"A skeptic is a person who, when he sees the handwriting on the wall, claims it is a forgery."- Morris Bender
Sunday, December 16, 2012
Morris Bender on Skepticism
"A skeptic is a person who, when he sees the handwriting on the wall, claims it is a forgery."- Morris Bender
Blog Archive
-
▼
2012
(413)
-
▼
December
(28)
- 2012 Year in Review: Apologetics 315
- Francis Schaeffer on Christian Relationships
- Book Review: He's Greater Than You Know by Phil We...
- Weekly Apologetics Bonus Links (12/21 - 12/28)
- Merry Christmas from Apologetics 315!
- Weekly Apologetics Bonus Links (12/14 - 12/21)
- End of Year Support Request
- Historian Paul L. Maier Interview Transcript
- Terminology Tuesday: Wager Argument
- 2012 Apologetics Interviews
- Morris Bender on Skepticism
- Book Review: Not God's Type by Holly Ordway
- Weekly Apologetics Bonus Links (12/07 - 12/14)
- Norman Geisler Interview Transcript
- 10 Misconceptions About the NT Canon by Michael Kr...
- Saddleback's Apologetics Weekend on Creation
- Terminology Tuesday: Teleological Argument
- J. Warner Wallace Lectures on Evidence for Christi...
- Richard Graves on the Authenticity and Genuineness...
- Book Review: Jesus and the Eyewitness by Richard B...
- Weekly Apologetics Bonus Links (11/30 - 12/07)
- Is God Just a Human Invention?
- Book GiveAway: Jesus iWitness & Resurrection iWitness
- Craig Blomberg Interview Transcript
- Terminology Tuesday: Contingency
- Apologist Interview: Douglas Jacoby
- G. K. Chesterton on Atheism
- Book Review: Was Jesus God? by Richard Swinburne
-
▼
December
(28)
5 comments :
Well, is it a forgery? Perhaps there's some evidence suggesting a forgery. Just because something's written, that doesn't mean you should believe it.
I'm pretty sure most people here have already considered claims of evidence of forgery. While the quote itself is a bit uncharitable toward the skeptic, nothing in it says anything like what you are claiming the reasoning is behind believing any ancient testimonies.
Just check out Daniel B. Wallace or Michael Licona's works for the details. There are even a couple of debates between Wallace and Ehrman where Ehrman's claims are met head-on.
For a bit of background about the phrase, "writing on the wall" see:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_writing_on_the_wall
The point of the quote, it seems to me, is to mock the kind of skepticism that some people have that, when something is happening right in front of them, in plain sight, yet they will deny its reality.
In other words, sometimes skeptics go against reason in an over-commitment to their skepticism, perhaps.
You can also see responses to Ehrman's claims regarding forgeries at the following site:
http://ehrmanproject.com/index
Scholars such as Darrell Bock and Ben Witheringon respond to individual statements Ehrman has made in this books. There are both videos and transcripts available.
The quote really only makes sense in the context of Daniel 5. Still, perhaps it should read "a close-minded skeptic..." or perhaps "an unyielding skeptic..." We are all skeptical at times, but the skepticism that will not yield in the face of convincing proof to the contrary is irrational.
Post a Comment
Thanks for taking the time to comment. By posting your comment you are agreeing to the comment policy.