Letter: Jesus not hard to find

The recent letter written by a piping designer about his library search for nonbiblical evidence of Jesus Christ is so full of nonsense and unsupported schemes that it makes me chuckle. It’s the classic case of the person not seeing the elephant in the room.

In just one chapter of one book, I found a reference to Jesus Christ by Josephus, a Jewish historian. And a little bit further, there was a reference to Jesus Christ by Tacitus, a Roman historian. And both of these references were done in the first century .... way before the Bible was written. And both of these writers were non-Christian and had no motive for noting the existence of Christ. So much for a failed library search. The failure lay between the chair and the index cards.

Supporting these pieces of information are professors like Edwin M. Yamauchi, Ph.D. Miami University in Ohio. Here is a short bio of Yamauchi: He has a bachelor of science degree in Hebrew languages and Hellenistics, master’s and doctorate from Brandeis University. He studied 22 languages including Aramic, Chinese, Egyptian, Russian, Syriac, Ugaritic and Comanche. He delivered more than 70 papers at places like Yale, Princeton and Cornell.

Next, the nonelephant-seer puts up his own set of standards for God to adhere to. God cannot allow pain or suffering and still be allowed to be God, according to the piping designer. Well, gee, there might be a bunch of other folks who want to tell God how to do things better. I mean, why would a caring God limit us just two legs? Ants have more. And why are we limited to just one brain when a caring God would have given us three since we have done so well with a single one?

As far as the “God Factor” goes, it is no more valid than the “Evolution Factor.” The Evolution Factor is the example of a species change that cannot be brought to proof by the scientific method because of the impossibility of creating an experiment. So, the Evolution Factor is applied — just throw a couple of hundred million years at the problem and it’s solved. Who can disprove a couple of hundred million years of change?

Being older than 69 and a much more accomplished researcher than the piping designer, I’m just glad he didn’t take up geography for I fear we would still believe in a flat earth.

Bill Fontaine

retired engineer

Baton Rouge

Comments

1) Comment by ScotB - 15/10/2012

Actually, I do respect your views DMJ. We obviously disagree on matters of faith, but I respect people's views are intellectually honest to their convictions and consistent. Your position is well thought out. I find myself agreeing with you on many points, but there are core values where we differ that lead us irrevocably to different conclusions on some topics. That is OK with me. In fact, my own views on some matters have changed/evolved/matured over the last 30 years and I am sure I could get into a heated argument with myself of that bygone time. So, with that in mind, I humbly accept that I could be wrong at times, try to keep an open mind, and reserve the right to change my opinion after careful, extensive study. I can also admit when I am wrong - there are indeed people profiting, in the monetary sense, from calling other people stupid. - lol - It doesn't seem very persuasive, however.

2) Comment by nimby? - 15/10/2012

I found Jesus yesterday afternoon . he was enjoying the buffet at Rooster's Blues House in Oxford Ms.

3) Comment by DMJ - 15/10/2012

"No one profits from the derision of another man's views." Tell that to Pat Robertson....or Richard Dawkins....or Rush Limbaugh....or Bill Maher....or Anne Coulter... or George Carlin.... or about 50 million other people who have made a very comfortable living calling other people stupid. Ok, I'm done.

4) Comment by DMJ - 15/10/2012

Christians talk about the derision of others' views, as if they're the ones being persecuted (other than the last 1700s years, of course), yet they're the ones who think that those who don't believe the same as they do will rot in hell for all eternity and that, since God is perfect, such a fate is just. Oh, but they respect our views still. How do you respect someone who you feel deserves to be constantly tortured by demons or whatever for the rest of eternity? You don't.... and you shouldn't expect respect in return.

5) Comment by DMJ - 15/10/2012

The accounts of both Josephus and Tacitus are not first person accounts... much like the the gospels or the letters of St. Paul. Secondly, even if Jesus of Nazareth was a real person, there's no evidence that that any of the supernatural stuff that was written about actually happened.....and the reason for that is because it didn't happen. Babies can't be born of virgins. Alchemy isn't real. You can't cure blindness by rubbing spit and dirt in someone's eyes. Dead people can't rise from the dead. I remain thoroughly unconvinced. Everyone needs to grow up. Good day.

