Christian: Historically speaking, it takes several generations for that level of myth and legend to accrue to a historical figure. …Historical research shows that significant legends arise two to three generations after the lifetime of the eyewitnesses. Academic historians agree that there are non-historical anecdotes in the biographies of Alexander. Roman historian AN Sherwin-White argued that one generation was too quick for legend to accrue that would corrupt the main message of Jesus’ life presented in the gospels.
Thus a mere 30 years–when eyewitnesses who could expose them were still living–is not nearly enough time for that kind of myth and legend to accrue to the stories about Jesus.
Gary: Nonsense. Thousands of people today believe that Bill and Hillary Clinton are part of a ped_p_il_ cabal operating out of a pizza parlor in the suburbs of Washington D.C.. Legends (baseless rumors) develop today within days or even hours! The idea that this same phenomenon did not occur in the first century; that legends (baseless rumors) could only develop centuries after a person’s death, is a modern Christian delusion (wishful thinking).
Even the Bible suggests that first century people were gullible regarding rumors and legends.
“And he [Jesus] called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal… And they departed and went through the villages, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere. Now Herod the tetrarch heard about all that was happening, and he was perplexed, because it was said by some that John had been raised from the dead, by some that Elijah had appeared, and by others that one of the prophets of old had risen. Herod said, “John I beheaded, but who is this about whom I hear such things?” And he sought to see him.” –Luke 9
Rumors galore about Jesus! In the first century! And Jesus wasn’t even dead yet! Just imagine how fantastical the rumors and legends became after his death!
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End of post.
Escaping Christian Fundamentalism 
One thing the Trump era and after have demonstrated is that myths can get going quickly and just as importantly, debunked lies and myths do not result in their believers changing their minds.
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But according to Christians, first century Jews were not like modern people.
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Yes, apologists flip flop on that – 1st century Jews or people in antiquity were or were not like us depending upon apologetic needs.
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If you read A. N. Sherwin-White’s book, you find that his claims and the popular interpretation of William Lane Craig are not particularly close. Liars for Christ, I guess?
More here: https://onlysky.media/bseidensticker/oral-tradition-and-the-game-of-telephone-a-n-sherwin-whites-famous-quote-craig/
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Yes. Like Paul of Tarsus, some modern Christian apologists will say or do anything to convert (or keep) the ignorant masses to (in) their belief system.
I always like to point out to apologists making this argument that even Christian NT scholars who very much believe in the bodily resurrection of Jesus admit that there is legendary material in the Gospels (Raymond Brown, Mike Licona, Richard Bauckman).
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I just finished rereading Hector Avalos 2007 book “The End of Biblical Studies” and he points out something that perhaps you’ve written on before: William Lane Craig’s selective anti supernaturalism. I think it also applies to Licona, who lost his job because of it. Avalos points out Craig’s rejection of Matthew 27:52 where the tombs broke open and corpses emerged and wandered around. Yet Craig believes everything else in the Jesus resurrection accounts, and accuses opponents of an anti supernatural bias.
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Yes, I often use Licona’s position on the Dead Saints Shaken Alive Out of Their Graves story to point out to conservative Christian apologists that it isn’t just liberal scholars who believe that fictional/allegorical/legendary material exists in the Gospels. But no matter what I say, they insist that the Appearance (of a resurrected Jesus) stories are somehow different: “These stories are 100% historical and skeptics are blathering idiots for not recognizing that “fact”.”
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Hey Bob, does Only Sky limit consecutive comments by time? I made one comment on your latest post, then made a second immediately after because it was off topic. But the second doesn’t show up.
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I know of no such constraint. I just took a look, and I see 2 comments from you “2 hrs ago.”
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Ok thanks, I see it’s up now.
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Yawn!
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