In an embarrassing slip up, a “scholar” has presented a theory that finally proves that Jesus never existed at all in October. Oops. As a rule, “scholars” don’t offer those theories (along with a book and a documentary) until right around Holy Week.
But perhaps to avoid the crush of theories proving either that Jesus wasn’t a God or perhaps wasn’t even a person that often comes out around Easter, one American scholar has jumped the gun. It shows me that this “scholar” may not be a scholar at all. It could show a lack of confidence in his own theory to go up against all the other crackpot theories and he’s seeking to corner the market months early. To me, it shows an unfortunate lack of timing. I mean, who cares that Jesus didn’t really exist in October.
Hey, you come out with this theory in April, CNN will be interviewing you about anything and everything from religion stories to following police chases in California. In October, he just gets The Daily Mail.
An American scholar claims to have made a controversial discovery that proves the entire story of Jesus was made up by Roman aristocrats.
Joseph Atwill asserts that Christianity did not start as a religion, but was instead created as a sophisticated propaganda tool to pacify subjects of the Roman Empire.
He says he noticed a pattern forming when he was studying the only surviving account of first-century Judea, which he claims contains dozens of parallels between the life of a Roman emperor and that of Jesus in the New Testament.
Mr Atwill argues that these ancient ‘confessions’ provide ‘clear evidence’ that the biography of Jesus is ‘actually constructed, tip to stern, on prior stories, but especially on the biography of a Roman Caesar’.
A propaganda tool? Sheesh, you’d think if the Romans were so freaking smart, they might still have an empire. But they don’t. That might tell us something.
You know, if folks are coming out with this in October, I can’t wait to see what they have prepared for Easter.
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October 11, 2013 at 7:28 pm
Well, that's pretty much curtains for Christianity; I mean what religion could possibly stand up to the withering force of "dozens of parallels"?
October 11, 2013 at 8:31 pm
Funny.
October 11, 2013 at 10:43 pm
Perhaps this scholar never heard of the Prophets. Everybody in Judea awaited the coming Messiah. Perhaps this coming Easter, this scholar will profess himself to be the promised Messiah
October 11, 2013 at 11:51 pm
I find it interesting that Joseph (Atwill) is questioning the facts around the incarnation. Perhaps a dream from an angel is needed?
October 12, 2013 at 12:10 am
Yaaaawn. Errrr. Stretch. Yep. Another ..uses validity of scientific terminology…theory. Sorry "theory"
I recall a certain haaaavaaaad university scholar who had proof of Jesus being married. Made the headlines. Then when everything but the scholars own kitchen sink disproved that, no follow ups. Just dropped. So forgive me if I've been inoculated against all these theories. Sometimes humanities people need to do what us scientists do.
Have proof first!
Then tell people.
October 12, 2013 at 12:25 am
Tacitus, a pagan roman senator and anti-Christian, records as accepted factin his Annals that a Christus was crucified by the Roman Governor Pontius Pilatus. So as early as the first generation after Christ the Romans elite were making up Jesus to "pacify" Roman subjects and citizens for 250 more years of persecution! That is a "sophisticated propaganda tool".
October 12, 2013 at 12:13 pm
"Nine out of ten of what we call new ideas are simply old mistakes." (G.K. Chesterton)
I would ask that publishers consider giving books of this nature a purpose that extends beyond their five minutes in the media spotlight by printing them on a softer, preferably two-ply paper.
October 12, 2013 at 2:01 pm
Midday,
An ingenious idea, but then people might actually go out and buy the book.