Robert M. Price
Scholar, Author
Host -
The Bible Geek
Host - The Lovecraft Geek
Founder and Editor,
The Journal of Higher Criticism
Founder and Editor,
Crypt of Cthulhu
Fellow,
The Jesus Seminar
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The God Who
Wasn't There
Featuring
Robert M. Price
MINDVENDOR
|
Robert M.
Price
presents theology with a twist but without the spin
Visit our
Patron Acknowledgement Page, Coming Soon!
Reasons you should read,
listen to and support Robert M. Price:
"I know of no better way to tell you about what I do than to let my
readers and listeners do it for me! It is a joy to serve these
wonderful colleagues and students." ~ Robert M. Price
---------------------------------------------
Since reading The Case Against the Case for Christ I have become
enthralled with your work and read many of your other books. I value
the great amount of research you have undertaken to provide your
readers with informed viewpoints. Furthermore, I appreciate your
respectful approach toward Christians and their beliefs in your
writings and when being interviewed.
Roger Hawke
An Australian living in China
Wow, this is a beautiful piece of writing of
yours I just came across this morning:
"... [O]ne cannot possess the beauty of a landscape. And one soon
forgets the self, lost in wonder. Presented from possessing, the ego
withers away for the moment, and the beauty shines unobstructed. Self
no longer stands in its way, blocking the view" (The Reason-Driven
Life, p. 141).
My compliments!
I trust it helps you to know that you have fans. The hundred-thousand
year old relationship-management structures of my brain have accepted
you as something of a virtual wise uncle after having listened to you
hold forth for dozens of hours on fascinating topics and even answer a
few direct questions. So, let's continue to sit in the (virtual) den
and chat while the rest of the family cleans up the thanksgiving mess
and laughs about how young Theo soaks up all that arcane stuff from
weird uncle Bob.
Theophobius
Wow! Your talk rocked the house. I have received a multitude of emails
expressing uproarious approval with your talk. Your generosity with
your time and your personality helped make this event a much greater
success than any of us could have imagined. We would love to have you
back for Skepticon III if you'd be willing.
JH
I love listening to you mop up the floor with your opponents in
debates and I really enjoyed your part on The God Who Wasn’t There. I
sure wish I had your command of biblical knowledge so I could put
people in their place. I also listen to the Bible Geek episodes on the
Infidel Guy over and over again. Keep up the good work.
Curt Underwood
Columbus, OH
"Hi Bob,
When I started to listen to your Point of Inquiry podcast, I must
admit that I was inclined to turn it off. It is not an area that I
normally pay much attention to. But I let it run for a minute or two,
and alas, I was hooked. You did an amazing job and I could not stop
listening. When I got to my parking space, I had to sit for 10 minutes
to finish the show. Now I can't wait for the next one. Great job.
[?]
Bob
I love your work on Bible Mythology. I think what you are doing is
meaningful; there are few critical scholars of your stature willing to
speak their minds in the midst of the Sanhedrin! If it weren't for
people like you, many of us would still be squirming as worms before
the high priests of piety, being led as zombies to the sacrificial
altars of credulity. There are many here among us, and we are
coming... with tough questions.
Stephen Wright
Just wanted to thank you for writing Incredible Shrinking Son of Man:
How Reliable is the Gospel Tradition?, The Reason-Driven Life: What Am
I Here on Earth For? and Inerrant the Wind: The Evangelical Crisis of
Biblical Authority. You have played a key role in my search for truth.
Sazib Mahmud Bhuivan
I am an extreme fan and student of your books and philosophy wherein
Jesus Christ is concerned. Now I did have a disagreement in a paltalk
chatroom with folks who do not know or believe such thing as a
"Christian Atheist" can exist. They, as it where, are denying your
existence and think such a stance is oxymoronic. I do not, though.
Antoine Mason
commented on Facebook wall post:
I have really appreciated Dr. Price's voice in all of these debates.
I'm am an avid student of both Bart Ehrman and the Westar/Jesus
Seminar crew, and have truly enjoyed the debates between the various
camps, and have always appreciated Dr. Price's willingness to go his
own way, where the evidence leads him. He doesn't seem to think he has
to always line up behind one "side" or the other.
Rex Burks
I wonder if it will ever be possible to compile all of your writings
and radio programs? I haven't been keeping up since the early days
when I tried to read whatever new article or book you were working on.
You read so widely and have heard so many different interpretations
and arguments and discovered so many interesting connections between
things, it's like your brain is constantly crunching info, rotating it
in 3D, noticing parallels and analogies. I also see that a collection
of your fiction has appeared.
“Brummbar"
When I first heard about the Bible Geek from friends listening to
Reggie Finley's Infidel Guy, I winced inwardly and thought "Oh
brother, another smug atheist debunking biblical inerrancy with tired
quips about who Cain married and how we know what Jesus said when he
was alone..." I could not have been more wrong. Thank you for making
biblical study fun again - interesting and alive. Thank you for
combining respect for the cultural impact and richness of scripture
with unblinking, principled skepticism and integrity.
