The One-Month Mark

THIS CONFERENCE IS NOW CLOSED

TO PURCHASE THE BOOK RELATED TO THIS CONFERENCE, CLICK HERE.

The conference related to our book, Jesus, Criteria, and the Demise of Authenticity is officially one month away (Oct 4-5). Chris and I are grateful to United Theological Seminary in Dayton, OH and the University of Dayton for hosting this event.

To register online, click here or contact ...


Our hope is that this meeting will provide the most comprehensive discussion to date about the limits of the traditional "criteria for authenticity" in historical Jesus research. Considering the roster assembled, we can hardly miss. Dale Allison will reflect on his career in Jesus research and eventual disillusionment with the traditional criteria. Loren Stuckenbruck will discuss the severe shortcomings of the criterion of Semitic Influence. Jens Schroeter will discuss the philosophical problems at the roots of the "criteria approach" (a phrase coined by Chris Keith's recent ZNT essay). Chris Keith will point out the roots of the enterprise in form criticism (Chris will post more on this soon). Mark Goodacre will apply his expertise on the Synoptic Problem and Thomas to expose the problems related to "Multiple Attestation". Dagmar Winter, the foremost expert on the criterion of Dissimilarity, will share her thesis concerning "plausibility" in historiographical study. Rafael Rodriguez will argue that the criterion of Embarrassment is altogether bankrupt. I (the least of these [false modesty assumed]) will offer a modest critique of the criterion of Coherence and then throw a wrench into the whole works by suggesting that some of the traditional criteria might continue to be useful.



Here is an excerpt from my introductory chapter to the book:

This "swelling dissatisfaction" is due, in large part, to the lack of methodological coherence in Jesus research when it comes to these criteria. We are convinced that this discussion is long overdue and desperately needed. We welcome you to come and take part in a very important advance toward the future of historical Jesus research.

anthony