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The Left's War On Christians
See other The Left's War On Christians Articles

Title: 'Jesus is a MYTH': Christ stories appeared decades after his 'death' - and he was probably many people rather than just one, atheist writer claims
Source: Daily Mail Online
URL Source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencet ... le-just-one-writer-claims.html
Published: Apr 3, 2015
Author: Richard Gray
Post Date: 2015-04-03 08:49:14 by cranky
Keywords: None
Views: 26697
Comments: 116

  • Atheist writer David Fitzgerald claims there is no evidence Jesus existed
  • The San Francisco based author instead says Jesus was a literary allegory created by combining old Jewish stories and rituals along with rival cults
  • He insists it is time to stop believing in Jesus Christ as a historical figure

Jesus Christ was not a real person and is probably the result of a combination of stories about several different individuals, according to a writer and leading atheist activist.

David Fitzgerald, a San Francisco based author, believes he has compiled compelling evidence that proves Jesus did not exist.

He claims there are no contemporary mentions of Jesus in historical accounts from the time when he was supposed to have lived, yet other Jewish sect leaders from the time do appear.

Mystery: This painting depicts Jesus Christ as single person but writer David Fitzgerald believes he was a literary invention that combined the stories from several cults and figures in Judea during the first century

Mystery: This painting depicts Jesus Christ as single person but writer David Fitzgerald believes he was a literary invention that combined the stories from several cults and figures in Judea during the first century

He also points to discrepancies in the early gospels of Mark, Matthew and Luke, claiming these were written decades after the supposed time of Jesus.

Instead he insists the disciples of Jesus were also probably not real and their names only later attached to the gospels to lend them credence.

NO MENTION OF JESUS IN HISTORY

Historical researcher Michael Paulkovich has claimed that Jesus of Nazareth did not exist after being unable to find any verifiable mention of Christ in historical texts by 126 writers during the ‘time of Jesus’ from the first to third centuries.

He claims that he is a fictional character invented by followers of Christianity to create a figure to worship.

He says this is surprising despite his ‘global miracles and alleged worldwide fame.’

The 126 texts he studied were all written in the period during or soon after the supposed existence of Jesus, when Paulkovich says they would surely have heard of someone as famous as Jesus - but none mention him.

'When I consider those 126 writers, all of whom should have heard of Jesus but did not - and Paul and Marcion and Athenagoras and Matthew with a tetralogy of opposing Christs, the silence from Qumram and Nazareth and Bethlehem, conflicting Bible stories, and so many other mysteries and omissions - I must conclude that Christ is a mythical character,’ he writes.

‘"Jesus of Nazareth" was nothing more than urban (or desert) legend, likely an agglomeration of several evangelic and deluded rabbis who might have existed.’

In a new book due to be published later this year, he will argue that the figure of Jesus was actually a combination of pagan rituals and stories about other people.

Speaking to MailOnline, he said: 'There is a paradox that Jesus did all these amazing things and taught all these amazing things yet no one heard of him outside his immediate cult for nearly 100 years.

'Or it means he didn't do all these things at all.

'The first gospel of Christianity appears to have been a literary allegory that were written decades after the time they portray.

'I believe that Christianity started as one of the many mystery faiths that appeared at the time where old Gods and old traditions were rebooted.

'Christianity appears to have been a Jewish mystery faith.

'By the time of Paul there appears to have been plenty of different "Lord's suppers" as he complains about the existence of other gospels and messiahs.

'It appears that early Christianity managed to take the stories from these other faiths and incorporate them into the story of Jesus.'

Mr Fitzgerald, whose first book 'Nailed: Ten Christian Myths that Show Jesus Never Existed at All' was published in 2010, believes it is no longer reasonable to assume there has to be a single historic figure who began Christianity.

Instead he says early Christians drew upon the beliefs and rituals of other cults and faiths around in the first century.

He argues that John the Baptist's cult is one such example and had initially been a competitor to the cult of Jesus before being incorporated into the Christian story.