Thank you for all you have taught me.
George Heingartner
Bob, as a reader, and someone who has had the pleasure of your company
at one conference, I know you are a great teacher and a great writer
who has done much for the betterment of mankind.
Rodrigo Neely-Recuero
I just wanted to thank you again for your work. Your books have been
life changing for me. Thank you!
David Scull
Hearing an interview with Dr. Price back in like 2005 or 2006 was my
first step out of the quasi-spiritual/theist life for me.
Pradeep Satyaprakash
I earned my BA in Philosophy from Westminster College in Salt Lake
City at the age of 56. Had I but had your book The Reason Driven Life
sooner! Your tabula rasa comments made me think that we are, as you
said, a product of time, space and genetics. We do stand before the
canvas of our lives adding and subtracting from the art of our lives
accompanied by the music of the spheres. All of your books are a must
for me.
[?]
I wanted to let you know how much I admire your line of thinking. I,
too, am an atheist who studies religion. I have listened to a few of
your debates and I've also seen you in The God Who Wasn't There. Thank
you for weighing in on theology and religious studies.
[?]
Do you do private consulting? I am developing a serious case of
cognitive dissonance over what I am reading in the Bible as compared
to my Christian faith and need to come to some sort of resolution
before I go absolutely nuts. I understand you are not a mental health
counselor, etc. But you have the kind of mental grace, wisdom, and
respect for the religious impulse that I think would help me more than
anything merely theological or psychological.
Theophobius
I am 100 pages into Inerrant the Wind and finding it to be one of the
best books I've ever read! Certainly the best on the subject!! Highly
recommended!!!
[?]
I just heard your Point of Inquiry talk on Pop Mysticism and found it
interesting. I thought I'd drop a note thanking you for the
interesting
presentation, and particularly for the effort to get skeptics to
realize there is a positive side to spirituality.
Greg
I would just like to say that I have been enjoying your works this
past year, having heard about you through a friend of mine. I have
read Jesus is Dead and The Reason-Driven Life, and I am looking
forward to owning the rest of your books as well. I just wanted to
thank you not only for your scholarly insight, and putting out the
fruits of your research, but also for the fact that you admit atheism.
I look forward to reading more of your excellent works, and thank you
for your efforts. They are greatly appreciated.
Ryan
I truly love your show, having listened to nearly every episode, and
intend to continue listening as long as I have the ability to do so. I
probably listen to you more than anyone right now.
Marshall Bass
You know I disagree with 99% of the things you say (and the other 1%
is just peripheral). But you are my favorite person to disagree with!
I love listening to your lectures and debates. Your rhetoric is like
poetry! I hope I can be as good a speaker as you some day...minus the
whole Atheist thing ;)
[?]
Just a short note of appreciation for your website at mindvendor.com.
I visit it often and learn much. Your scholarship shows thru.
Peter G. Roode, M.D.
You gave me some pretty decent advice once. It spoke to me, and that's
a good thing. From what I could tell, it reflected on you pretty well.
Live long and prosper.
Daniel Sandoval
I am so thankful for having been directed to your site. I have spent
67 years upon this earth and for the vast majority I have been a
prisoner of absurd Catholic dogma and doctrine. The insidious
brainwashing was so ingrained in my persona that I felt "guilt" even
thinking about turning away from the Church. I want only to thank you
for having this site. It truly is an oasis of logic, reason and
intellect, traits sorely lacking in any "religions." Hopefully I am
not "too far gone" to be redeemed!
[?]
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to tell you in person how much
your work has meant to my family. A few years ago I left an oppressive
religion (Jehovah's Witnesses) because it no longer made sense to me.
I really never looked back, but my wife & daughter who recently
followed were often plagued by guilt. After discovering your podcast &
doing a little research to confirm that you were speaking from a
position of authority & honesty (I was at first delighted & then
burned by Zeitgeist), I began to share points with them that helped
them to understand that it is simply impossible to build a firm
defensible dogma from the Bible. I could go on at this point, gushing
about their joy as they began to see the Bible for what it is,
allowing the chains to slip from their minds. I could also grovel in
gratitude for the sleepless nights you have eliminated and the clarity
of vision you have encouraged, and it would all be true. What I will
do is say that whatever compensation you receive for your work, it is
not enough. So please add to that the fact that you have helped three
people in a very real way and for that we thank you.
Curious Thomas
I tried to flirt with Liberal Christianity for a while by reading
Marcus Borg and John Spong and briefly attended a Liberal Catholic
parish. Nothing seemed to gel with me. It all seemed so hollow, so
empty, so meaningless. I eventually started a brief dialogue with
Robert M. Price who really helped me with some of my less rational
fears about “walking away.” Bob said something like, "If God really
existed then he wouldn't be fooled. If you don't believe then you
don't believe. Admit it and get on with your life." So, in 2005, I
came to a place where I was finally able to say I did not believe
anymore. I was also able to say that I had, in fact, not believed for
years and had been kidding myself.
