The XTalk Seminar on Materials and Methodology in Historical Jesus Research is a moderated, online, three week long forum whose aim is to provides a platform for

exchanges between approved Seminar members and John Dominic Crossan, author of _The Historical Jesus, _Who Killed Jesus?_, _The Birth of Christianity_, and a founding member of the Jesus Seminar, on the issue of how the particular materials used, and the methods employed, by Historical Jesus scholars bear upon the conclusions they come to in their reconstructions of the life and teaching of Jesus of Nazareth.



The Seminar, to be carried out under the auspices of the XTalk Discussion List Historical Jesus and Christian Origins -- http://www.xtalk.org) and its managers, will begin on Friday, February 11 and run Mondays through Fridays until Friday, March 3rd,

2000.



So as to be managed effectively, the Seminar will be conducted on a subscription only basis. and will be subject to some degree of moderation. Posts submitted to Professor Crossan by approved participants will be answered by him on a daily basis.



The messages from Seminar List members and the replies of Professor Crossan will be posted regularly to the XTalk List, allowing XTalk members or List observers who are not subscribed to the Seminar to see the course of the exchanges.



Topics for discussion, and upon which questions may be raised, are those which are appropriate to the focus of the Seminar which, to repeat, is the issue of how both the particular materials used and the methods employed by Historical Jesus scholars bear upon the conclusions they come to in their reconstructions of the life and teaching of Jesus of Nazareth.



Since the discussion of these issues as set out in Professor Crossan's _The Birth of Christianity_ will be the Seminar's initial focal point, a major prerequisite for anyone wishing to participate in the Seminar is one's familiarity with the contents and theses of

this work.



To apply for membe