It's like their pastors simply don't think about how dating is bound to come up in any introduction to exponential growth and decay.

But when it comes to young earthers, the real issue is student reaction. I've learned I have to preface any discussion on the topic with a caution to be considerate of their beliefs because otherwise half the class will break out in mocking laughter. In Miami, better than half of these kids went through Catholic schools, and it simply doesn't occur to them that that's a Christian belief.

Still, the two most fervid examples of students and crazy were the anti-vaxxer gal in one class and the moon hoaxer dude in another. I bent over backwards to be kind in both of those cases, but they both dropped before the next lecture.

Putting the point that it doesn't matter how many hoaxes you put to rest, there's always another one lining up to take its place.

[rogue06]

[ATTACH=CONFIG]44893[/ATTACH]

Good point.

[Boxing Pythagoras]

Good to see you again, BP. I changed my username since you were here last, but I'm still the radical strawberry.

It's good to be back!

It's like their pastors simply don't think about how dating is bound to come up in any introduction to exponential growth and decay.

That definitely made me chuckle...