My Blog
Hi all!
Where's Dave been? I've been locked away, hard at work turning my multimedia presentation The 10,000 Christs and the Evaporating Jesus into a full-fledged book and DVD, except for the occaisonal speaking engagement. In the meantime, all you 10K Christ fans out there can keep up with new developments and future 10K Christs events here.
FAQS:
I just got here. Did you say The 10,000 Christs and the Evaporating Jesus- what is that?
The 10,000 Christs and the Evaporating Jesus (10K Christs for short) is a multimedia investigation of the historical evidence for Jesus Christ. It's more fun than it sounds. It asks "What can we know about the real Jesus? Can we even be sure there was a historical Jesus? And if not, how could this huge enchillada called Christianity have ever come about?" I like to call it a thoughtful and slightly smart-assed examination of the historical evidence for Jesus. It sheds light on the origins on Christianity, including some of the lesser-known saints and scoundrals who helped bring us the Christian scriptures. The audience responses have been tremendous.
When can I see it?
10K Christs was a big hit at American Atheists' national convention last month in San Antonio, TX. Thanks to everyone there who had such nice things to say about it!
January 8, 2006 -Atheists & Other Freethinkers, Sacramento, CA
March 25 -San Francisco Atheists, San Francisco, CA
April 16 -American Atheists National Convention, San Antonio, TX
Upcoming 10K Christ Events:
June 4 The Humanist Forum, Palo Alto
The 10,000 Christs and the Evaporating Jesus. See www.humanists.org for details.
June 24th - West Coast Regional Atheist Meet (Crowne Plaza Hotel San Francisco Mid-Peninsula, Foster City)
I'll be part of a panel discussion called "Jesus 2006: Strange New Wrinkles & Weird Old Theories on Jesus." My co-panelists will be Columbia historian Richard Carrier and Bay Area writer Don Havis. For more details, check out the SF Atheists website: www.sfatheists.com
(FAll 2006) TBA - Personal Theology Seminar Unitarian Universalist Church of Berkeley
Stay tuned! More to come...
Yours in Christs,
-D
posted by David Fitzgerald @ 12/01/2005 04:20:00 PM
35 comments
35 Comments:
But...there's nothing in your blog but your picture. You need to work on this, angel...
Hey, baby! Nicely done for your first real post! Now let people know that you're up and running...and thanks for the name recognition in your profile!
XOXOX
DF
Finally ... "The Passion of the Fitz!"
Welcome to Blogger, buddy!
Good start. Now....
MORE! MORE! MORE!
(no pressure)
David:
I shall be linking to you shortly.
Do expect a bit o' flak, though. Not from me, of course.
Here's a reading recommendation:
Title: Chocolate Jesus
Author: Stephan Jaramillo
Description: "Jaramillo introduces Sydney Corbet, a self-proclaimed JFK assassination scholar who has just come up with the idea of a lifetime "Chocolate Jesus". This semisweet chocolate Messiah offers salvation for many, especially the nearly extinct Bea's Candies, whose Easter promotion just might turn things around for the company. Everyone knows that the Easter Bunny can't compete with the King of Kings. But no one counted on the Reverend Willy Domingo and his vegetarian fitness zealots, who gather on a crusade against a graven image of Christ that consists of nothing more than empty calories...
And remember, "God loves you."
:D
Such rude and ignorant comments concerning Deity are unwarranted, dangerous and sinful! To take the name of that which is holy and speak, in such distasteful ways are flat wrong! You should be ashamed of yourself!
Standing for TRUTH,
Brant Stubblefield
gospel preacher
church of Christ
Lindsay, Ok
preacherbrant@yahoo.com
Jeepers is that guy for real? Someone needs to get a life. And remember Blogspot has a comment moderation feature to help keep out the non-productive elements.
Of course my motto has always been "if you're not really pissing someone off you're probably doing something wrong."
*shrugs* "eh, it works for me." :)
My objection to Preacher Brant's comment is the use of the word 'ignorant' in regards to what is a painstakingly researched project, drawing on all sorts of sources, including the gospels. And there's nothing rude nor wrong with having an opinion. One man's truth is not necessarily another's. And shoving your truth down other people's throats doesn't make it real.
I'm sorry I just couldn't resist.
I did a synonym search for the word, Preacher and it came back with ten results.
I particularly liked these:
Synonyms: accuser, adviser, announcer, blab, blabbermouth, canary, crier, fat mouth, fork tongue, herald, messenger, nark, notifier, Preacher, propagandist, singer, snake, weasel
And then these:
Holy Joe, bible-beater, glory roader, Preacher, promoter, propagandist, proselytizer, sin hound.
I think Sin Hound is my favorite. But I'm surprised there wasn't the definition: "Pan-handler".
And if you think that was bad check out the Urban Dictionary's version of Preacher
1. Preacher.
Also see the word "Fucknut"
[use in context:]Dude, you're pulling a Preacher.
I'm not going to quote the definition for fucknut you'll just have to click the link and read it yourself.
Gee willikers this is like shooting fish in a barrel.