Cliff Thomas
Mr. Price, it is an honor to have the opportunity to write you and let
you know how much your podcasts have meant to me, both The Bible Geek
and your work on Point of Inquiry. I was brought up Catholic, then was
born again and joined a Friends church, followed by Buddhism, and
finally I find myself firmly planted in the atheist camp. For many
years I was very angry towards what I saw as a false faith built on a
false book and practiced by small-minded idiots. But over the past few
years I have softened some of my views on this, and at the same time I
started finding your name popping up on podcasts I listen to, and then
from Point of Inquiry I found your website and podcast. In a nutshell,
I would like to thank you for giving me back the Bible as a valuable
piece of literature, not just a dogmatic tool for the church. It makes
me think of the shirt “Guns don’t kill people, I kill people.” The
Bible did not kill my faith, people killed it.
Rick Sirl
I have been a practicing Christian since I was about 19 years old;
first within Evangelical Protestantism, which did give me a love for
the Bible. Yet the more I read the Bible, the more questions I had. As
I read Church history I couldn't find any of the doctrines that I had
been taught, like "the sinner's prayer." I began to realize such
things were not only not a part of the early Church, but were not even
in the Bible! Eventually I went seeking a more historical and
liturgical form of Christianity, joining the Eastern Orthodox Church.
Yet as the years have gone by I seem to have traded one crisis of
faith with another. Over the last couple of years I slowly faded away
from the zealous commitment for Church I once had and, as I've become
more familiar with Church history, I have come to realize there never
was "one true Church." I slipped into agnosticism and began reading
all of the New Atheists’ books and listening to their talks. I began
to actually hate the Bible. The murder, the evils, and all the rest
people like Dawkins harp on all the time.
It was about this time that I first encountered your work. I thought
to myself, "Oh no, not another one of these Jesus myth people!" Yet
after listening to you on that show I found that you at least knew the
scholarship and history of the Bible and early Christianity, and, more
importantly, you weren't making some of the outrageous claims that
many of the "atheist apologists" make about the issue. These people
seem to me no better than Christian apologists like William Lane
Craig.
However, you seemed to have a balanced opinion on the topic, and I
have come to learn a great deal from your talks and from the Bible
Geek program itself. While I do not adhere to the Christ myth theory
myself, your balanced, historical and thought-out approach to the
topic of the historical Jesus has shed new light on the subject for
me.
It was around that time that I also happened across two of your works
that have been illuminating for me, the first was reading a copy of
The Reason Driven Life. Nearly every single page made perfect sense to
me. It helped me to reflect upon where I was spiritually, and it was
the first step in helping me to become comfortable with the reality
that none of us "know" anything for certain.
The second piece of your work that had a fundamental change on me was
when I listened to a talk you had given titled "Is the Bible Mein
Kampf?" I had developed a hatred for the Bible, yet, deep down, I
missed the Bible. This talk made me realize that I was totally
overreacting.
Your podcast and archived lectures and writings, along the Reason
Driven Life have given me "permission" to love the Bible once again.
And I do love the Bible. I find it utterly fascinating, enlightening,
full of wisdom at times, and you are a big reason that I have once
again began reading the Bible, studying it and learning from it. I
consider myself a believer, though as I said, an agnostic believer. I
respect your courage for saying what you believe even though it has
cost you professionally.
Chuck/Agnostic Christian
I have been a long time fan of yours. Coming from a fundamentalist
“Baptist among Baptists” background, I have been wading into the
waters of leaving the faith for some time. With that, you cannot know
how your insight, wisdom, and experience have truly helped me in
probably one of the hardest things I have ever gone through so far in
my life. I was “saved” at 19, came up in a household of
semi-charismatic/Methodist background (yes, you read that correctly)
so I already had a horrible guilt-complex to carry with my new-found
faith. I jumped in whole heartedly and head first, ending up in
seminary at Mid America under the tutelage of Dr. Mike Spradlin,
someone I still admire greatly but no longer agree with in principal.
I worked on staff at Bellevue Baptist Church under Dr. Adrian Rogers,
the self-avowed “3-point Calvinist” and lived every jot and tittle of
the faith. Until my eyes were opened. Working at the church was the
best and worst thing that could have happened to me and began my slide
down the mountain back to reality. So many unanswered questions that
my mind could not comprehend, and my apologist background could not
resolve, I began delving into the oh-so demonic “comparative religion
studies” and I have never been the same. I am now 35, and am a
mega-fan of The Bible Geek and just finished The Incredible Shrinking
Son of Man – an amazing read. Anyway, thank you so much for all you
do. You just cannot know how much of a “blessing” your knowledge and
wisdom are to those of us both fully out and those of us just
beginning to get free. Again, you just can’t know how much you are
helping so many of us find the real truth.
