FM>   As with the "Moses" figure, "scholars" often go merrily on their way
FM>assessing the historical actions of biblical figures whose biographical 
hints
FM>are almost purely mythical while equally merrily questioning their
FM>"existence."
FM>   Sober reflection should remind us that we have no biographies of either
FM>Moses, Jesus or Paul or, for that matter, David, whose very name is really 
a
FM>TITLE.  There certainly ARE scholars who attempt to flesh out some 
ssible
FM>   Scholars like Thiering who develop ideological theories based on 
material
FM>in or about the Dead Sea scrolls unfortunately are not validated by 
critics t
FM>a very high degree although what Thiering theorizes looks quite logical 
nd
FM>reasonable as a solution to the riddle of the "bible."   Basically it is 
the
FM>notion that a "Jesus" and a "Paul" as well as the other names REALLY 
existed
FM>but pertain not to Jerusalem or Galilee but to the Qumran "community" just
FM>outside of Jerusalem on the shore of the Dead Sea where she says all of 
he
FM>"travels" of "Jesus" took place within a small area.  Names like Galilee 
woul
FM>represent only foreign elements that might have been taken in there as the
FM>movement began to spread to take in Gentiles or foreigners.
I think the Jesus Seminar has helped a lot in this respect, but even
there, they can't help imposing their own unconscious worldviews.
One sees him as a sort of enlightened labor organizer, another as
a man trying to get over the stigma of being a bastard child,
another as a sort of esoteric zealot.  At least they're doing
a pretty good job of being careful and scholarly.  But I've often
wanted to ask them what they think of the phrase, "If thine eye be
single, thy whole body will be full of light."    What if
it isn't a metaphor....
 * SLMR 2.1a * Liberal: Conservative who's tried to collect from his HMO
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