We should all have pity on our poor misguided brother Brant. He hates himself and his life so much he's dedicated it to attempting to make other peoples miserable.
And yeah I know... I'm going to hell. >:)
Now go put up some more posts!
- J.B. (Founding Member of the Reformed Society of Pan-handlers for Jesus).
Hi All:
Thanks for all the comments; I'll be posting more shortly. In the meantime, I was all set to respond to Pastor Brant Stubblefield's impassioned post when I realized "Hey! Is he speaking against my blog - or JB's Choclate Jesus comment???" But then I realized, of course he's talking to both of us - nay, ALL of us.
I'm going to resist going into full-snark mode; not that I could have out-snarked JB's "Sin Hound" list. (Damn that JB-no pun intended - he's stealing my blog thunder!)
Honestly, look at it from Brant's eyes: Brant has devoted his whole life and his livlihood to serving his god. Of course it would make his bowels clinch to hear normal, well-adjusted people (or at least us anyway)enjoying perfectly wonderful lives without the services of his chosen diety. And the fact that there is so much nonbelievers find just ridiculous about his religion only exacerbates his discomfort.
But Brant, if you're reading this and not just hit-and-run trolling, I hope you consider that we actually have good reasons for why we find the existence of your god very doubtful and why we aren't afraid of his wrath. I welcome honest dialogue from believers like yourself. You tell us you stand for the all-caps TRUTH; then perhaps you can appreciate that I do, too - and I am far more worried that my blog is truthful then whether it is "offensive" or "sinful" to fundamentalists.
I hope to hear more from you - if you can talk to us -not just at us-without sounding like a mullah with a microphone.
-DF
Hope y'all don't mind, but I'm fisking this fella.
Brant:
Such rude and ignorant comments concerning Deity are unwarranted, dangerous and sinful!
Free will's just lip service for you then, ey?
Practice what you preach, baby.
To take the name of that which is holy and speak, in such distasteful ways are flat wrong!
Oh, I see: we can choose otherwise, but we best keep our mouths shut, hmmmm?
Welcome to America, Bee-atch. Good luck repealing the 1st amendment.
You should be ashamed of yourself!
Oh, go tell it on the mountain, fella.
Standing for TRUTH,
I rather doubt that, sin hound.
Brant Stubblefield
Should be Stubblebrain
gospel preacher
Inveterate fable teller
church of Christ
Gee, which 1? There's just so many!
Standing for the American way,
The Reluctant Atheist
evolutionary preacher
Church of Altruism.
What a great site
»
Any of you fellows up for a public theological discussion... (a qualified canidate)? Brant Stubblefield , evangelist church of Christ
Hi all:
Thanks Heathun! I'm working on getting the book (and DVD!) done as soon as possible. I'm hoping to have the manuscript done by year's end and both available some time early next year. In the meantime, I'm afraid the blog continues to be neglected in favor of the book. But I'll be sure to post with new updates when I can. The Jesus panel last month was a big hit; the next 10K Christs event is at the Personal Theology Seminar in Berkeley on Oct. 15th. (And yes, I'm just as surprised as you are to be speaking at a theological seminar!) For more details see www.uucb.org/programs/pt.html
All surprise aside, I'm always happy to speak at public theological discussions, so please feel free to contact me if you are interested. Thanks all! Okay, I'm going back to work on the book. More soon!
-DF
This is my first visit to your blog, and I am confused.
Are you saying you are an atheist?
And working on a book for Jesus?
I don't really understand your post, and would like to understand what you are saying.
Hi Kayla:
Thanks for stopping by! Yes, strange as it sounds, I am an Atheist who is working on a book about Jesus. I call it a book on Jesus for people who don't like reading books on Jesus. It started about 5 years ago when I started wondering what Jesus must have really been like. I didn't believe he was God anymore (though I had been raised a Southern Baptist and even worked in a Cambodian mission for a while!) But what I found when I went looking for "the real Jesus" is that the harder I looked the less I evidence I found , and what I did find either didn't hold up, contradicted itself, or seemed to be stolen from other religions! I was so stunned by this I started researching the possibility that Jesus NEVER existed - and the result was a lecture, "The 10,000 CHrists and the Evaporating Jesus." The response has been amazing. People began asking me when the book was coming out, so I'm writing it as fast as I can. A DVD will be coming out next year as well. And in the meantime I'm also lecturing, so if you're coming to the Bay Area, or want me to come to your area, let me know.
If you have otehr questions, please feel free to ask. Thanks again
-DF
is it finished yet? Are we there yet? Are we there yet?
xxxxxxoooooo
I find it amusing you say a person can't force his/her truth on someone else, as that is exactly what you're seeking to do. I see, you can force your OPINION on others, but others don't have the same privilege, if it disagrees with you. Typical.
Strange post from Anonymous here...
First of all, just for the record, I DIDN'T say a person can't force truth on someone else - but that said, exactly how am I forcing my opinion on anyone? By stating it? And how am I denying anyone else the privilege?? I didn't have you check your opinion at the door, did I? Isn't that exactly what a comment board like this is for? Thanks for sharing...
