(Published in Faith and Philosophy 2011. Volume 28, Issue 2, April 2011. Stephen Law. Pages 129-151) EVIDENCE, MIRACLES AND THE EXISTENCE OF JESUS Stephen Law Abstract The vast majority of Biblical historians believe there is evidence sufficient to place Jesus’ existence beyond reasonable doubt. Many believe the New Testament documents alone suffice firmly to establish Jesus as an actual, historical figure. I question these views. In particular, I argue (i) that the three most popular criteria by which various non-miraculous New Testament claims made about Jesus are supposedly corroborated are not sufficient, either singly or jointly, to place his existence beyond reasonable doubt, and (ii) that a prima facie plausible principle concerning how evidence should be assessed – a principle I call the contamination principle – entails that, given the large proportion of uncorroborated miracle claims made about Jesus in the New Testament documents, we should, in the absence of indepen
Comments
"Something happened a long time ago in Haiti, and people might not want to talk about it. They were under the heel of the French...and they got together and swore a pact to the devil. They said, 'We will serve you if you'll get us free from the French.' True Story. And so the devil said, 'Ok, it's a deal.'...Ever since, they have been cursed by one thing after the other."
And that in itself is harmful to reason.
(Although it is true that some of the people that received the "award" are not above using such personal attacks themselves but it seems to me that this alone does not justify similar behavior on the part of their opponents.
It's like saying that since in countries under Islamic laws homosexuals are persecuted we should therefore persecute Muslims in our countries. It does not make much more sence than that...)