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
WEBSITE
PODCAST
Misquoting Jesus with Bart Ehrman
SOCIALS
BOOKS
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.”