-DF
Dave, you've got some serious spamming going on here. You should turn on word verification.
Also: Merry Christmas!
It's funny that people who don't believe in God would let it consume thier lives and are worried about what other people think....
Keep on talking about it...
It is Funny to me that people can be so ignorant, it is a fact that Jesus DID live + if you dont believe in Christianity why on earth do you write books over it why on earth spend time on it if you dont care then DONT CARE but to me it looks like you just want to argue,
if you ask me Atheism makes no sence because leading scientists say the big bang is just as likly to happen as a brand new Viper GTS comming together atom by atom in your driveway.... just tell me how many times that has happened
Saw you speak at the Chinatown Post Office in San Francisco. I enjoyed the presentation and look forward to getting all the supporting information for it from your book. Best of luck completing and publishing!
Mr. Fitzgerald,
Good evening. I am interested in opening a dialogue with you about Jesus. I appreciate one of your posts in which you offer to have good discussion with those who believe.
I would like to introduce myself to you but first would like somewhere more "private" to have our discussion. Both of us tend to have some "interesting" characters who share our perspectives and I would rather not spend our time dealing with their comments. (Brant's comments posted earlier are a good and unfortunate sample.)
For now, I will look for your response to the initials JS. I hope to have a good dialogue with you. (I am new to the blog thing also...still trying to feel my way around! Forgive me if I do something wrong.)
Mr. Fitzgerald,
I think you realize you has sinned big-time and you have fallen way short of the glory of the Lord (which you deny. DENY!!!)
Its not too late to redeem yourself. Turn or Burn! You know what this measn because you apparently have read th Bible. You are reading it with 'blinders' and you do not see the 'message'.
Put your hand on your monitor, bow your head, and say these words.
O LORD, be gracious to me; heal me, for I have sinned against thee. I kneel before you now seeking your forgivness.
So often, Father, I do not cry out like this for Your grace, because I do not know the depths of my own sin. Help me this day, to see my sin of denial for what it is: infinitely ugly and offense to Your holy nature. Reveal to me my hidden iniquities, and open my eyes to the wonderful provision You have made for all of my sins to be wiped away by the Cross of our Lord Jesus. And having received that forgiving grace, may Your grace also transform my desires and joys so that I kill the sin that is remaining in me.
If you are sincere, this is guaranteed to work and your life will have meaning again. The Bible says so.
Dave,
It's time for another post updating your progress with the book (and dvd?).
How's it going? When am I going to see it in the NY Times Book Review?
Regards,
Kempis
(friend of Zhadi).
tap tap tap (fingers drum rolling on table top).
We're waiting Dave. What's taking so long? Don't succumb to writer's anguish and search for perfection. Just publish. OK? We are not going to beat your brow for a few misplaced commas. We might beat it for not giving us your book, though.
Rich
http://freeend.blogspot.com
Hi all:
Thanks for your patience, your enthusiasm, and your comments. (Well, thanks for most of the comments, anyway! =P) It's been 2 years and a bit, but the first draft of 10K Christs is finally done and in peer review - Woo hoo! Still a ways from getting published, but the biggest hurdle is done. Maybe now I can actually get around to some blog posting. More posts and comments to follow...
All the best,
-DF
Thanks so much for the comment on my blog, David. You were absolutely right. I also enjoyed reading about your upcoming book. I love historical studies.
I can't understand why some people still believe in Chrsit the hoax is over! Since Christ never returned as he promised in the lifetime of his apostles, then that means the Bible is not the word of god since the most important event in the New Testiment never came true. This alos means that Chrsit is not the son of a god and Christianity a hoax. More details can be found at this great site WWW.SCIENCECLUBOFLONGISLAND.COM
You're been trying to write a book and make a dvd for how many years? Try to get it done before Jesus comes back will ya!
Hi David!
I didn't know how else to contact you, so I hope you don't mind... Congratulations! You are the winner of a copy of my novel BARBARIAN!
Here's my email address... chloe.stowe@yahoo.com. All I'll need is an email address that I can send you the copy to.
Congratulations!
Love ya,
Chloe Stowe
I saw the video of your presentation from Skepticon.
In general, very good work.
I think you might have missed some data on the roman census and roman astrology as seen here
http://sciastro.net/members/portia.php/2009/01/30/the-star-of-bethlehem
The alternate theory about the roman Piso family mentioned is a bit on the crack pot side,
see
http://www.bibliotecapleyades.net/sociopolitica/esp_sociopol_piso02a.htm
http://www.angelfire.com/biz5/piso/
etc (As I said a bit of a crack pot)
but the astrology/astronomy is pretty verifiable, and the other roman history data seems good.
The bottom line is that there were some unusual sky events happening, and these coordinated with Roman celebrations of Augustus as the "Prince of Peace"
You said the sea of galilee was 7 x 4 miles. Google says it's 13 x 8 miles. Some strong winds could develop and I would agree not as strong as at sea, but I'm sure you want to be accurate.
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