The Nativity: A Critical Examination

Dr Nicholls on the Resurrection and Nativity

I was contacted recently by Dr DJ Nicholls, who had bought my books on the Resurrection and Nativity after reading my one on free will (one that I seriously need to rewrite and was on the cards for such this year before other projects jumped in!). He is a former

"...Unforgettable. In a word 'stunning'... I cannot recommend it enough! It is indispensable!"

As y'all know, I have recently written a book on the Resurrection of Jesus, the second in my "Critical Examination" trilogy that looks at the historical basis for religious and theological claims about Jesus. The books weave history, theology, and philosophy to create a concerted salvo

Biblical Exegesis

Without the History, What are the Torah and Christian Bible?

I've been involved in a conversation with some friends of mine on Facebook who are essentially Christians. They have taken variously interesting positions countering both my previous two books (The Nativity: A Critical Examination [UK] and is The Resurrection: A Critical Examination of the Easter Story [UK]) without

Biblical Exegesis

Paul Justifies Lying

In writing my forthcoming book on the Resurrection of Jesus, it has been important to look at Jesus' earliest source, Paul. Paul is famous for not actually telling us much at all about Jesus at all. There are some genuinely quite problematic Pauline verses that should raise some eyebrows

Biblical Exegesis

Some Early Endorsements

As many of you already know, I am writing a sister book to my Nativity one (The Nativity: A Critical Examination [UK]), called (unsurprisingly) The Resurrection: A Critical Examination. David Fitzgerald is kindly writing the foreword again, as he did to my Nativity book. It's going through a

The Nativity: A Critical Examination

Resurrection and The Problem with "God"

I have finished writing my book on the Resurrection that is the sister-book to my previous The Nativity: A Critical Examination [UK] and several commenters and regulars here have looked it over and thoroughly proofed it (still ongoing). One such person has just fed back with this fab feedback (I

miracles

Verifying the Virgin Birth

To return to matters pertaining to Christmas and the Nativity of Jesus, let us think briefly about the virgin birth claims. I have elsewhere discussed the may issues with the claim (see "Debunking the Nativity: The Virgin Birth" and "Debunking the Nativity: The Mistranslation of 'Virgin&

Speaking Engagements

My Nativity Interview. And Bananarama.

Here is today's interview with me, hosted by Andy Hall for Laughing in Disbelief, discussing the Nativity. We had a seamless segue (!) at the end to talk Brexit - he couldn't resist. And nor could I... I love talking with Andy - it's always

Speaking Engagements

Join Me in Live Stream Nativity Interview

I'm appearing on Andy Hall's Laughing in Disbelief live stream vodcast. We'll be taking about the Nativity because, well, that's topical. Check it out here: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=mqFxTK34MMo&feature=youtu.be Stay in touch! Like A Tippling

Biblical Exegesis

Jesus the "Nazarene": More Prophecy Debate

I recently wrote an article about the Matthean prophecy, a prophecy that looks like this (Matt 2): Then after being warned by God in a dream, he left for the regions of Galilee, 23 and came and lived in a city called Nazareth. This was to fulfil what was spoken

Biblical Exegesis

Debunking the Nativity: The Philosophical Problems with the Magi Dream-Sequence

Here is one that is slightly different to your usual historical issues with the Nativity accounts. This has a moral dimension. Check it out: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gIYwPyNawaE Don't forget to subscribe to my channel and click that notification bell or whatever it is that

Biblical Exegesis

Nativity, Census, Quirinius: Refuting Very Poor Christian Apologetics Again. Even More.

