tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8637125351921336084.post8317810528952198791..comments2024-03-19T00:26:30.753-07:00Comments on The Jesus Blog: Interview with Helen K. BondAnthony Le Donnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01282792648606976883noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8637125351921336084.post-79895250240655573672012-12-03T21:30:06.548-08:002012-12-03T21:30:06.548-08:00We often find new information to add to our origin...We often find new information to add to our original work. Sometimes the new findings change our original work in enormous ways. As a historian, how open do you have to be to change? To what extent does it affect you, if at all, when your work is altered due to new discoveries or changing point of views?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8637125351921336084.post-1878024037626193292012-09-27T11:20:14.753-07:002012-09-27T11:20:14.753-07:00Dear Jeff,
Good question! Perhaps for ever! My fir...Dear Jeff,<br />Good question! Perhaps for ever! My first book was on Pontius Pilate and I'm sure if I wrote it again now it would be rather different. The very process of writing itself is hugely instructive. I expect most scholars change their views to some extent throughout their career - partly its further research, partly too perhaps greater experience of life. I don't think anyone is ever fully satisfied with their analyses - there are just too many gaps to be filled in, too many uncertainties. Its always a question of our best reconstruction to date. Some might see that as a reason not to bother, but for me its part of the excitement of biblical research!<br /><br />Thanks for your question,<br />HelenHelen Bondnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8637125351921336084.post-89943708026455901792012-09-27T11:13:43.781-07:002012-09-27T11:13:43.781-07:00Hi,
See my comments to the earlier query - at leas...Hi,<br />See my comments to the earlier query - at least as far as faith goes. Biases are part of everyone's make up and aren't necessarily a bad thing. We all have a reason why we are interested in Jesus (or any other historical person). It just becomes problematic when we present a reconstruction that fits with our biases as 'the truth'. Its obviously not possible to overcome bias completely (and perhaps not a good thing anyway), but we need to be self-reflective about our reconstructions.<br /><br />Best wishes,<br />HelenHelen Bondnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8637125351921336084.post-46343226910031998672012-09-27T11:10:51.460-07:002012-09-27T11:10:51.460-07:00Hi Tyler,
Sorry to have been slow to respond to th...Hi Tyler,<br />Sorry to have been slow to respond to this!<br />I actually think faith can be more of a hindrance sometimes in historical investigation. As far as I'm concerned, historians need to be completely open minded about the past, and ready to go wherever the evidence leads. If faith hinders that in any way, then its not a good thing. <br />On the other side, though, people of faith may well be better able to empathise with Jesus followers of the past (in the sense that they will understand something of how faith can alter people's lives) so its not necessarily a bad thing. As with all presuppositions, its important to be honest with yourself about it, and to ask whether its hindering or helping.<br /><br />Best wishes,<br />HelenHelen Bondnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8637125351921336084.post-70480281712543227762012-09-18T21:31:12.196-07:002012-09-18T21:31:12.196-07:00I'm not sure if the continuation of the blog w...I'm not sure if the continuation of the blog will answer this or not, but with the fact that reconstructing history is such an imperfect process, how long must you personally research something before you are satisfied with your findings? Jeff Zenornoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8637125351921336084.post-54671331536178954082012-09-17T20:25:09.829-07:002012-09-17T20:25:09.829-07:00To what extent do you think a historian's bias...To what extent do you think a historian's biases may guide the way in which he/she interprets and re-imagines historical events?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8637125351921336084.post-50064175584935020262012-09-17T09:03:00.529-07:002012-09-17T09:03:00.529-07:00How helpful do you think it is for historians to h...How helpful do you think it is for historians to have an imagination shaped by faith in order to investigate early Christianity?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14412247474926594732noreply@blogger.com