Posted by:
Nightingale
(
)
Date: January 06, 2014 02:50PM
snb Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> When you say the phrase, "But Mormon depictions of
> Jesus increasingly diverge from this historically
> and textually-supported reality," I'm not sure you
> know what the word "reality" means. Jesus is
> fictional.
I'm fairly confident that Tal Bachman understands the meaning of the word 'reality'.
I take it, in context, to refer to the following statements he makes about Jews in the [supposed] time of Jesus [if he existed]:
"Jesus Christ was a Galilean (ethnic) Jew."
"He also looked and dressed like other Galilean Jews."
"That this [an identifying kiss by Judas] was necessary tells us that Jesus was not distinguishable by physical features or clothing."
"... Jesus, like other Galilean Jews of the time, had short (not shoulder-length) dark brown or black hair, dark eyes, probably a prominent nose, olive skin, and wore normal, plainly-coloured, or even undyed, clothing."
After all of the above descriptions of Jews in the [supposed] time of Jesus [who may or may not have been historical, according to one's belief or assurance or opinion or faith or non-faith], Tal says:
"But Mormon depictions of Jesus increasingly diverge from this historically and textually-supported reality."
'Reality' referring to the reality of the appearance and dress and language of Jews at the *historical* time in question.
Or at least, that is the way I read and understood what Tal wrote, not in any way that he is stating that Jesus is historical reality.
But.
That doesn't mean he doesn't believe that Jesus is historical reality. But it's not what he is claiming by the above statements. Again, in the way I read what he wrote.
snb said: "The fact that an enlightened, celebrity exmo is using terms like "reality" to define Jesus
is what is offensive."
Poor Tal. Benighted, in the eyes of some, by his own IRL reality. Burdened by "celebrity". Expected to be "enlightened". Can't just have an opinion or a belief, like the rest of us non-celeb, possibly non- "enlightened" exmos. In some cases, can't even discuss actual "reality" of the unarguable historical kind without being judged for it. Just to be clear, judging is using words like "offensive" in the context that "someone like Tal" should or shouldn't hold a certain view. Tal is just Tal. Why should he have to perform to our tune, that is, fit in with our [especially unstated] views of who he is and should be?
I am not, nor ever will be, a "celebrity" exmo. I do hope, though, for some [more] enlightenment somewhere along the way. And like the rest of us non-celebs, I have a mixture of knowledge, opinion and experience. Thank goodness it's OK to share it with others on this board who are like me in many ways.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/06/2014 02:51PM by Nightingale.