Before the European Enlightenment, virtually all New Testament experts assumed that handed-down stories about Jesus were first recorded by eye witnesses and were largely biographical. That is no longer the case. Assuming that the Jesus stories had their beginnings in one single person rather than a composite of several—or even in mythology itself—he probably was a wandering Jewish teacher in Roman-occupied Judea who offended the authorities and was executed. Beyond that, any knowledge about the figure at the center of the Christian religion is remarkably open to debate (and vigorously debated among relevant scholars). Where was Jesus born? Did he actually have twelve disciples? Do we know with certainty anything he said or did? The more sophisticated antiquities scholarship becomes, the more it becomes clear that the origins of Christianity are controversial, convoluted, and not very coherent.
Most antiquities scholars think that the New Testament gospels are “mythologized history.” In other words, based on the evidence available they think that around the start of the first century a controversial Jewish rabbi named Yeshua ben Yosef gathered a following and his life and teachings provided the seed that grew into Christianity. At the same time, these scholars acknowledge that many Bible stories like the virgin birth, miracles, resurrection, and women at the tomb borrow and rework mythic themes that were common in the Ancient Near East, much the way that screenwriters base new movies on old familiar tropes or plot elements. In this view, a “historical Jesus” became mythologized.
With Easter coming, some people are debating whether the resurrection of Jesus really happened. Others are debating whether Jesus was even real.
Christopher Hitchens on Christianity
Always worth a listen.
~Mooglets
It's that time of year again. Join us as we explore the strange (and often Pagan) origins of our Christmas traditions and share stories about how atheists spend the holidays.
This, this is extremely worth listening to. Do it. Do it now.
~Mooglets
David Barton claims the Founding Father's of America debated Evolution vs Creationism and declared Creationism ought to be taught in schools.
This, despite the fact that Darwin didn't publish his theories on evolution until 1859. That's a whole 83 years after America declared independence.
I think David Barton needs to retake his history classes.
~Mooglets