In this conversation, bestselling historian Bart Ehrman argues that ideas we now take for granted—caring for strangers, helping those in need and expanding our moral concern beyond family and tribe—were anything but obvious in the ancient world.
Bart has spent much of his career challenging traditional Christian beliefs. But in Love Thy Stranger he makes a surprising historical case for Christianity’s positive legacy, while remaining candid about the harm the church has also caused. Along the way we explore Jesus’ relationship to Judaism, why the early church may have changed his teaching on forgiveness, whether Christianity transformed the moral imagination of the West, and what—if anything—we stand to lose as faith continues to decline.
After the interview, Nomad hosts Tim and Nick wrestle with what it means to be shaped by Jesus’ moral vision while no longer holding all the beliefs that once came with it.
Interview starts at 11m 44s
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Misquoting Jesus with Bart Ehrman
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QUOTES
“Christianity did not spread throughout the world because of the Sermon on the Mount or because of the parables or because of any of Jesus’ teachings. It spread because people became convinced that God… raised Jesus from the dead.”
“Earliest Christians changed what Jesus himself taught about salvation… it’s no longer that God will simply forgive you. It’s that you need an atonement.”
“The word love on Jesus’ lips would correspond to our word altruism. It isn’t a feeling. It’s not an emotion. Love is how you treat another person.”
3 Responses
I appreciated this episode. As Tim and Nick were discussing the concept of atonement that Mr. Ehrman talked about, I thought of Richard Rohr’s writings on atonement. I see you interviewed Richard Rohr in the past. Rather than saying the disciples had to come up with a reason for his death and that is why they came up with atonement, and also rather than debunking the resurrection altogether, as Ehrman appears to, Richard Rohr says, “Jesus did not come to change the mind of God about humanity; Jesus came to change the mind of humanity about God.” He says that God already loved us when Jesus came to the earth and became a human. And, “I believe the resurrection of Christ is saying that the final judgment has already happened. It’s nothing we need to fear. It’s nothing we need to avoid or deny. God’s final judgment is that God will have the last word! Easter reveals that there are no dead ends; ultimately, nothing is going to end in tragedy and crucifixion.” (https://cac.org/daily-meditations/the-hope-of-resurrection/) A good alternative to consider.
Beautiful. Thanks for sharing that, Mavis. Tim
P.S. Also made me think of Tom Holland and his book *Dominion,* where he also posits that Jesus’ life, death, and Christianity was a world-changing event similar to what Ehrman says.
P.P.S. My favorite line (Tim): “Makes me wonder how different Christianity might have been if the central message was simply, God forgives you.”
Yes!