[lbo-talk] Ruy Teixiera on what the recall portends for Repugs in CA in 2004

Michael Pollak mpollak at panix.com
Wed Oct 22 17:18:22 PDT 2003


On Wed, 22 Oct 2003, Wojtek Sokolowski wrote:


> This seems to be wishful thinking that does not take into account the
> "Barabas factor." In the biblical mythology, Barabas was a thug whom
> the throng preferred over the Jesus character when it came to saving one
> of them from a death sentence.

Woj, you're citing a religious myth as evidence against poll data? Turn in your sociologist membership card. Polls are our religion :o)

Beyond that, it seems that the notion that Jesus was hung between thieves was a myth about a myth according to current scholarly opinion. Peter J. Boyer, in his article, "The Jesus Wars", in the September 15, 2003 New Yorker, writes:

URL: http://www.wcnet.org/~bgcc/gibson.htm

Among the many errors that Gibson might have avoided had he followed

the ecumenist guidelines is his portrayal of the two men who were

crucified alongside Jesus as criminals. Although the men, described in

Matthew and Mark, are identified as "thieves" in the King James

Version of the Bible, as "robbers" in the International and American

Standard versions, and as "plunderers" in the original Greek, the

Bishops Conference prefers that they be identified as "insurgents."

It seems Barabas is now thought of not as a thug, but as a freedom fighter.

Michael



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