Rickey the pro-life, conservative, pro-Israel-for-political-purposes
vegan
Recently, within the past several months, I've embarked on a still
ongoing quest to 'review' my faith. For the longest time, I accepted
things virtually unquestioningly, and now I've finally begun to take a
rational look at things. I could write for a long while on that
subject, but your podcast (as well as the Pre-Nicene NT!) have been
incredible sources of knowledge to learn from and broaden my horizons.
Kudos!
John Halsey
I just finished listening to your Oct 25th episode of the Bible Geek,
in which a listener wanted to know your thoughts about the anger we
feel towards those who led us into evangelical fundamentalist
thinking. I have to admit, I have those feelings often and share the
listener's confusion, and I think you handled the question expertly.
Sometimes, the bigotry and ignorance of my former views makes me so
frustrated, and when I see my family and former friends still
espousing those views, I want to become, as Christopher Hitchens says,
an "anti-theist," opposed to all religion in any form. I just wanted
to say that your podcast plays a part in helping me overcome that
aggression and to look religion with more... shall we say, equanimity?
I love reading your thoughts and hearing you speak. I have discovered
H.P. Lovecraft because of you and I am forever grateful. My life is
enriched because of it.
Chris Kistler
I am a big fan of yours. I am also a christian atheist. I study
religion .. argh .. dont know what to say .. but you are cool ..
peace.
Lene Svensgaard
After much struggle, I’m happy to embrace my upbringing and to
consider myself an enlightened Catholic thanks to your thoughts and
references to great Bible scholars such as yourself.
John Sinnott
Australia
I wanted to, first off, let you know that I stumbled upon your action
figure sermon a few years ago and it's one of the most brilliant
things I've ever read about the subject. Not that there is a flood of
information out there on figure collecting, but this was extremely
insightful. I've been collecting since I was old enough to spend my
meager allowance on one figure every week. Yet I have never been able
to put into words the "reason" as you have done, so eloquently in this
sermon.
Kurt Derheim
Your work and your approachable nature are both fantastic. Thank you
for what you do.
Jon from Massachusetts
I wish I had you as a prof when I did my Religious Studies degree. I
am continuously amazed by your knowledge of scripture which reaches,
shall we say, biblical proportions.
I love your Bible Geek show! Brilliant!
Seán Chinery
I'm determined to meet you in person someday. You were a big influence
on me and my family as we were leaving Christianity.
Philip Malaby
Absolutely love your show, I love hearing you sing and have fun. You
often give me a good laugh with your brilliant humor and jovial style,
and it is not uncommon for me to crack a big grin or burst out
laughing in public places while listening to you through headphones. I
am absolutely loving your Pre-Nicene NT, your essays in The Empty Tomb
and your book The Incredible Shrinking Son of Man.
Cameron Spiers
Thanks for your amazing podcast! No other scholar out there takes the
time to answer questions and put out such a wealth of alternative
ideas to us plebes that can't afford college. You are always giving me
new lines of research and interesting books to check out.
[?]
Robert Price, I'm a Christian but I still think you're the coolest
theologian ever!!!
Joseph Olivares
I have just finished reading your magnum octopus (or is it magnum
opus?) The Reason Driven Life, and let me say that it relegates Homer
and the entire canon of western literature to mere toilet paper. I
recommend it to all Bible Geeks who are former fundamentalists. It has
a nice 'food for thought' approach. It articulates the mind of the
fundamentalist in ways that only one who was a fundamentalist can do.
I also appreciate that it is not a mere polemic against Rick Warren,
but is primarily a book full of encouragement, wisdom and reason.
I posted a quote from The Reason Driven Life yesterday, and received
favorable responses from both atheists and evangelicals alike! You
rock, Bob.
Derreck Bennett
I got to know Bob Price around about 1982, I think. I'd heard
somewhere about Crypt of Cthulhu -- he was maybe doing issue 6 at the
time, as hard as that might be to imagine now -- I asked for a copy,
thanked him, he wrote back, I replied. Over the next five years, the
stack of letters from that sweet, busy, talented, funny man probably
swelled past four inches. No one could possibly have been more
engaging or more supportive. All us schmoes who were writing Bob in
those days -- I'm certain that each and every one of us felt that Bob
would have given us the shirt off his back. I probably would never
have written a word on Clark Ashton Smith, if Bob hadn't been so
encouraging. Folks, let's face facts: our little subculture suffers
from more than its fair share of poseurs, swelled egos, and creeps.