Mr Fitzgerald says there are inconsistencies in the Gospels of the Christian bible (pictured above) that suggest Jesus Christ was a literary allegory and these accounts were written decades after his supposed life

Mr Fitzgerald says there are inconsistencies in the Gospels of the Christian bible (pictured above) that suggest Jesus Christ was a literary allegory and these accounts were written decades after his supposed life

The statue of Christ the Redeemer (above) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, is one of many depictions of Jesus but Mr Fitzgerald says that many of the early depictions were unable to agree on his appearance

The statue of Christ the Redeemer (above) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, is one of many depictions of Jesus but Mr Fitzgerald says that many of the early depictions were unable to agree on his appearance

Mr Fitzgerald said: 'There is nothing implausible to think that Jesus was a real person, but I just don't think that he can have been a single person if he existed at all.

'We also have no mention of Jesus in other historical texts from the time. There were certainly people writing about Judea at the time like Philo of Alexandria.

'During this period there were many other messiahs and wannabe messiahs who did far less exciting things than Jesus, but all of them managed something Jesus did not - to make a dent on the historical record.

'Two billion people believe all these miracles happened yet there is no evidence they did.'

The earliest mention of Jesus yet to be discovered is a limestone ossuary on which the words 'James, son of Joseph, brother of Jesus' is inscribed.

The box, which has been dated to 64AD - several decades after the crucifixion - was seized by the Israeli Antiquities Authority and its owner arrested for forgery in 2003.

Although he was later cleared in 2012, doubts about the authenticity of the inscription remain.

Others have said there could have been several people named James, whose father was called Joseph and had a brother called Jesus living in Jerusalem at the time.

The James Ossuary (above) is thought by some to be the first mention of Jesus in an inscription on its side

The James Ossuary (above) is thought by some to be the first mention of Jesus in an inscription on its side

There are three mentions of Jesus in non-Christian sources which have been used to research the existence of a 'real' Jesus.

A Jesus is mentioned in Josephus' Antiquities of the Jews, which was written around 94 AD.

WAS JESUS A MIDDLE-CLASS ARCHITECT (IF HE EXISTED)?

Rather than being born in a stable to a carpenter father, Jesus was actually the son of a successful, middle-class and highly intellectual architect.

This claim comes from biblical scholar Dr Adam Bradford, who also says that between the ages of 12 and 30 - the so-called 'missing years' of Jesus' life, when little is known about him - he was studying at religious schools and became the highest-ranking rabbi in Judea.

The radical revision of Christian history would suggest that, in preaching the spurning of worldly possessions for an austere life, Jesus may have been speaking from experience.

Dr Bradford has analysed the Bible's original Greek and Hebrew scriptures to try to establish the truth about Christ's background.

He says a mistranslation of the Greek word 'tekton' to describe the profession of Joseph, Jesus's father, is one of many mistakes that have led to a fundamental misunderstanding of Christ's character.

Dr Bradford claims that while 'tekton' is usually said to mean carpenter, it more accurately means master builder or architect. As an architect, Joseph would have had a higher social status that enabled him to better educate his son.

Roman historian Tacitus later mentions Christ and his execution with Pontius Pilate in his Annals, thought to be written around 116AD.

Both mentions were a considerable time after his alleged execution.

Mr Fritzgerald also takes issue with many of the stories about the Crucifixion that stem from the first Gospels of Mark, Matthew and Luke.

He said: 'There are many examples of inconsistencies in the gospels that suggest they were written by people who did not live in Judea at the time they are set.

'Mark makes many mistakes about life and geography during the first century in Judea.

'If Jesus really had been arrested on the eve of Passover, they would probably have just put him in jail and tried him after the weekend.

'The trial itself violates the rules of Jewish law - why was he not stoned?

'What we know about Pontius Pilate also suggests he was someone who would not do what the Jews asked him and would often do what they asked him not to.

'Instead Mark portrays him as being persuaded by the Jewish leaders to execute him.'

Mr Fitzgerald argues that many of these stories were in fact incorporated into the story of Christ as literary devices rather than as a historical account.

He said: 'There is also no evidence for the tradition that sees Barabbas - an anti-Roman rebel and murderer - being released while Jesus, an innocent, is condemned to death.

