He is an excellent scholar! I recommend all of his books! He did write one where he defends the existance of a historical Jesus. This is the exception as he never makes a good case.

Brilliant scholar excellent

Thanks for posting this thoughtful discussion. Like him, I wondered or worried about the difference he described between agnostic and atheist positions. It matters to me because being raised agnostic, I felt an unexplained divide between the two positions. Coincidentally, I have also come to the conclusion that I am both agnostic and atheist.

his views are essentially the same as my own. Is there a higher power? I don't know. Is there a deity or god of the bible or some other book who is involved on earth and in man's affairs? no. The difference is he doesn't believe in anything after this form and I do. Instead of not having faith I choose to have faith in the universe to be cyclical.