Bob Price stood apart from all of that. And the work he was doing
stood apart, too. Right from the first, Bob made sure his magazine was
a haven for Lovecraftians of all stripes, a warm and welcoming and
inclusive playground of ideas and artwork, a rollicking and fun-packed
message-board for our oddball little community. No viperous fannish
cliques ever ruled his Editorial Board (which consisted of Bob Price,
Robert Price, Robert M. Price, and the enigmatic "RMP"), no one was
forced to toe a line; a splendid genealogical treatise on Lovecraft's
Rochester ancestors would rub elbows with a bad sketch of Godzilla
trashing Providence. The real watchwords were quality, creativity,
playfulness. And that was enough. Enough to be remembered fondly for
quite a long time, I predict. For me, and I know for many others
reading this now, Bob Price succeeded in putting a very human -- and
very likeable -- face on The UnNameable. Thank you, Bob.
[?]
Fantastic job on the H. P. Lovecraft Literary Podcast. Hilariously
entertaining and educational; a perfect combination.
Larry Roberts
Brian Bowman: What a supremely valuable Southern Gentleman: "I have
devoted my life to the study of the fantastic creations of the human
imagination: religion, philosophy, literary fantasy, and myth. I am a
cynic, yet I love people." ~Robert M. Price
"Moved from Mississippi in 1965, and it was only then that I learned
that the South had lost the Civil War"... hahaha LOVE THIS PODCAST!
You make learning about the Bible truly fun.
Ben Holman
I've long suspected that Dr. Price might be sympathetic to our
spiritual outlook. If nothing else, we have some common interests. He
is an advocate of Nietzschean philosophy and passionate authority on
H.P. Lovecraft (Google "robert price chaosium") as well as Biblical
Higher Criticism (which is to say, he knows more about the actual
origins and history of the Bible than most entire congregations of
fundamentalist Christians combined). He is guided by reason, but holds
a deep abiding love for myth, wonder, and the importance of creating
one's own meaning amidst the cold inertia of uncaring chaos.
I'm currently reading his book The Reason-Driven Life, a secular
response to and rebuttal to pastor Rick Warren's The Purpose-Driven
Life. Everything I've read so far only supports my theory; Dr. Price
may not be into magic himself, but at the end of the day I think he's
one of us, or close enough that it makes little difference.
I was delighted to hear Dr. Price talk to Ipsissimus Webb. Within
secularist and humanist circles there remains a lingering hostility -
perhaps not unjustified, considering the circumstances - to anything
resembling spirituality in contemporary society. But I think the more
they are exposed to ideas found in Setian philosophy, the more they
will realize that recognizing the unique gift of self-aware human
intelligence for what it is need not mean a surrender to wacky
faith-based beliefs, arbitrary morality or science denial. This talk
will hopefully be a useful step in that direction.
(Name Withheld)
Temple of Set
The story you told last Sunday about the faculty that wanted you to
refer to God as male and female with equal frequency made me laugh out
loud; as did the image of Moses as a 'serial sex changer'. I am far
more interested in the Bible from your show than I ever was going to
church with my Pentecostal grandparents!
Ricky James Moore II
I’m a devoted fan of your podcast and although as a layperson, a
majority of your content goes well above my head, I love learning
about the Bible and all of its puzzles and mysteries. I have to
concede that as a self professed skeptic, I used to have a
contemptuous orientation towards the Bible and I took selfish pleasure
in decrying the beliefs of fundamentalists and admonishing them with
ill-concealed and immoderate derision. I viewed most Christians as
credulous and glib and I denounced their unwillingness or inability to
critically and objectively analyze the text to manifest “truth” rather
than simply confirm a previously held bias. I also took great pleasure
in giving a laundry list of “contradictions” to Christians and
watching them squirm and perspire while they try to explain away the
“obvious” incompatibilities and dichotomies. Then one day I heard you
say that you felt that agnostics and atheists may be impoverishing
themselves of moral and intellectual enlightenment by constantly
scoffing at the religious texts rather than trying to comprehend them.
Your aforementioned comments and a perusal of your Reason Driven Life
made me realize that one not need be a believer in metaphysics, no
matter how illogical I may assert them to be, to procure insight and
edification from religious texts. I also realized that by being
thoroughly ignorant of the Bible yet ceaselessly condemning of it,
that I was part of the same hypocrisy as all of those hapless
evangelical rubes that I was so fond of admonishing.
Phaedrus
I must say that your scholarship has been a huge inspiration to me and
has helped me decide to follow ancient studies, and I may devote my
life to it.
Lee Stuart Sianos
I enjoy your originality and humour. You always challenge listeners,
whether atheist or theist, to look at both sides of the issue. Many
thanks for the wonderful podcasts.
Jonathan Adams
It simply isn't possible to thank you properly with only 300
characters, but thank you for bringing the Bible back to this jaded
heretic.
Darrin T Griffin
I just finished up reading The Needletoe Letters! It was utterly
delightful! I dare say that nobody understands the Fundamentalist
mindset better than you, and I look forward to all your books! Thank
you for everything you do, Dr. Price! I've been a fan of yours since I
first heard the Bible Geek on The Infidel Guy. Keep up the great work!
