Mar 01, 2014 kenneth humphreys, author of the book jesus never existed wrote. Then i proceeded to quote from homers iliad, the greek bible, worshipped by all the hellenes as the rarest. Mangasarians argues lack of historical evidence for a man called jesus, widely believed to be the founding father of christianity. This is a book about the founder of our firm, one jesus of nazareth. I recited how his mother went from town to town to select a worthy place to give birth to the young god, son of zeus, the supreme being, and how he was born. Charitable yet unflinching, wells analysis forces one to the inevitable conclusion that the apologists for the historical jesus are. A mythological character, subcaptioned, a defense of john m. The christ myth is sprinkled with comparisons between the mithraic mysteries and the cult of jesus. So, even within the christian sources that witness to jesus, much of the witness is myth. The following work offers in book form the series of studies on the question of the historicity of jesus, presented from time to time before the independent religious society in orchestra hall. The concept of jesus christ as a crucified savior did come before the writing of the gospel of mark, and the gospel of mark does correspond to the idea of jesus as a crucified savior figure, so the author of mark was influenced by some preexisting tradition, but there was probably no biographical information about jesus before mark for. That is to say, though they may not believe jesus was the divine christ. The christ myth theory also known as the jesus myth theory, jesus mythicism, or the jesus ahistoricity theory is the view that the story of jesus is a piece of mythology, possessing no substantial claims to historical fact.
So yes, the jesus myth position had a very few adherents, beginning explicitly with bruno bauer 18091882, and later arthur drews the christ myth 1911, then john m. To say that jesus is a symbol does not say that his life and message are legend. In other words, is there any credible evidence that jesus of nazareth historically existed, or is the christian version of jesus a copy of pagan gods of other religions. Mythicists interpret pauls writings as pointing toward a heavenly figure, jesus christ, who resembles a figure described by the jewish philosopher philo known as the logos the word. Charitable yet unflinching, wells analysis forces one to the inevitable conclusion that the apologists for the historical jesus are less researchers than spindoctors. Hlstoricus a reaffirmation of position, with a reply to certain recent strictures by mr. Nov 12, 2016 a book about jesus christs execution aims to dispel the myths surrounding the key point of the christian faith, and even claims that the son of god wasnt crucified in the first place.
More academic arguments in support of the jesus myth theory can be found in the writings of richard carrier and robert price. After all, jesus was a socially and politically disenfranchised man with tanned skin who was living under the hand of an oppressive foreign government. The purpose of this page is to provide links to resources dealing with the jesus myth. They essentially said that jesus was nothing more than a copy of popular dyingandrising fertility gods in various placestammuz in mesopotamia, adonis in syria, attis in asia minor, and horus in egypt. Its title has been changed for the present work to. It is rather surprising that after all the erudite work done on the jesus myth there should be any need, especially in freethought circles, to discuss the subject again. Although the god mithras was not exactly a dyingandrising god, some similarities are meaningful. It is not an original theological work, since i am not a theologian. The majority of people in the world today assume or believe that jesus christ was at the very least a real person. John nichols thom 17991838, a cornish tax rebel who claimed to be the saviour of the world and the reincarnation of jesus christ in 1834.
The claim that jesus was a myth or an exaggeration originated in the writings of liberal german theologians in the nineteenth century. Since david frederick strauss, in his life of jesus, attempted for the first time to trace the gospel stories and accounts of miracles back to myths and pious fictions. The christ myth by arthur drews free ebook project gutenberg. Christian mythology is the body of myths associated with christianity and the bible. In this article i will address those questions and expand on some of the information put forward in the original article. I wanted to touch him, or, if the crowd were too large to allow me that privilege, i wanted, at least, to hear his voice. Watching this was like going down in a submersible to view the wreck of theories past. Canadian new testament scholar and exanglican priest restates the ideas of kuhn, higgins and massey. There are liberal christian apologists who no longer subscribe to a literal belief in the fall of man. Some progressive minds would have us believe that the christmas narrative is merely a story. Jesus is a myth and all of the essential ideas of christianity originated in egypt. Tradition states that the most popular olympian deities are apollo, athena, zeus and.
