Quote:
Originally Posted by jeffporfirio
Clearly, we have different opinions, as would scholars on the subject, i.e.Kenneth Bailey & Gerhardsson, who concluded that within a formal controlled oral tradition, changing the storyline was inconceivable.
Surely you can't take Ehrman seriously on this topic, when the evidence is overwhelming against him, Stephen, Polycarp of Smyrna, Bartholomew, Cyprian of Carthage, Sebastian, Agatha, etc...
Erhman as an agnostic, has a clear agenda, which along the way has made him millions, along with Dan Brown.
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We should absolutely expect the storyline of an oral tradition to change as it's passed down. It is almost inconceivable that it wouldn't be.
In fact, it doesn't even need to be passed down to change. It is part of how our brains work that our memories can, and do, change over time. And even though they change, we (most often) are completely unaware of it.
You may (almost certainly do) have some memories from your childhood that are very dear and important to you, but that have actually changed over time. Even though they have changed, they feel every bit as absolute as any memory that hasn't changed.
It is completely normal and common to have memories that we are absolutely certain as to the accuracy of, that are in fact wrong. Because our memories have simply changed, but are still memories.
The idea that someone could remember a story, never have that memory change, pass on that story to someone else, that person remember it perfectly, and then them transfer that story again, with the process continuing for multiple iterations without error, is so close to being completely impossible, that it is reasonable to actually use the word impossible.
Absolutely no way that people could pass on a story for multiple iterations, and for extensive periods of time over multiple generations, without the story changing. Absolutely no way.