Darrin Griffin
You have been an immense help to me!! The Reason Driven Life is one of
the very best books I have ever read--you have touched on so many
things from my former fundy life that needed clarification. Keep up
the great work!
Scott Friesen
Your books have freed my mind. THANK YOU for the peace. And the loss
of fear.
Hugh Edwards
I would like to thank you sincerely for the immense amount of time
you’ve put into this podcast. I am not aware of any other biblical
scholar who spends an hour or more, nearly every day, to educating the
general public; and free of charge, no less! Your thoughtfulness and
dedication is inspiring.
[ ?]
I can’t convey how exciting you make the Bible! If only more teachers
could learn it needn't be a dry subject.
Ben Holman
Your regular podcasts help me in a very real way. I know for many
geeks your podcast is a great source of intellectual nourishment and
entertainment, but for some of us coming out of very unhealthy lives
damaged by religion your podcast is more like medicine. I hope that
notion doesn't dampen anyone's enjoyment of the Bible Geek, or put
undue pressure on you, but it is certainly true for me. Before I found
your podcast I was really struggling to get past the profound fear and
anger left over from fundamentalism, so thank you.
(ag)gnostic Nick
Great podcast show from Robert M. Price. No one knows The Bible like
he does. I listen to it all the time.
Rod Yarbrough
I'd like to give some credit to your Lovecraft/biblical scholarship. I
first encountered you in a Lovecraft documentary, Fear of the Unknown
(I'm a longtime avid HPL reader). You stood out from the other experts
with your insight, especially when you claimed the brain cylinder
(from “The Whisperer in Darkness”) idea was just a "scam." Such a
refreshing, humorous take on HPL merited an investigation. Who was
this Dr. Price character? I searched your name on Youtube and found
some of your commentaries on the Old Testament. Your analysis was so
out of the box and contained a degree of historical rigor that I
hadn't ever heard someone employ when discussing the Bible. I'll be
damned if you haven't made me more fully appreciate the Bible as a
valuable historical document. I didn't think it was possible: after
years of Sunday masses which bored me to tears you revitalized my
interest in early Christianity. Bravo! I've listened to probably all
the Bible Geek podcasts and can't get enough of your original
interpretations combined with detailed historical analyses. For
further distinction, I strongly recommend the brief essay from my
personal pastor and expert on the subject: Robert M. Price, “Agnostic
a Gnostic"
Miguel Picanco
I really appreciate your podcast. I'm no scholar (I play music for a
living) but you have gotten me interested enough to finally read the
Bible cover-to-cover, something I should have done years ago.
Daniel Gianola-Norris
Your Bible Geek podcasts have been so influential in my life these
past few years. Thank you for sharing your knowledge using that
medium.
[?]
You are one of my favorite writers on biblical studies. I'm a former
Lutheran
pastor.
David Lintner
I am mesmerized by your ability to pontificate on anything religious
and your uncanny ability of total recall.
Pecos Billy
Thank you for all your podcasts. I find them informative and thought
provoking. For example, never pondered the concept of moral decency
until I heard you talk about it. I also especially liked the podcast
where you discussed your ideas of what happens when we die and where
life's meaning is derived from (very poignant). I think my father
would like to listen to that particular one too. I also love your
eclectic range of movie references you draw from when explaining
different topics. For example, when you pull a reference from the
movie Being There, or from The Sopranos, or when you said "Otisville!"
to make a point by pulling a reference from a Superman movie. Great
stuff, along with your "A soft answer turns away wrath" style.
Alan from Minnesota
I do appreciate all the work you have done -- I have listened to lots
of the podcasts and continue to find them both fascinating and
personally very helpful in weeding out a lot of nonsense from my
thinking.
David Carter
LOVE your work!! Truly! Your articles and books are amazing, and I
have not yet found anything of yours that I did not thoroughly enjoy.
I'm reading The Pre-Nicene New Testament, and *loving* it!
Blanche Quizno
Mr Price, I love listening to you on Point of Inquiry, and especially
on the H.P. Lovecraft Literary Podcast. Also, great job on the H.P.
Lovecraft documentary that's been spreading across the internet.
Honestly, I could listen to you talk about pretty much anything all
day! Thanks for what you do!
Chris Dunigan
Thanks for all you do Dr. Price! We LOVE your work.
Brian Gayle Dowling
I admire his integrity and courage of conviction, yet willingness to
respect well researched and plausible opposing views.
