I would have packaged the Gospel's accounts as you requested Justin but I gave that EXACT same thing up for Lent.
Is the $1000 offer still on? I think I could do it (not that I'm special, Orthodox clergy kind of have these as packaged narratives and I could really use the money.
Heh, I can check. I have no idea why the "Easter Challenge" would still be on in July, but if you really want me to ask, I'll see if he'll go for it rather than waiting till next year.
I was thinking we could try to do it here in public. But if you want to do it on your own, go ahead. You can post the results later if you want and we can discuss them.
It proves that people will claim to believe something that is demonstrably inaccurate if they receive enough psychological and/or social rewards for claiming said wrong belief. If you understand that, you understand why facts and reason will never change the minds of 99.9999% of the American population. Or, as Isaac Asimov said:
That quote reminds me somewhat of the Argentine tango "Cambalache", written in 1935 by Enrique Santos Discepolo. Although the main message is about the false equality brought on by the cult of immorality, it also touches on the cult of ignorance. Here's my translation of the lyrics: Cheap Bazaar (Cambalache) The world has always been and will always be a bunch of filth This I know In the year 506 And in 2000 too, There's always been thieves traitors and swindlers The happy and the bitter The real and the fake But that the 20th century Is a full display of insolent malice, No one can deny We live sunk in a pigsty and in the same mud all of us mucked up Today it seems to be the same to be loyal or a traitor, An ignoramous, a genius, a pickpocket, a generous man or a swindler, All is equal! Nothing is better, The same a dumb ass as a great professor! There's no failing grade or merit valuation, The immorals have made us all equal If one lives in a pose and another greedily steals, Don't matter if he's a priest, mattress maker, king of clubs, a cad or a tramp. Such a lack respect, such a trampling of reason! Anyone's a gentleman, Anyone's a thief! Along with Stavinsky, go Don Bosco and La Mignon Don Chicho and Napoleon, Carnera and San Martin.* Just like the disrespectful display window of a cheap bazaar, life's got us all mixed up, And wounded by a sword without rivets There's the Bible crying next to the water heater ............ Twentieth century, cheap bazaar problem-filled and feverish! He who won't cry doesn't get fed He who won't steal is an idiot Go ahead! Keep it up! There in the oven we're all gonna reunite. Stop thinking, move out of the way, Nobody cares If you were born honest. It's the same to work hard night and day like an ox, than to live off the broads, to kill than to heal or to live outside the law. *Refers to figures who were well known back in early 20th century Argentina. Swindlers, mobsters, humanitarians, historical figures, celebrities, nation's heroes all go together. Something like this: Along with Bernie Maddoff Go Mother Theresa and Kim Kardashian John Gotti and Napoleon Mike Tyson and Abe Lincoln
Wonder if he ever did answer the challenge. I'm a sucker for challenges like this one, so if I'm ever bored on an airplane or something and I'm trying to kill time, I'll come up with my own answer and post it here. Maybe we can get it to Mr. Morris in time for this year's Easter, but probably not. I suppose to do the job I would need a copy of the four gospels, and a bit of time. For now, I'm going to unstick this, since after all this time nobody else seems interested in taking on the challenge.