Introduction
In his article “Liar, Lunatic, Lord?” Marvin Olasky addresses the atheist students who argue against C.S. Lewis’ tripartite divide of viewing Jesus as either a liar, a lunatic, or the Lord. The students contend that Lewis assumes the accuracy of the Gospel accounts, which could have been written years later by distorting propagandists. In the article, Olasky presents two arguments against this contention.
Main Body
First, Olasky argues that if the Gospels were written for propaganda, their authors incorrectly portrayed women’s role in the founding of Christianity, contradicting the cultural norms of the time. For example, women were considered inferior in ancient Greece and not given significant roles. Olasky explains that the best way for a new religion to gain support would be to exclude women from participation. However, the Gospels depict women as the first witnesses to the empty tomb, showing Jesus interacting respectfully with women. This aspect goes against the prevailing cultural norms and suggests that the Gospel authors were not trying to create a propaganda narrative.
Second, he contends that the accuracy of the particular details in the Gospels implies that they were composed within a period of time after Jesus’s death and resurrection. He gives examples of Luke’s accurate descriptions of Roman legal practice, Jewish synagogue customs, and official titles. The use of specific titles that were not standardized at the time suggests that the Gospel authors were either eyewitnesses or had access to reliable sources who were present during the events.
Of the two arguments, the first seems to be more precise in specific details. This argument accentuates concrete evidence that the Gospels were written close to the time of the events. As a result, it more effectively undermines the theory of propagandist distortion than the first one.
Conclusion
Overall, Olasky presents two arguments against the contention that the Gospel accounts could have been written as propaganda. Both arguments contribute to the credibility of the Gospel accounts and support the logical decision or choice that Jesus is the Lord.
Work Cited
Olasky, Marvin. “Liar, lunatic, Lord?” World Magazine. 2007. Web.