'What this actually seems to be is Mark using the story as an allegory for the Yom Kippur scapegoat ritual where one goat is released into the wilderness and the other is sacrificed for God.'

Mr Fitzgerald hopes to have his new book 'Jesus: Mything in Action' out later this year.

He added: 'It still puzzles me that as soon as anyone tries to pin down who Jesus is we get 50 different Jesus's emerging. There is no consensus.' (4 images)

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#3. To: cranky (#0)

Another annual recycle of discredited 'claims.'

"“Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. 6 He is not here; for He is risen, as He said." (Matthew 28:5,6)

redleghunter  posted on  2015-04-03   10:14:47 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#4. To: cranky, GarySpFc, liberator, BobCeleste, Don (#0)

Mr Fritzgerald also takes issue with many of the stories about the Crucifixion that stem from the first Gospels of Mark, Matthew and Luke.

He said: 'There are many examples of inconsistencies in the gospels that suggest they were written by people who did not live in Judea at the time they are set.

'Mark makes many mistakes about life and geography during the first century in Judea.

'If Jesus really had been arrested on the eve of Passover, they would probably have just put him in jail and tried him after the weekend.

More error and speculation. I know you are just posting the article cranky:)

Archaeology from the early 20th century up to this day has only confirmed, not denied the Gospel accounts. A lot of these atheists (and liberal theologians) continue to parrot discredited 19th century Tubingen skeptics.

Honestly, atheists probably 'believe' in God. They are just angry that the very thought of someone in charge other than themselves and He has rules.

"“Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. 6 He is not here; for He is risen, as He said." (Matthew 28:5,6)

redleghunter  posted on  2015-04-03   10:23:28 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#5. To: cranky (#0)

Tell it to Flavious Josephus!

patriot wes  posted on  2015-04-03   10:27:04 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#6. To: redleghunter (#3)

Another annual recycle of discredited 'claims.'

Either there are credible, contemporaneous accounts of Jesus of Nazereth or there are not.

If there are then Jesus of Nazereth should be considered an historical figures as much as any other personage in the historical record.

But if there are credible, contemporaneous accounts of other rabbis of the day extant and none of Jesus of Nazereth, that would be very telling, imho.

There are three kinds of people in the world: those that can add and those that can't

cranky  posted on  2015-04-03   10:28:12 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#7. To: patriot wes (#5)

Tell it to Flavious Josephus!

My understanding is Flavious Josephus was born AD.

There are three kinds of people in the world: those that can add and those that can't

cranky  posted on  2015-04-03   10:29:57 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#8. To: cranky (#6)

Either there are credible, contemporaneous accounts of Jesus of Nazereth or there are not.

I understand your logic train, however as I pointed out the geography and historical facts of the Gospel writers are confirmed by archaeology. The theories of the mid to late 19th century discredited as best hearsay accounts.

But they recycle the same skither each year.

"“Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. 6 He is not here; for He is risen, as He said." (Matthew 28:5,6)

redleghunter  posted on  2015-04-03   11:06:16 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#9. To: cranky (#7)

My understanding is Flavious Josephus was born AD

Yes and he lived during the same period as the apostles.

"“Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. 6 He is not here; for He is risen, as He said." (Matthew 28:5,6)

redleghunter  posted on  2015-04-03   11:08:10 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#10. To: cranky (#0)

The Dead Sea scrolls place Jesus (at that time) as a Zealot. If so, he was not a 'myth' nor was he the son of an architect or a rabbi as your article suggests. Jesus was a Zealot. He was murdered by the Romans and Jews because he was against both regimes while they wanted to satisfy a directorate from Rome, "to quell the minions."

No records of Jesus are known that were written in his lifetime about him. All records are only after his crucifixion. As a result, the Jesus known in the Bible is a "myth." But, Jesus was real; he just wasn't a Sadducee, Essene or a pharisee. For that matter, he was not a Roman, either. HE WAS A HOME GROWN REVOLUTIONARY TIRED OF THE ROMAN AND JEWISH BULLSHIT.

buckeroo  posted on  2015-04-03   11:32:43 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#11. To: redleghunter (#8)

the geography and historical facts of the Gospel writers are confirmed by archaeology

A single contemporaneous, credible account of the existence of a Jesus of Nazareth would put the whole issue to bed.

