The Response to The Pagan Christ

From time to time some of you have written out of concern over the less-than-Christian attacks on my book by an American self-appointed guardian of extreme orthodoxy, James Patrick Holding. He runs an online "apologetics ministry" - www.tektonics.org - in the course of which he bitterly assails any and all scholars who dare to go against his literalist, fundamentalist line. He solicits and gains funds from those of his same mind-set in the USA and Canada. Readers should be aware that Holding does not use his real name. His real name is Robert Turkel and anyone who takes the trouble to Google Turkel will quickly realize why I have never attempted to respond to his particular brand of criticism. For a polite, well- reasoned but devastating critique of Turkel's online book about the faith see the website of New Testament professor Robert Price of Florida. He is the author of the stunning book, Deconstructing Jesus.

For more detailed response to The Pagan Christ, please see the appendix D in the trade paperback version of the book.