Some writers may toy with the fancy of a ‘Christ-myth,’ but they do not do so on the ground of historical evidence. The historicity of Christ is as axiomatic for an unbiased historian as the historicity of Julius Caesar. It is not historians who propagate the ‘Christ-myth’ theories.
Interpretation
The quote asserts that the existence of Christ is as historically certain as that of Julius Caesar, dismissing the theories that deny Christ’s historicity.
F. F. Bruce defends the historical existence of Jesus Christ by comparing it to a well-established historical figure, Julius Caesar. He emphasizes that credible historians do not propagate the so-called 'Christ-myth' theories, implying that these theories lack a solid foundation in historical evidence. The quote serves to affirm the argument that historical figures should be evaluated based on the same reliable evidence, thus reinforcing the belief in Christ's reality as a significant figure in history.
In practice
In a debate about the historical validity of religious texts, one could use this quote to support the argument for Christ's historicity.
The evidence for our New Testament writings is ever so much greater than the evidence for many writings of classical authors, the authenticity of which no one dreams of questioning. And if the New Testament were a collection of secular writings, their authenticity would generally be regarded as beyond all doubt.
The soul’s deepest thirst is for God Himself, who has made us so that we can never be satisfied without Him.
Men's ideas about what women are have been formed from their ruling caste position, and have assigned women characteristics that would most advantage their masters, as well as justify men's rule over them. They do not represent 'truth' but have been promoted as if they were, with the backing of science and patriarchal views of biology.
I've stopped war reporting. I realized that I'd answered all of my questions about war and about myself.
Lying is the most simple form of self-defence.
Nothing, however, can be more arrogant, though nothing is commoner than to assume that of Gods there is only one, and of religions none but the speaker’s.
When the taste for physical gratifications among them has grown more rapidly than their education . . . the time will come when men are carried away and lose all self-restraint . . . . It is not necessary to do violence to such a people in order to strip them of the rights they enjoy; they themselves willingly loosen their hold. . . . they neglect their chief business which is to remain their own masters.
Absolute nakedness was intrusive, confusing to the senses. Paradoxically, it both revealed and diminished identity.
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