As yet, I haven't heard of one.

However, all the evidence is not in.

Recently, a synagogue where Jesus preached was said to have been discovered. I don't know what, if any, records are typically kept in synagogues but if any names are recorded, I would expect Jessus of Nazereth to be among them.

There are three kinds of people in the world: those that can add and those that can't

cranky  posted on  2015-04-03   11:42:43 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#12. To: buckeroo (#10)

Jesus was a Zealot.

I'm not much of an Aslan devotee.

There are three kinds of people in the world: those that can add and those that can't

cranky  posted on  2015-04-03   12:10:14 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#13. To: cranky (#12)

Whether you want to believe faerie tales or not is not an issue; the legendary "JESUS" is a myth, as written in the Holy Bible irrespective of version or origin.

Jesus was a zealot; he was the revolutionary strength that later crumbled the Roman Empire. Unfortunately for the world, the rumours became "truth." Then again, that is the reason for no writings before or during Jesus' time on Earth. All writings occurred after his death; most of were 100 years afterwards.

buckeroo  posted on  2015-04-03   12:52:27 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#14. To: buckeroo (#13)

Buckeroo. The things you said are only opinions. You made a decision not to believe in your past. Because of that decision you now base your beliefs on that. Even when contrary evidence is introduced. You will ignore it because you have told your brain to discount it.

Every reaction you have to Gods word is now dismissed by you because of the decision you made way back whenever.

I'll admit the opposite is basically true for Christians. We chose to believe and because we do we might not consider some things. Because it contradicts the decision we already made to believe.

A K A Stone  posted on  2015-04-03   12:57:55 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#15. To: cranky (#0)

'Jesus is a MYTH'

People need myths to help them endure the trials of life and to make them believe there is ultimate compensation for injustice.

rlk  posted on  2015-04-03   13:13:53 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#16. To: cranky (#0)

Yearly Easter attack. Very predicable.

A Pole  posted on  2015-04-03   13:26:29 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#17. To: buckeroo (#13)

Jesus was a zealot; he was the revolutionary strength that later crumbled the Roman Empire. 

Barabas was a zealot. Jesus was against revolt.

A Pole  posted on  2015-04-03   13:28:07 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#18. To: cranky (#0)

There are many people who want to think that Jesus is only a myth. They also want to think that Hell is only a myth. It would be most unfortunate for them if they are wrong.

Don  posted on  2015-04-03   13:34:21 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#19. To: cranky, Vicomte13 (#11)

A single contemporaneous, credible account of the existence of a Jesus of Nazareth would put the whole issue to bed.

As yet, I haven't heard of one.

I think we have been down this road again.

It was the 1st Century AD. Rome had no peers. The empire wrote the history according to Caesar.

So actually having 27 books in the NT era (1st century AD) with multiple authors giving detailed accounts of the area, government and customs IS the contemporaneous evidence. The NT was written with Christians as a minority religion, hated and persecuted by the Empire.

To dismiss these accounts as not evidence, we could deny Caesar never wrote anything.

"“Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for He is risen, as He said." (Matthew 28:5,6)

redleghunter  posted on  2015-04-03   13:45:13 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#20. To: Don (#18)

There are many people who want to think that Jesus is only a myth. They also want to think that Hell is only a myth. It would be most unfortunate for them if they are wrong.

The atheist approach is to impeach the star witness. To suppress the evidence before a question is launched.

"“Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for He is risen, as He said." (Matthew 28:5,6)

redleghunter  posted on  2015-04-03   13:48:45 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#21. To: A K A Stone (#14)

Buckeroo. The things you said are only opinions. You made a decision not to believe in your past. Because of that decision you now base your beliefs on that. Even when contrary evidence is introduced. You will ignore it because you have told your brain to discount it.

Very weird commentary. As a recommendation, s_l_o_w d_o_w_n so that your publick forum may capture your opinion.

