Tuesday, September 26, 2006

Name that Quote?

Who said:

"Bad history will result in bad theology. (Try to imagine a Christianity centered on a sixth-century Norse Jesus slain by invading Finns. It won't work)."

4 comments:

Skjou said...

I give up! I was going to say Paula Fredriksen, but she leaves out the rest of your quote:

“...the renunciation of a simplistic reading of identiy-confirming narratives, even if these are the ones offered by the gospels. Such a reding can only result in bad history. But bad history, for the church, results in bad theology…”

From Jesus to Christ: The Origins of the New Testament Images of Christ, By Paula Fredriksen, p.215

Skjou said...

Ah, but it is Paula…

“For this Reason, an accurate appreciation of his actual historical context does matter to theology. Bad history will result in bad theology. (Try to imagine Christianity centered on a sixth-century Norse Jesus slain by invading Finns. It won’t work. Neither should more subtly inappropriate “historical” contexts—“urbanized” Galilees, warring classes, misogynist Pharisees.)”

Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews: A Jewish Life and the Emergence of Christianity, by Paula Fredriksen, p. 269

She says very similar lines of thought in this interview/Video: Paula on Paul http://vision.org/visionmedia/article.aspx?id=265

Do i get a gold star or a scratch and sniff sticker Professor Bird!

Michael F. Bird said...

Joshua,

Well done my young padawan! I was hoping that it would take more than two comments before someone got the answer right. You have done well.

Skjou said...

Or how about a free article that you wrote:

Justified by Christ's Resurrection: A Neglected Aspect of Paul's Doctrine of Justification
MF Bird - SCOTTISH BULLETIN OF EVANGELICAL THEOLOGY, 2004

I would be much obliged, but also it is understood if you don't give it.

Take care Mike.