Status Updates From ‫بين الدين والعلم: تاريخ ال...

- Analysis of Gospels -> Destruction of theological notions regarding Jesus's life. Gospels as historical product, springing from one or two earlier sources.

- Research into canonical formation of scripture -> bible = product of historical growth, consisting of human decisions

Buddha's story shares much mythological and legendary conceptions with other ancient figures

(immaculate conception & virgin birth; birth on the road: wretchedness of the world; giving up wealth & status; star appearing in the East; temptation)

final retreat: these similarities point to underlying divine theme/message.

Or, applying Ockham's razor: these share a common origin in one ancient civilization.

typical interplay of truth seeking and dogmatic conviction

Zoroastrian doctrines (diabolism, temptation of Satan, etc. -> accepted as historical fact, interpreted as God's warning to (early) Christians (p378)

Buddhist institutions (similar to Church structure and doctrines) -> accepted as fact, interpreted as Satan's anticipation of Christianity (p381)

ch20

19th century: converging evidence -> assyriology: Chaldean civilization, myths and legends situated prior to hebrews & biblical criticism: bible is body of literature, not message of God

conclusion: old testament is a historical document, one among many

consequence: sacred, literal foundation of christianity is destroyed

p369 "As late as 1889 (...) given up altogether."

ch20 interpretation & criticism

Church fathers & medieval doctors: Meaning in scripture derived from allegory and numerical mysticism

Critical analysis only took off with Spinoza (building on Hobbes).

18th century: biblical criticism spreads in Protestant countries -> heavy theological opposition and persecution.

lesson: tying meaning to literal interpretation makes whole theol. structure vulnerable to science.