Every reaction you have to Gods word is now dismissed by you because of the decision you made way back whenever.

Too phunney; where has God's Word been revealed?

I'll admit the opposite is basically true for Christians. We chose to believe and because we do we might not consider some things. Because it contradicts the decision we already made to believe.

Be objective about all things in life, Stone. Don't agree with anything.

buckeroo  posted on  2015-04-03   13:49:13 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#22. To: redleghunter (#20)

They also wish to prove the Book of Genesis wrong. If they can prove the foundation of the Bible wrong, the rest is wrong.

Don  posted on  2015-04-03   14:28:51 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#23. To: Don (#22)

There is no "proof" about the Biblical "Genesis." Sorry about your faith into an-unknown region.

buckeroo  posted on  2015-04-03   15:07:59 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#24. To: buckeroo (#23)

There is no "proof" about the Biblical "Genesis." Sorry about your faith into an-unknown region.

If there was no fossil record. (That is what you would expect to see if there really was a flood as described in Genesis) You could point out that if the flood was true where are all the fossils? But you can't say that. You can only say the fact that there are fossils doesn't prove Genesis. But you can't say "See Genesis is incorrect there are no dead things buried in mud".

You don't consider the truth of these words. Because of decisions you have made in the past to discount the Bible and not take it at its word.

A K A Stone  posted on  2015-04-03   15:27:27 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#25. To: cranky, Easter Bunny athiests (#0)

San Francisco based author

A Frisco atheist, believes in the easter bunny, but Jesus is a "myth"....


The D&R terrorists hate us because we're free, to vote second party

"We (government) need to do a lot less, a lot sooner" ~Ron Paul

Hondo68  posted on  2015-04-03   16:45:51 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#26. To: Don (#18)

There are many people who want to think that Jesus is only a myth. They also want to think that Hell is only a myth. It would be most unfortunate for them if they are wrong.

Ah, Christian love. There's no love like Christian love.

kenh  posted on  2015-04-03   17:13:00 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#27. To: cranky (#0)

Major views of Jesus:

Christian view -- he was the son of God who died on the cross to either pay for our sins (western view) or free us from death (eastern view).

Muslim view -- he was the son of God and a major profit.

Jewish view #1 -- he was a real historical figure and a rotten heretic.

Jewish view #2 -- he was a figment of Paul's imagination.

cranko  posted on  2015-04-03   17:25:25 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#28. To: cranky, ALL (#0) (Edited)

I am always amazed when I hear ignorance crowing from the rooftops that Jesus Christ was just a myth and that the historical evidence does not support his existence. What does the evidence show?

Firstly, we have 5800 handwritten manuscripts of the Greek New Testament. These manuscripts predate the Gutenberg press. Most of these 5800 manuscripts are from the Middle Ages, however only a few hundred reach back into great antiquity. In fact, we have four dozen manuscripts that date to the year 300 A.D. or earlier. These are the most important manuscripts. We have one recently discovered manuscript which has been dated 80 A.D. from the Gospel of Mark.

The New Testament manuscripts more than favorably compare to any other works from ancient history. Take as an example Julius Caesar and his Gallic War, which he composed in 50 BC. All we have are 10 fairly well preserved manuscripts, which date to 850 A.D. the oldest one is 900 years remove from when he wrote the original.

How about Livy, the Roman historian? We think he was born around 59 BC and died around A.D. 17. He wrote Roman History which about one third survives. Of the one-third that survives, books 3, 4, 5, and 6-- the oldest manuscript was written about A.D. 350. In other words, it’s more than 300 years removed from the time when he originally wrote it and it is even complete.

How about Tacitus, the Roman historian, author of Annals and Histories, written sometime around A.D. 110 or 115? The oldest manuscripts of these date to the 9th and 11th centuries A.D. In other words, it’s more 800 and 1,000 years after the original.

Furthermore, the quality of the New Testament manuscripts is excellent. In looking at them, we see that they are neatly copied by professional hands. They are not sloppy. They’re not illegible. They’re not full of misspellings, medical errors, and other types of mistakes. On the whole they are very neatly done.