6) Comment by ScotB - 14/10/2012

No one profits from derision of another man's views. Some of us find it hard to understand the complexities of faith and mankind's compulsion to seek the higher power, not having delved beyond the superficial surface of the teachings that inspired such a loyal following. It is in human nature to fear what is not understood and lashing out in criticism is the usual response. A strong mind and faith does not avoid criticism, after all, no one kicks a dead dog. However, neither has criticism had the reputation of being persuasive. Religious belief is a matter of faith and it is not possible to reason people out of a position that they, by their own admission, did not reason themselves into. We are creatures of heart and soul, as well as mind. I respect the belief of those who, in essence, worship science and the intellect of man instead of a diety, I just happen to respectfully disagree.

7) Comment by misterfalcon - 13/10/2012

Engineers are notorious for filling the ranks of those that creationists count as "scientific authorities" writing in defense of early man's encounter with the Jesus Horse (google it). I think more interesting than the blathering in this letter would be an investigation into why so many engineers are so eager to embrace patent nonsense like evolution denialism. Is it arrogance? Do they get so many pats on their respective backsides that they lose a slideruler up there? How do they become so addled?

8) Comment by misterfalcon - 13/10/2012

I found Jesus today. He and his work crew patched up my roof. He did a fantastic job, at a good price, and in a reasonable amount of time. I've come here to praise Jesus. If anyone else needs to find him, let me know. I can help you find Jesus.

9) Comment by chem - 13/10/2012

jdk944's comments do not bother me. If he would actually read peoples comments instead of putting his own myopic spin on everything, he would not be so rude. My last post talked about how unimportant we are in the scheme of the universe. Not sure how he got that I am superior from that. I was, in fact, saying just the opposite. •••• If people, especially christians, would simply look at the history of christianity with an open mind, they would find that christianity is no better than what islam is today. Islam is killing, torturing, oppressing people within its sphere of influence just as christianity killed, tortured and oppressed people for many centuries. That is not just my opinion, but fact. The crusades and the inquisitions and the witch burnings were all done by christians. Hitler, by the way, used christianity as a justification for what he did to the jews. His writings and speeches are full of christian philosophy and quotes. Hitler's book, mein kampf, is littered with biblical nonsense. While the "average" christian may not believe in the evil side of religion, the fundamentalists in this country are frighteningly similar to the fundamental islamist in the middle east today. The other day, a guy named charlie fuqua, who is a fundamentalist running for office in Arkansas, stated that rebellious children should be put to death. Notice the similarity to the taliban? So when people say that christianity is a good thing, I say ***** History, and current events, show that not to be true.

10) Comment by potkcalb - 13/10/2012

Tsk, tsk jdk944 you address Chem by saying "Your kind's attitude has done such a FINE JOB, with the world today. Immorality, corruption, etc." I've not read any of chem's comments that indicates he is immoral or corrupt. Pretty strong words to put in writing. There are libel laws you know. My advice to you jdk944 is to assuage your rage and stop preaching.

11) Comment by Bighug - 13/10/2012

Yes, chem is superior to the word of God, which is a bunch of nonsense written by a bunch of ignorant goat-herders several thousand years ago. Of course, what the "word of God" is depends on which group of writers you believe, and that depends on where you were born. A question for you, jdk944: do you include the work all the slaves did to help build this country in making it what it is today? Slavery is condoned by the Christian Bible. In fairness, it is condoned by most religions.

12) Comment by jdk944 - 13/10/2012

To deny the benefits of Christianity, that has been implemented through 100's and 100's of great men and women in the history, in their works on the success, on making the U. S. what it is, is to simply deny facts. Just has it is to see how those who deny him and his recommendations, have/are ruining this country. However, that changes NOTHING!! GOD is very much alive, thank you!!

13) Comment by jdk944 - 13/10/2012

Yes, @Chem, you are so far superior in your limited human mind to the word of God. You have it all figured out. Your mindset is just a sampling of those today in this world who have the same attitude while the travesties and tragedies of human behavior spirals out of control. Your kind's attitude has done such a FINE JOB, with the world today. Immorality, corruption, etc. But you have much bigger issues to deal with, I understand!!

