I just now noticed the above clip by Mr Shallit, who by making such a sophomoric blunder, thereby disqualifies himself from being taken seriously.
I suggest that he spends a bit over an hour with this 101 level video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=17960119
U/D: GeoffR gives useful link to a Peter Williams Lecture, also:
U/D Oct 16: This video lecture by Habermas on the minimal facts issue is even more pivotal:
(For more I suggest here on, which inter alia addresses the minimal facts held to be well grounded by an absolute majority of relevant scholars to an overwhelming one regarding Jesus of Nazareth. Also, the video course here and onwards.)
We need to ask serious questions about the level of thought of skeptics unwilling to do enough investigation to recognise that Jesus of Nazareth, called Christ by his followers, is one of the best documented historical figures of C1 Palestine. END
PS: Mr Shallit also needs to think very carefully indeed about accusing millions of people who are more aware of the facts than he is, about being parents who “indoctrinate” children concerning Jesus. Such a hostile and even accusatory choice of words is ill-becoming, especially in a case where the assertion of Jesus being a mythical character comparable to the Chimney-climbing, North Pole- dwelling, reindeer pulled sleigh- riding Santa Claus of modern legend is easily seen to be demonstrably ill-founded.