If we’re going to question the existence of Jesus Christ, then we need the question the existence of other historical figures for which there is far less historical evidence. However, that would be insane.

“Let no one mourn that he has fallen again and again; for forgiveness has risen, from the grave.” John Chrysostom www.evidenceforJesusChrist.org

GarySpFC  posted on  2015-04-03   17:41:00 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#29. To: redleghunter (#19)

A single contemporaneous, credible account of the existence of a Jesus of Nazareth would put the whole issue to bed. As yet, I haven't heard of one.

I think we have been down this road again.

Shroud and Oviedo Cloth.

Vicomte13  posted on  2015-04-03   19:48:35 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#30. To: rlk, ALL (#15)

Negative criticism either neglects or minimizes the role of apostles and eyewitnesses who recorded the events. Of the four Gospel writers, Matthew, Mark, and John were definitely eyewitnesses of the events they report. Luke was a contemporary and careful historian (Luke 1:1–4; see Acts). Indeed, every book of the New Testament was written by a contemporary or eyewitness of Christ. Even such critics as the “Death-of-God” theologian John A. T. Robinson admit that the Gospels were written between 40 and 65 (Robinson, 352), during the life of eyewitnesses.
But if the basic New Testament documents were composed by eyewitnesses, then much of destructive criticism fails. It assumes the passage of much time while “myths” developed. Studies have revealed that it takes two generations for a myth to develop (Sherwin-White, 190).

“Let no one mourn that he has fallen again and again; for forgiveness has risen, from the grave.” John Chrysostom www.evidenceforJesusChrist.org

GarySpFC  posted on  2015-04-03   19:56:43 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#31. To: cranky (#0)

Myths? It incorrectly assumes that the New Testament stories are like folklore and myth. There is a vast difference between the simple New Testament accounts of miracles and the embellished myths that did arise during the second and third centuries A.D., as can be seen by comparing the accounts. New Testament writers explicitly disavow myths. Peter declared: “For we did not follow cleverly devised tales (mythos) when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty” (2 Peter 1:16). Paul also warned against belief in myths (1 Tim. 1:4; 4:7; 2 Tim. 4:4; Titus 1:14).

One of the most telling arguments against the myth view was given by C. S. Lewis:

First then, whatever these men may be as Biblical critics, I distrust them as critics. They seem to lack literary judgment, to be imperceptive about the very quality of the texts they are reading . . . If he tells me that something in a Gospel is legend or romance, I want to know how many legends and romances he had read, how well his palate is trained in detecting them by the flavour; not how many years he has spent on that Gospel . . . I have been reading poems, romances, vision-literature, legends, myths all my life. I know what they are like. I know that not one of them is like this. [Lewis, 154–55]

“Let no one mourn that he has fallen again and again; for forgiveness has risen, from the grave.” John Chrysostom www.evidenceforJesusChrist.org

GarySpFC  posted on  2015-04-03   20:01:28 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#32. To: kenh (#26)

Would you say it is love if Christians ignored the "Hell-Bound" and simply laughed at them? Would it make you feel better if Christians were silent?

Don  posted on  2015-04-03   20:19:08 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#33. To: buckeroo (#23)

You have entered into the area called Faith. However, you should do a little research into Biblical Archeology just for the heck of it.

Don  posted on  2015-04-03   20:22:03 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#34. To: buckeroo (#13)

Whether you want to believe faerie tales or not is not an issue; the legendary "JESUS" is a myth, as written in the Holy Bible irrespective of version or origin.

If that satisfies you that's fine with me.

There are three kinds of people in the world: those that can add and those that can't

cranky  posted on  2015-04-03   20:38:28 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#35. To: cranky (#34)

Whether you want to believe faerie tales or not is not an issue; the legendary "JESUS" is a myth, as written in the Holy Bible irrespective of version or origin.

Ignorance shouting from the rooftops.

“Let no one mourn that he has fallen again and again; for forgiveness has risen, from the grave.” John Chrysostom www.evidenceforJesusChrist.org

GarySpFC  posted on  2015-04-03   20:43:00 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#36. To: GarySpFC (#28)

If we’re going to question the existence of Jesus Christ, then we need the question the existence of other historical figures for which there is far less historical evidence.

