The Apostle Paul is the single most influential figure in human history, suggests UNC Charlotte Religious Studies Professor James Tabor in his latest book “Paul and Jesus How the Apostle Transformed Christianity.” Tabor argues that Paul’s influence trumps even the great “founders,” whether Jesus, Moses, the Buddha or Mohammed.
Tabor’s provocative take on the history of Christianity is the focus of the second presentation in the 2014-15 Personally Speaking series, scheduled for 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 11, at UNC Charlotte Center City. The series is presented by the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences and the J. Murrey Atkins Library.
A former chair of religious studies, Tabor joined UNC Charlotte’s faculty in 1989. He is the author of seven books and more than 100 scholarly articles. His work “The Jesus Dynasty: A New Historical Investigation of Jesus, His Royal Family and the Birth of Christianity” presented his research on the historical Jesus to a general audience. It was translated into 25 languages and became an international bestseller.
During the past two decades, Tabor has combined his work on ancient texts with field work in archaeology. He has worked at a number of sites in Israel and Jordan including Qumran, site of the Dead Sea Scrolls. In 2000, he teamed with Shimon Gibson to excavate a newly discovered cave at Suba, west of Jerusalem, that dates back to the Iron Age; it was used for ritual rites in the early Roman period. Tabor and Gibson also were the principals involved in the discovery of a first-century Jewish burial shroud in a looted tomb at Akeldama. Their latest project is an ongoing excavation on Mt. Zion in Jerusalem. Tabor’s work has been featured in numerous television documentaries.
The Nov. 11 presentation is free and open to the public, but RSVPs are requested. A reception and book signing will follow the talk. Complimentary parking will be provided in the two lots directly across 9th and Brevard streets near UNC Charlotte Center City.