14) Comment by Chucky - 13/10/2012

@potkcalb-i agree potkcalb, unfortunately most of the christen religions require out reach to sinners and works of their Gods will in society. It would be nice to have a political debate with one or the other side saying it is my God's demand that you do an act or do not do an act. Even the Buddhist would have you watch self-immolation on the streets. It is a reality that can not be escaped, people will not go silently into a closet to pray and must let the world know that their choice is due to the will of God as they know Him.

15) Comment by potkcalb - 13/10/2012

Incidentally does anyone understand what Fontaine is talking about with the "evolution factor" and "creating an experiment"? Paleoanthropology, microbiology, genetics, and comparative anatomy among other basic sciences provides more than enough evidence for evolutionary change to satisfy even the most ignorant among us.

16) Comment by potkcalb - 13/10/2012

Wouldn't it be nice if those who feel impelled to advertise their religion and to thrust it on others, often with promises and threats, would accept that religion is solely a personal and private matter, the province of the individual, the family, the home, the church?

17) Comment by unevahno - 13/10/2012

Jesus belongs in your home and your church. We have the equivalent of the Taliban with Tony Perkins, and they're demanding that we all believe what they believe or they'll murder us in church. (Dr.Tiller)

18) Comment by Bighug - 13/10/2012

I have no reason to doubt that a man named Jesus lived some 2000 years ago, but then the letter goes on to equate the existence of that man with proof of a god. That I have reason to dis-believe. If I decide to believe in one, there are several hundred to consider. Thor, Zeus, and the FSM are my favorites. Jehovah is one of the worst to believe in.

19) Comment by chem - 13/10/2012

Does Mr. Fontaine, and others that believe in supernatural nonsense, not understand that all of these people that research jesus and other biblical stories are simply looking at ancient documents that offer absolutely no proof of the biblical stories. Again, all of the stories of jesus were written decades and centuries after he supposedly lived. The bible has been debunked on all of the supernatural nonsense in its writings. There was no flood, the jews did not roam the desert for all of those years (Israeli archeologists have proven that exodus did not occur). Demons, witches, and other such nonsense has all been debunked. Think about this: In all of the vastness of the universe, we, on a nothing little planet in a nothing little solar system in a nothing little galaxy, among the billions out there, many far more grand than our neck of the woods, this is where a god chose to put his creations. What arrogance for humans to think that we are something special.

20) Comment by serenade - 12/10/2012

The works in which Josephus mentioned Jesus were written around 93-94 AD. Mark, the first of the canonical Gospels to be written was written around 70 AD. The other two synoptic Gospels, Matthew and Luke, were both written around 80 AD. The earliest of Paul's letters were written in the mid 50s AD. Mr. Fontaine has some seriously flawed information in his letter. The only thing I can figure is that he was thinking of when the Bible was canonized - when the current books of the Bible were codified in the Christian church, which probably didn't reach the form currently used by the Catholic church until the 4th century. >>For the record, I believe that Jesus was a living, breathing person. However, there is very little (if any) contemporaneous writing to prove it.

21) Comment by chem - 12/10/2012

Mr. Fontaine, what you are not understanding is that there are NO contemporaneous accounts of the life of "jesus". Josephus wasn't born until several year after jesus' alleged death. Every other mention of jesus is written decades to centuries after he supposedly died. These writings come from religious doctrine and 3rd-, 4th-, and more-hand accounts. There was no jesus. There is no evidence for him.

22) Comment by Chucky - 12/10/2012

As I understand it Mr. Fontaine, God did invent the world without suffering or pain ( Garden Of Eden). Then man sinned. So He must have thought it a good idea and I do also ( if you believe the story). The use of the library and card catalog was about the most important thing I learned in school and I am glad you have a mastery of it. That was a good zinger at the end of your letter about not taking up geography, but uncalled for. Evolution has been discussed and your a believer or not, i do believe that is the way the Creator choose.

23) Comment by phil - 12/10/2012

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened."