In response to PalJoey's question above about Barbara Thiering's JESUS: THE MAN...
I can get into specifics of her book if you will find it useful, but overall, I think that Thiering has a set of political leanings that abuse her scholarship. I am all for scholarship that humanizes Jesus -- Protestantism has gone too far on the divinity side, I think. However, most of her claims that ae based on "new" evidence are based on known archaeology that has been discussed ad naseum and rarely has anyone chosen to make the absurd claims she has made about them. I understand why she writes what she does, but she is the leftist version of those crazy "scientists" who try to prove the earth is 6000 years old. They have evidence, but it is manipulated to favor a conclusion.
"Fundamentalism means never having to say 'I'm wrong.'"
-- unknown