As I explained yesterday (perhaps read it for context), I was linked to a vicar apologist challenge for skeptics to lay out a Nativity contradiction. It went like this: I was linked into some challenge from a vicar apologist who was seeking skeptic challengers to find nativity contradictions that he

Biblical Exegesis

Debating Quirinius with a Christian

I had the dubious pleasure of debating a number of different aspects of the Nativity with a Christian apologist (a Cambridge astrophysics graduate and vicar) whom I had been linked to on Facebook after he had posted this: Time for my annual Christmas challenge. Skeptics say that there are contradictions

Biblical Exegesis

My Nativity Debate with Lydia McGrew: Post-Match Analysis

I had a debate over whether the Nativity in Luke and Mark was fact or fairytale on Friday night for the Unbelievable? show on Premier Christian radio. I was warned that McGrew might try the Gish-gallup approach so I should get it in myself. I ended up being indeed fairly

Debate

Debate Tomorrow Night with Lydia McGrew

I will be preparing tomorrow for my debate on the Nativity with Lydia McGrew, on Unbelievable?, hosted by Justin Brierley on Premier Christian Radio. As a result, I might not get anything out to you guys. Apologies! The broadcast should go out around the 15th. Wish me luck. We are

Jesus

Jesus the "Nazarene" - What Is the Prophecy?

Jesus the Nazarene is a term that orthodox Christian have come to use that denotes that Jesus is from Nazareth, with Nazarene meaning someone who comes from Nazareth. We hear from Matthew 2: Then after being warned by God in a dream, he left for the regions of Galilee, 23

Biblical Exegesis

To Bethlehem or Not to Bethlehem (II)

[A second post on Bethlehem excerpted from my book The Nativity: A Critical Examination (UK), which has just received a reprint to clear up a few bits and pieces, long overdue. Please grab a copy! It is worth reading the first post for this to make much sense.] And this

Biblical Exegesis

To Bethlehem or Not to Bethlehem (I)

[Excerpted from my book The Nativity: A Critical Examination (UK), which has just received a reprint to clear up a few bits and pieces, long overdue. Please grab a copy!] Bethlehem is a very important place for the average Christian. It is the birthplace of Jesus. But it is more

Speaking Engagements

I'll Be on Unbelievable in December Debating the Nativity

I am excited to have been asked to appear on Unbelievable again on Premier Christian Radio with Justin Brierley and an as-yet-unnamed Christian apologist. We will be debating the Nativity for broadcast around 14 December. Whoop! I will also by presenting my Nativity talk for Chichester Humanists on the 15th

Biblical Exegesis

"Historical" Bookends to a Historically Vacuous Life

This is an early draft section for one of the first chapters in my new book-in-the-writing, The Resurrection: A Critical Examination of the Easter Story: The birth and death of Jesus are historical bookends to the life of Jesus, obviously, even if the theology continues in Acts and the Epistles

Easter

Amuse Bouche and Other Updates

Just to remind people of what I have been up to of late and what I plan for the near future (and a book that might be right up your alleys). Let's start with the now. I have just released a book called The Family Book of Word

Biblical Exegesis

Mental Contortions Required of Christians to Believe the Nativity Accounts

[caption id="attachment_6023" align="alignleft" width="113"] My book. Dig it.[/caption] It's that time of year again. I have, at different Christmases, run some series debunking the historical claims within the Bible (specifically the Gospels of Matthew and Luke) to

Biblical Exegesis

Debunking the Nativity: Daniel's Magi

[caption id="attachment_6023" align="alignleft" width="113"] My book. Dig it.[/caption] It's that time of year again. I have, at different Christmases, run some series debunking the historical claims within the Bible (specifically the Gospels of Matthew and Luke) to

Biblical Exegesis

Debunking the Nativity: A Christmas Round-Up

[caption id="attachment_6023" align="alignleft" width="113"] My book. Dig it.[/caption] It's that time of year again. I have, at different Christmases, run some series debunking the historical claims within the Bible (specifically the Gospels of Matthew and Luke) to

Biblical Exegesis

Challenging the Theological Truth of the Nativity

As many will know, I have written a book that sets out to particularly debunk the historical narrative of the birth accounts of Jesus - The Nativity: A Critical Examination. It simply didn't happen like that. The full gamut of posts on the subject appears at the bottom