A book about jesus christs execution aims to dispel the myths surrounding the key point of the christian faith, and even claims that. This myth is based on a misunderstanding of the three categories of jesus s followers. Did pagan mythologies represent christ s miracles in an effort to convince them to accept the christian faith. The claim is that these myths are essentially the same. Free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by project gutenberg. Jan 01, 2000 an examination of the evidence, by herbert cutner. Christianity, like all religious movements, was born from mythmaking and many currents fed the myth, including astrological speculation, pagan salvation cults, hellenistic hero worship, and the imperial cult itself, manufactured at precisely the time of jesus, with its own sacrificed saviour divus iulius, its own gospel of a son of god. To examine this question, lets start by looking at how some people have defined the word myth. Is jesus just a copy of the pagan gods of other ancient religions. Or if he did, he had virtually nothing to do with the founding. Even though it is based on the most recent research on. Religion is just myth and superstition that hardens hearts and enslaves minds. The jesus myth, which follows professor wellss earlier, highly acclaimed work, the jesus legend see page 15, contains a new investigation of the historicity of the gospel miracles, a detailed look at the earliest nonchristian testimony to the existence of jesus, and a provocative discussion of the new testament jesus as an ethical guide. Robert price, author of decontructing jesus and a member of the controversial jesus seminar, has been an outspoken apologist for the mythical jesus.
Jesus is a sun god, son of the sun, like many of the kings king of kings and pharaohs trembling, after prior to his creation. Jesus not a hebrew, but an elohim this awareness indicates that the entity jesus was not the son of jehovah, but was one who was an offspring of the elohim, and descended to earth in an action designed to liberate the jews from the control of jehovah the liberation taking place through his action of following around the areas, each place which jehovah and the. The main argument in support of this assertion is the similarity in sound between the. This is lacking too in the case of paul, the successor to jesus. Moreover, it is not just that the early documents are silent about so much of jesus that came to be recorded in the gospels, but that they view him in a substantially different way as a basically supernatural personage only obscurely on earth as a man at some unspecified period in the past, emptied then of all his supernatural attributes phil. In this article i will address those questions and expand on some of the information put forward in the original. Some people would like us to believe that the existence of jesus is nothing more than a myth. There are a number of people claiming that the accounts of jesus as recorded in the new testament are simply myths borrowed from pagan folklore, such as the stories of osiris, dionysus, adonis, attis, and mithras. In presenting my readers with some of the data which show that much of the christian history was pre extant as egyptian mythology. Feb 15, 2017 the story of jesus is central to the christian faith, but a small group of deniers say jesus was no more than an allegory for a spiritual journey.
Analyzing the evidence as presented in one popular online video i attempt to show that the jesus myth conclusion is based on a lessthancareful analysis of. The story of jesus is central to the christian faith, but a small group of deniers say jesus was no more than an allegory for a spiritual journey. Drews 18651935, along with bruno bauer 18091882 and albert kalthoff 18501906, is one of the three german pioneers of the denial of the existence of a historical jesus. Complete summary of rudolf bultmanns jesus christ and mythology. He and his onceandfuture father, are frequently interchangeable in the mythos i and my father are one. Ken ham is the founder of the creation museum that opened in 2007 and preaches the bibles creation story and projects it. Mangasarian 18591943 the following work offers in book form the series of studies on the question of the historicity of jesus, presented from time to time before the independent religious society in orchestra hall, chicago, 1909. The jesus myth open court publishing company 1998 the jesus legend 1996 the historical evidence for jesus prometheus books 1988.
Aug 18, 2014 when jesus is deconstructed and when it becomes clear that the christ of miracle, mystery, and authority never existed, it is a short step to wondering if the jesus story as a whole is a mythsomething made up, perhaps by a creative school, reflecting both the deepest construct and value of human spirituality. The christ myth, first published in 1909, was a book by arthur drews on the christ myth theory. He was born of the virgin meri on december 25th in a cavemanger, with his birth being announced by a star in the east and attended by three wise men. The titanic sank after the outdated thinking in this article was written. The term encompasses a broad variety of legends and stories, especially. No effort has been made to change the manner of the spoken, into. I, who had never seen a god, never the truth about jesus is he a myth. The jesus myth prejesus stories that made up the jesus myth. Jesus was about to make his appearance, and i wanted to see him. The childs imagination is more active than its reason. Robertson 18561933 the historical jesus 1916 and the jesus problem 1917 which argued jesus was based on some sort of prechristian myth, and in the united states by. Nov 29, 2016 religion is just myth and superstition that hardens hearts and enslaves minds. The guardian just published an article about a creation museum in kentucky, us, that have raised 73 million dollars to spend on building a noas arc. To say that jesus is a religious myth or symbol, albeit the most important religious symbol in the western world, is not to deny him reality.
