Historical Jesus, Biblical Jesus

[Minimalist]

So, in short, fanatics can never lie because they believe their own bullshit?

Sorry, Free.  No sale.  That is pure sophistry.

But it's not.

Any historian worth his salt knows exactly what I'm talking about. As per the old adage of "when in Rome, do as the Romans do," when we read these old texts we become immersed in not just the works written, but the entire culture. For example, I am in Rome, wearing a toga, walking down the street and looking at the buildings, the numerous gods they display on virtually every corner. I hear the laughter, the arguments etc. I see the public baths, and I see the differences between citizens and slaves.

I live as a Roman, or as a Jew, or as a Christian.

This gives you an insight you can't possibly get from just rifling through old texts looking for something to substantiate what you believe. That's no way to understand anything about these ancient cultures. If you have an agenda hell-bent on disproving something, then anything you use for that agenda may be very poorly interpreted, because it's not just the words that matter. It's the whole enchilada. 

It's easy for people like you to do what you do. Anyone can do that. But what I am asking you to consider is that there is much more here beneath the surface. And the reason I have a problem with Carrier is because I, along with others, have judged that the only real reason he became a historian was to dispute the existence of Jesus, among other Christian beliefs, on behalf of atheism. He had an agenda with one thing in mind. Oh he's written on other subjects, and he's pretty good with that. But it all comes back to his agenda regarding this Jesus fellow.

I never mentioned Carrier...and frankly I don't think you are in his class but again, I did not mention him.  Instead I said that your making excuses for fanatics who make shit up was sophistry.

To hear you tell it we should accept Q-Anon as a legitimate news source because they really, really, really think their horseshit is true.

Evidence, man.  I want evidence.  And the assholes you are defending make no pretense about having any.