That's actually a very good idea. It would be interesting to see how many could withstand the scrutiny.

There are three kinds of people in the world: those that can add and those that can't

cranky  posted on  2015-04-03   20:46:16 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#37. To: rlk (#15)

People need myths to help them endure the trials of life and to make them believe there is ultimate compensation for injustice.

Perhaps.

But that doesn't explain the disciples that refused to renounce Jesus even when subjected to unbelievable tortures.

At least, not to me.

There are three kinds of people in the world: those that can add and those that can't

cranky  posted on  2015-04-03   20:49:55 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#38. To: redleghunter (#19)

It was the 1st Century AD. Rome had no peers. The empire wrote the history according to Caesar.

Actually, for many times in its history, Rome had an official historian.

At least, according to Ronald Mellor in The Historians of Ancient Rome: An Anthology of the Major Writings.

There are three kinds of people in the world: those that can add and those that can't

cranky  posted on  2015-04-03   20:57:50 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#39. To: cranko (#27)

Muslim view -- he was the son of God and a major profit.

Jewish view #1 -- he was a real historical figure and a rotten heretic.

Jewish view #2 -- he was a figment of Paul's imagination.

Muslims don't consider Jesus to be Gods son. They just consider him a lying prophet.

Jews have many different views. The apostles were Jews. I bet you didn't even know that.

A K A Stone  posted on  2015-04-03   22:01:26 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#40. To: Don (#32)

Would you say it is love if Christians ignored the "Hell-Bound" and simply laughed at them?

No such luck! There's simply too much secular gain to be had by preaching the mythology of Hellfire to ever give it up.

kenh  posted on  2015-04-03   22:36:17 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#41. To: A Pole, Vicomte13 (#16)

Yearly Easter attack. Very predicable.

Indeed.

My take on Jesus is that he was from a royal - but poor - bloodline. That is not that hard to believe since many royal families have poorer relations that are removed from the throne by so many cousins, etc.

What is made clear in the New Testament that is generally looked over is that Jesus is linked to royalty and it seems not one of his enemies disputed this claim. Indeed, the leadership of the era must have been worried Jesus was royal enough. They did not just go after him because he was a street preacher alone. That the NT is citing genealogy is clear evidence that a royal claim is being made. The common peasants don't get a genealogy.

When the Magi came to see a new born Jesus that is significant - those were Persians from Rome's only rival of that era - the Persian empire. If they were sending a diplomatic delegation they were doing so because they knew from Jews living in Babylon who were probably in touch with the Joseph and Mary royal lineage. Joseph and Mary were a dynastic marriage. Again, that does not mean they were rich or poor and were probably poor or getting by even of they had royal blood from David. Remember David started out life as a common sheep herder so he had literally thousands of cousins when he became king so there were many in Judea who could claim royal lineage.

The arrival of the magi made Herod kill Jesus's clan base - the slaughter of the innocent. Jesus left to Egypt not Persia where the Magi were because Herod probably was looking for Jesus' family to escape with the Magi towards Babylon.

Another clue for me is that a young boy Jesus was at the temple conversing with rabbis - now we can say Jesus as a young boy was a genius and that is why the rabbis tolerated a young boy conversing with them but it is clear Jesus has a duel message when he says he was at his Father's house. God's temple was also built by his ancestor and the rabbis knew Jesus was from the line of David and that made him a curiosity.

When Jesus entered Jerusalem it is clear people honored him as a royal dignitary from the house of David arriving into the city.

Pericles  posted on  2015-04-03   23:13:31 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#42. To: cranko (#27)

Muslims in no way consider Jesus as the Son of God. They also consider their own prophet to be a greater prophet than Jesus. How is it that you make such declarative statements without knowing these things?

Don  posted on  2015-04-03   23:46:40 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#43. To: kenh (#40)

You look at spiritual things with secular eyes. The Bible tells us that such things are spiritually discerned. In other words you cannot understand spiritual things with a worldly mind.

Don  posted on  2015-04-03   23:50:51 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  



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