Grandpa "Tiresias"
I have been listening to your show regularly now for about 6 months
and have devoured most of the back catalogue as well as several of
your books. You have firmly convinced me of the credibility of the
Christ Myth Theory. But, more importantly, you have convinced me to
crack open my Bible again, something I thought, as an atheist, would
never happen again. Heck, I've even been inspired to turn on my
critical thinking and go to a few church services, Hallelujah! I've
turned it into a warped form on entertainment, wherein I make little
notes about each point in the sermon, counting up the instances where
the pastor clearly (at least in my view) doesn't understand the
historical or literary nature of the text. You probably wouldn't be
surprised that sometimes I end up with a rather lengthy list of
grievances. Anyhow, I wanted to thank you for awakening an interest
that I was sure was dead. As a result, I've really made great progress
in feeling less bitter or disdainful towards religion, as a skeptic
and nonbeliever. So thanks again!
J.B. McNerny
Lawrence, KS
I love your work. Since my atheism started in Bible College your work
has been especially liberating for me.
Bill McElree
I am writing you because of the strange circle which seems to have
come around in my life. I had first heard of you by means of your
contribution to a Lovecraft compilation and more recently through the
wonderful H.P.Podcraft podcast. Your insight and candor regarding dear
old H.P. delighted me. Upon hearing you describe yourself as a
Christian Atheist, I became intrigued and began investigating your
host episodes on Point of Inquiry. Then, after much trepidation, tuned
into The Bible Geek... and I was delighted; far more than delighted,
actually, I feel like I can open my mind again to topics and interests
I have shut out for several years. Thank you.
Now here's the backstory: I had been an active evangelical for over
twenty years in a "progressive" non-denominational church. In that
time, I had risen into roles of teaching the bible and pastoral
leadership in one of the institution's so-called "home groups". I had
given a big chunk of my life to the church and studied quite
enthusiastically. Progressing through the church's own curriculum and
a few courses sponsored by an established seminary, I felt I had a
pretty sophisticated apologetic. However, I believe my perspective
remained just a crack wider than my fellow "evangelists" since I had
more than a rudimental understanding of eastern religions from my
formal degree in East Asian Language and Literature. Things never sat
as neat and cleanly as the church leadership seemed to prescribe. And
as things played out, through a convergence of personal issues and
dissent in the ranks, I left the church. Then over the course of the
past few years, so left my belief in a personal, capital "G" god, and
eventually, my belief in most things metaphysical. I suppose I stand
now as an agnostic with a desire to build meaning out of the tangible
things in this world.
I hadn't thought much about all the biblical study I had done all
those years...until I listened to the Bible Geek. Perhaps I was
ashamed or afraid? I don't know. I DO know, however, that the critical
perspectives and scholarship you so kindly dish out are inspiring. Not
in a "ha ha, you Christian dupes" sort of way, but in a "there's some
very interesting and useful stuff in the Bible to inform us about
HUMANITY".
Scott
I was recently introduced to your podcast as I stumbled around iTunes,
as I looked around the religion section, trying to find something
different from the usual tired apologetics I'd been brought up on. As
an avid fan of H.P. Lovecraft, your name sounded familiar to me, and I
had heard of you before in that context, mentioned alongside Lin
Carter and S.T. Joshi. Needless to say, I was hooked after the first
episode and have passed the past week or two wading through the
backlog of past episodes; your perspective and style are exactly what
I was looking for—and you have found in me a most willing and devoted
disciple. I cannot begin to tell you how helpful your work has been to
me, where I am now, struggling to figure out what to do next. Coming
out of a difficult time in my life, your podcast has proved a great
comfort to me, coming to terms with life after Faith. Thank you for
all that you do.
J.D. Boller
Although I have read it, I still prefer to listen to the gospel
according to Robert M. Price. Sometimes I suggest his podcast to
people whom I am "politely debating" with about the Bible. The look on
their faces is fear...as it should be. I have been listening to your
show for the last month or so (starting from the oldest podcasts) and
you have managed to take an already confused Bible reader and opened
him up to a completely new way of looking at it all. Before your show
I thought the Bible could be harmonized, but after some listening and
studying I have come to see that I can't go that route any more. "I
once was lost, but now am found, Hallelujah!" Thanks for the work you
do. You have stated that it isn't financially the best, but I tell
you, you are changing lives and people. THANKS!
Chris Thompson
Thank you for your Bible Geek podcasts. They are both fascinating and
highly entertaining. I rarely make it through a Bible Geek episode
without cracking up. Your sense of humor always brightens my day.
Russ O'Shea
First of all let me just say how much I have enjoyed your podcasts
since I discovered them a few months back. It is both a delightful and
fascinating to listen to them. Anyway, I come from a fundamentalist
(Southern Baptist) background. I have been an atheist for about 8
years now; however, I still struggle with some of the scars that I
received from such a strict upbringing. For instance I have been
trying to deal with the anxieties of hellfire and brimstone images
that still can pop into my head. Your podcasts have actually been one
of the tools I can use to find myself more relaxed, and they make it
easier for me to view the Bible for what it is, mythical and
allegorical stories, and nothing more.
