WOTM: The Historical Jesus, Part 1
I haven't really done a video on just this topic — the question of the "Historical Jesus" and the mythicists who say no such person even existed. In part one, I look at the broader problem involved with all claims of supernatural activity. That's actually one step removed from the question of the historical Jesus, but I think it's primary. Whatever historical evidence believers think they have, adding the supernatural into the claim leaves us with no way to know anything, even IF Jesus actually existed.
Thanks again, gang! Enjoy! And more is on the way! B
Comments (5)
How stoned do you have to be to be a High priest Andreas?
:-) Your comment gives "stoned to death" a totally new meaning - you really made me laugh.
According to Hans-Werner Kubitza (German Theologist, Historian, Author, Publisher), Jesus was a historical person. In his book "Der Jesuswahn" ("The Jesus Delusion - How the christians created their god") he puts this person under close scrutiny. In his research he found a "Roaring silence of the sources" - because no contemporary historian, writer or chronologist of that time even mentions a Jesus from Nazareth. There is just one single mention of his execution among other criminals by Tacitus in 117 AD. And the most important jewish historian Josephus, only mentions the stoning to death of Jesus' brother Jakobus in his "History of the Jewish war" (dating from 77 AD) in the year 62 AD. There, Jakobus is mentioned as a leading figure in the original christian community. High priest Ananus sentenced Jakobus and some others to death.
The only relatively contemporary source is the Acts of Paul. It never mentions anything about divinity, water to wine miracles or physical resurrection from crucifixion. Anything in 2nd Tacitus about Christ or Christianity including claims of mass persecutions of Christians can't be relied on as they're now considered 12th century forgeries. Rome was proudly cosmopolitan and graciously allowed the rubes and hicks their many religions. Early Christian churches weren't hiding in catacombs, that was the low rent strip mall location for tiny fringe religions. Despite Atwill's 2005 Caesar’s Messiah theory there were no Jewish records complaining about mass conversion to this "peaceful messiah" defusing Jewish nationalism. The reason the gospels were written in Greek was only Gentiles would listen and not get angry or just laugh! Oh well, it's nice to have some rational discussion! ;-) The most hilarious part is that atheists know more about early Christianity than modern Christians
It's that weird deal where they create a supernatural Father of Lies character equipped with unknown powers of persuasion, and in the same breath insist they're utterly immune to it's blandishments when making their religious claims. It's especially amusing when it's clear they are just as vulnerable as anyone else to the attractive stories of mere human grifters.