RE: Socrates and Jesus

Garry DeWeese (deweese@ucsu.Colorado.EDU)
Tue, 19 Mar 1996 10:48:32 -0700 (MST)

Mike Jaqua and Ken Smith have given what I believe are good reasons to
hold that the historicity of biblical revelation is essential to a
rational faith in personal revelation. I would have to agree that if the
bones of Christ were found (which would include a compelling story of how
they were hidden, why the ruse was continued, etc) I could no longer be a
Christian. (I might continue to be a theist.) Paul seems to endorse
this view of the essentiality of the hisotrical resurrection in 1 Co 15.
(BTW, for a very interesting and readable fictional account of just such a
possibility, see Paul Maier's book _A Skeleton in God's Closet_. It
seems to have a very accurate picture of archaeological procedures as
well as an orthodox theological outlook.)

I am somewhat uncomfortable with Steve's use of "leap of faith." When
does a step become a leap? Why would Christian faith necessarily be a
leap? When could a leap be rational (or would its rationality make it
then a step)? Anyone remember Francis Schaeffer's parable of the
mountain climbers?

Garry DeWeese