Jonathan
On the December 11th Geek, one of the blessed disciples of Your
Holiness mentioned his conversion to Jesus mythicism. Although I have
no conversion story (from one religion to another, or to atheism), I
do have a long and complicated conversion to Jesus mythicism, although
I will condense the conversion from 50 emails to one. (One Email To
Rule Them All)
I approached Christianity, like its step-sister Islam, from the
ultra-conservative viewpoint (since that is where I am coming from in
my own emunah/faith). I did this in the interest of fairness - I felt
that liberals in our society made a mockery of the New Testament just
like they mocked Leviticus. I therefore held hands with the likes of
Dr. James White, in not only believing Jesus was historical, but that
most of the NT was true, the only false parts being any that
contradict the Prophets. I was one of the numerous Jews and Muslims
today that did not see the virgin birth, or even the resurrection, as
indicative of divinity. I understood the Trinity -- and once again
agreed with the likes of Dr. James White that the NT is full of
Trinitarian verses. Here's the "ultra" part in conservative: I
believed the Gospels were all penned before 60 CE, and the NT as a
whole was no later than 70 CE. When I came across scholars bringing up
"late dates" (such as 90 CE for Revelation), I was surprised. How
could intelligent scholars believe this nonsense? Is it not obvious
that the talmidim (students) of Yeshu wrote the Gospels?
Then one day - while reading the Epistle of Barnabas (and previously
reading all of Bart Ehrman's works), I had an epiphany. How the She'ol
did this not make it into the New Testament? The next day, I tuned
into Dr. White's Dividing Line, and he had mentioned abruptly that the
majority of scholars do not believe the Pastorals are from Paul. I
already knew this, but the way he said it made me reconsider: is it
possible that Paul really did not write them? So I began research into
textual criticism. I listened to lectures, read books and internet
articles. Almost immediately I became an adherent of the 8-Epistle
view (the true 7 + Colossians). I rejected 2 Peter as genuine, and
began to question whether John Zebedee really wrote the Gospel of
John. At this point I was basically a carbon copy of Bart Ehrman.
I began to discuss my views with Christians online, and with some
Atheists. An Atheist friend of mine mentioned Your Holiness. When he
told me you were one of those DENIALISTS! I quickly ignored you and
your works for about three months. Dr. White then mentioned you on the
Dividing Line, and I felt it was safe to listen to you and read your
works. So I did. After a total period of 2 years, I went from
Ultra-Conservative to Bart Ehrman to being a DENIALIST!
So that is my story. Thank you for liberating me.
Reuven
Thanks Bob - you truly bring the Bible to life. I wanted to let you
know that your podcast is extremely informative and enlightening, and
your approach to critical thinking is refreshing. It has allowed me to
re-examine not only what I think, but how I think. Your prodigious
output has had the effect of pushing many of the other podcasts I
subscribe to into the "I guess I'll listen to this one because I'm all
caught up on the Bible Geek" category. Not that it is a bad
thing--quite the contrary! You and your work are a fantastic
inspiration to my life.
Christopher Garrett Sanders
Your analysis has helped free me from superstitious fears. Thanks.
James
Thanks for the great podcast! Starting with the first episode I
downloaded, something unexpected happened: I became interested in the
Bible. I never gave it much consideration before. The whole thing felt
so cruel and unfair to me as a child that I avoided it whenever
possible, and only read it when commanded to. Now approaching forty; I
find it fascinating from a cultural, social, and literary standpoint.
I feel like I’ve missed out all those years. What a difference it
makes when literalism and inerrancy don’t take precedent over content.
Chris
I've had the pleasure of getting to know Dr. Price personally, and let
me tell you this: He is just as helpful and gracious in a one-to-one
conversation as he is with all of us in the mass medium of the podcast.
He is a man who has in his 50 some years collected not just two
doctorates and a wealth of knowledge beyond the halls of the
institutions from which they were obtained, but a sense of wisdom and
grace about imparting that knowledge in a way that makes me proud to
be one of more than one hundred literary patrons, and one of his many
friends. You should be, too.
Ricky James Moore II
I love Robert M. Price! He is such a character, and so full of ideas
and knowledge. He's incredible.
Thaumas
I think that Dr. Bob's upcoming book on Paul is going to be an even
bigger explosion than Christ mythicism; Robert M. Price is not man, he
is dynamite.
Ricky James Moore II
I've listened to countless hours of Dr. Price on his The Bible Geek
podcast. He's honest, diligent, decent, brilliant, and entertaining.
If anything, some of his work has made it harder for him to "make
money" because of the misleading "mythicist" label.
Andy
Whenever I hear debates like this one I'm struck by how weak and
easily debunked the apologist case is. I was also impressed with Bob's
debating approach. He was humble , rational and friendly, then swooped
in for the kill. Disarming in every respect. The other guy didn't know
what hit him.
Greg Phipps
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