The traditional history of christianity is hopelessly inadequate to the facts. Is jesus just the fabrication of a bunch of religious zealots. He also says that the apostle paul never portrayed jesus as a man, but as a spiritual being. The first was made up of those who came to hear him speak or to be healed by him. So while between the period of 30 ad to 70 ad, there is no mention of jesus of nazareth or a jesus who preached the gospel on earth. Beyond these miracles is there enough evidence to prove there was a jesus. Jesus not a hebrew, but an elohim this awareness indicates that the entity jesus was not the son of jehovah, but was one who was an offspring of the elohim, and descended to earth in an action designed to liberate the jews from the control of jehovah the liberation taking place through his action of following around the areas, each place which jehovah and the jews, or hebrews. It was with the human race in its infancy as it is with the child. Christianity, like all religious movements, was born from myth making and many currents fed the myth, including astrological speculation, pagan salvation cults, hellenistic hero worship, and the imperial cult itself, manufactured at precisely the time of jesus, with its own sacrificed saviour divus iulius, its own gospel of a son of god. Especially the sacramental feast which allowed the initiated to experience a mystical union with the god mithraism, imported from persia to rome, spread rapidly through the.
Jesus impact upon the world is far greater than anyone else. A great resource responding to the jesus myth theory. Alternatively, in terms given by bart ehrman paraphrasing earl doherty, the historical jesus did not exist. Bible is contradictory and confusing and could be hardly taken as a valid evidence. I have received a considerable amount of feedback and questions in relation to my jesus myth article, jesus myth the case against historical christ. There is nothing more real than mens symbols and myths. Jesus wasnt even crucified, according to an expert. These divinities played key roles in the communal, political and. This awareness wishes to remind you that the story of jesus, the first written word, was that which was put down some 80 years after his existence on this plane. Jesus myth part ii followup, commentary, and expansion. He was the most dynamic, attractive, and genuinely good human being who has ever lived. The jesus myth open court publishing company 1998 the jesus legend 1996 the historical evidence for jesus prometheus books 1988 did jesus exist. Wellss series of eagleeyed scrutinies of the gospels and of contemporary new testament scholarship, the author once again takes the role of the diogenes of the theologians. How the jesus myth was created spanish versionhow christianity was started.
Pagan origins of the christ myth the cardinal doctrines of the christian religion are 1 the fall of man and 2 the atonement. No effort has been made to change the manner of the spoken word into the more regular form of. Or if he did, he had virtually nothing to do with the. Had jesus been a bad man, or had been a mass murderer or a don juan, then a negative reaction toward him would be more easily understood. Metropolitan museum of art most recent jesus myth post. This myth is based on a misunderstanding of the three categories of jesuss followers. The father the first proof jesus offers to confirm his leadership role is the witness of god the father. Our conclusion, supported by a considerable body of evidence in our book, the jesus mysteries, is that christianity was not a.
Observing the sun, the moon, and the stars overhead, the. Jesus never said, i and the father are one john 10. It is not a scientific biography, since we do not have the materials for such a biography. A debate addressing the historical identity of jesus dr.
Resurrection, immortality, and eternal life in intertestamental. A myth is a fanciful explanation of a given phenomenon. The genealogies of jesus, both matthews version and lukes, are pious fiction. In order to move forward as a viable, meaningful, and compassionate entity, the catholic church must decide to. That the death and resurrection of jesus christ, his ascension into heaven, and his eventual second coming are merely a myth. How the jesus myth was created cosmic awareness is the force that expressed itself through edgar cayce, christ, the buddha, krisna, mohammed, and other great avatars who served as channels for cosmic consciousness, and who speaks again today as the world begins to enter the new age of spiritual consciousness and awareness. Most people have never heard of the ancient greek mythographer euhemerus. From our research into ancient spirituality it has become obvious that we must fundamentally revise our understanding of christian origins in the most shocking of ways.