Dan,
In another post you presented a list of inconsistencies in the gospels.
You are correct, but you will draw a different conclusion than many biblical scholars.
The following is a very good examination of the inconsistencies:
http://cluelesschristian.classicalanglican.net/?m=200401 ?Christian scholars argue that the very fact that there are inconsistencies between the Gospels is more consistent with eye-witness accounts than if there were no inconsistencies. Eye-witness accounts are never exactly the same. They are however similar. In all accounts women were the first to find the empty tomb. In all accounts it was early in the morning either just before dawn, at dawn or just after. In all accounts the tomb was empty and the witnesses experienced an angelic manifestation. Had the accounts been fabricated, then those wishing to perpetrate this hoax would have reconciled the accounts rather than immortalizing the various differences. In addition, had the intention of the Gospel writers been to ensure credibility, more reliable witnesses than women (who were not respected in Jewish society) let alone Mary Magdalene (who had recently been exorcised) would have been selected.?
It seems to me that the gospels were collections of eyewitness accounts and as such contain differences limited to small detail. The major details are the same throughout ? Jesus existed, performed miraculous acts, was crucified, and then appeared to individuals and groups (including a crowd of 500).
His disciples were broken and despairing but something caused them to undergo a massive change and go out and face the antagonistic Roman world and embrace grizzly deaths for their beliefs in most cases ? leaving the question, ?who would die for something they patently knew was false??
If the gospels we have today were a deceptive construction foisted upon us by a perverse church, then the inconsistencies would almost certainly have been edited out.
They were obviously written separately, without collusion, at different times, but were consistent on major (and the important) points.
I am reassured by the fact that the inconsistencies have survived.
Blacknad.
