Last Tuesday, Stephen Colbert at Comedy Central’s The Colbert Report interviewed Dr. Bart Ehrman, a theologian and author of Misquoting Jesus.

See the video here.

A snippet of the lighthearted exchange:

Colbert:  Look.  Do you believe there’s a God?

Ehrman:  (pause)  I’m not sure.

Colbert:  Really? 

Ehrman:  Yeah.

Colbert:  Sooooo, you’re an agnostic?

Ehrman:  That’s right.

Colbert:  Isn’t that just an atheist without balls? 
[howls and slight applause from audience]  …  ‘Cause if I were an
atheist, I’d be able to look to God and say, “sorry, don’t exist, sir.”

Ehrman:  Uh huh.

Colbert:  Right?

Ehrman:  Yes, you would.

***later in interview***

Colbert:  Do you believe in God yourself?

Ehrman:  Uh, no.

Colbert:  You don’t.

Ehrman:  No, I’m an agnostic.

Colbert:  Did you ever, uh… I guess what I meant to ask is, did you ever believe in God?

Ehrman:  Uh, yes.

Colbert:  You did?

Ehrman.  Yes.  I had balls then.  [more howling & audience applause]

(pause)

Colbert:  I can’t improve on that! 

(end of interview) 

Technorati Tags: Bart Ehrman, Steven Colbert, Misquoting JesusS

It is a quick read and, while seasoned textual critics will learn nothing from it, those who are not scholars or those who are following the debate following the publication of Misquoting Jesus are likely to pick up some insights through reading this.

Fair enough considering that the author writes a website called Evangelical Textual Criticism.

Technorati Tags: Bart Ehrman, Misquoting Jesus

On a lighter note: I noticed that books here have different titles than in America. For example a book in America by Ehrman entitled “Misquoting Jesus” is called something like “Who Wrote This?” in England. I’ve also noticed minor differences in other titles but I found that one to be the most drastic.

Technorati Tags: Misquoting Jesus, Bart Ehrman, Who Wrote This?

Throw away your TV - Misquoting Jesus

Colbert always has unique guests in this case he speaks with Bart Ehrman, a theologian and author of “Misquoting Jesus”… Bart is an agnostic.. or an atheist without balls. You can also listen to a related NPR interview here

Technorati Tags: Bart Ehrman, Stephen Colbert, Misquoting Jesus

    Ten Commandments for the Internet Age

1. Thou shalt not have any other Providers before me.
2.  Thou shalt not make for thyself a sacrilegious image using Photoshop or Powerpoint.
3. Thou shalt not bow down and worship thy technology for I am a jealous God punishing the third and fourth generation of computer programs with bugs and viruses and the blue screen of death.
4. Thou shalt not misuse the name of the Lord using emoticons, symbols, java scripts or other flippant forms of expression.
5. Remember the Shut Down time and do not Restart during it. Six days ye shall compute and do all your email and word processing but on the seventh day cease, to make room for the Word Perfect.
6. Honor your parents’ computer illiteracy and answer their snail mail so you may live long in the land.
7. Thou shalt not murder thy computer just because Microsoft Works is an oxymoron.
8.  Thou shalt not commit adultery by means of cyber porn.
9. Thou shalt not steal another’s data, identity, nor illegally download or copy things.
10.  Thou shalt not give false testimony on a blog against thy neighbor whilst hiding behind a pseudonymous blog name.

    Thou shalt not covet thy sister’s laptop, nor her printer, nor her Ipod, nor her cellphone, nor anything that belongs to your neighbor.

Technorati Tags: Ten Commandments

Link to video of Jono Stewart discussing Bart Ehrman’s book Misquoting Jesus.

Now I’ve got to get my author, Dillon Burroughs, on The Daily Show.

Technorati Tags: Jon Stewart, Daily Show, Bart Ehrman, Misquoting Jesus

Welcome to SharperIron! SI is a blog and forum whose mission is to edify Christian brothers and sisters by providing a place to publish and discuss news and ideas from a Christian, Biblical, Fundamentalist worldview. Our burden is to bring fundamentalist Christian brothers and sisters together for the cause of edification.

This is a Christ-centered place. I would like to set the direction for the site by focusing on the reason that we can even gather together in a common bond. Colossians 3:1-3 says, “If you then be raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.” Let’s set our on mind on things above. My prayer is that discussions will point us to become more like our dear Savior.

This is an edifying place. Iron is supposed to sharpen iron (Proverbs 27:17). The world is full of people who can put others down, gossip, and be sarcastic. However, Christ did not engage in any such behavior. Disagreements can happen without becoming personal attacks. Let’s work together and keep in mind that an omni-present Christ is in every forum.

This is a meeting place. Our desire is for SI to be a place where new friendships and relationships can develop. Hopefully, you will be introduced to many believers that you never would have met had it not been for this site. We view the site as on ongoing conversation. I encourage all members to enable their profiles to accept personal emails. Let’s get to know one another.

This is a free speech place. Ideas will not be censored. All are encouraged to freely express ideas, ask questions, and dialogue with other Christian brothers and sisters while walking in the Spirit. I am sure we will have to have rules for appropriate discussion, but if we exemplify the fruit of the Spirit, there is no need for law (Galatians 5:23).

This is a fundamentalist place. Christian fundamentalists are those who hold to the Big Idea of an inerrant Bible and are willing to battle for it. While guests of all types are welcome, keep in mind that the site is directed and focused on how fundamentalists see the world. We would be different from many evangelicals in that we believe in separating from all error as to preserve a pure Gospel.

This is a team place. We are looking for other brothers and sisters in Christ who share the same burden who would like to join in and take part.

Charles Spurgeon admonished preachers to keep their Bibles in one hand and the newspaper in the other. This website will center around news and ideas as seen through the lens of a fundamentalist world view.

Let’s sharpen one another!

Misquoting Jesus, Bart Ehrman, inerrant, SharperIron

Needless to say, I found the book disappointing and unconvincing. Throughout the book, I was continually struck by one nagging thought. If we cannot know with any certitude what parts of the Bible are original, how can we know which parts were changed? If we have no confidence in the original text, how can we have confidence that a particular passage has been tampered with? Ehrman’s thesis seems to hinge on the belief that we can know which passages were changed, even while we have no confidence in the original text. This is, quite simply, untenable. His thesis also casts doubt on all of ancient history, for surely the problems with transmission of documents is not unique to Christianity (even if, as he suggests, it is particularly pronounced among those who used amateur scribes).

Ehrman is a skilled writer and creates an argument that has already proven convincing to many people. However, should those who read it choose to dig deeper and to find knowledgeable scholars who reject his thesis, they will soon realize that there is much more to the story than this author is presenting.

Misquoting Jesus, Bart Ehrman, inerrant