Mythical Christ Gains Favour

Argue for and against Christianity

Moderator: Moderators

Post Reply
d.thomas
Sage
Posts: 713
Joined: Sat Mar 31, 2007 12:31 am
Location: British Columbia

Mythical Christ Gains Favour

Post #1

Post by d.thomas »

.


Personally, I always assumed an historical Jesus behind the story, but having read a few books from the mythicist viewpoint as well as the historical, it seems that from a Jewish/Hellenist cultural and historical view of the early centuries, a mythical Christ falls into place in that it makes more sense to view Jesus Christ as never having existed, at least not as a man that walked the earth. The earliest Christian writings which include the Epistles describe a spiritual Christ that resided in the spiritual realm, that sacrificed his "blood and flesh" in a heavenly sanctuary and was known to apostles through revelation, visions.

Philo laid down the theological groundwork for Christianity without mentioning a Christ or writing of a Jesus even though he was in Jerusalem at the supposed time of Jesus' crucifixion. He did write of Pontius Pilate, although his portrayal of a ruthless Pilate is in stark contrast to that of the concerned and caring Pilate portrayed in the Gospels. His son of God was spiritual, a mediator between God and man also referred to as the Word or Logos.

The author of Mark may have taken from different traditions such as a Christ cult from Jerusalem and a Jesus community from Galilee that had no known connection to a crucified and risen Christ and combined them to write his Gospel of a Jesus of Nazareth.


There are books and websites that cover a great deal of the aspects involved. The following I recommend in terms of this discussion:


http://www.rationalrevolution.net/artic ... istory.htm



http://www.jesuspuzzle.com/


.

d.thomas
Sage
Posts: 713
Joined: Sat Mar 31, 2007 12:31 am
Location: British Columbia

Re: response

Post #11

Post by d.thomas »

AB wrote:
d.thomas wrote:
AB wrote:Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness among the people.
- Matthew 4:23

Jesus is actual. He was on the earth. Not a mythical thing.

This conclusion is based on circular reasoning. The only story we have of a Jesus of Nazareth is the Gospels and they are dependent on Mark. The Gospels cannot be corroborated so we can't rely on them as historical, instead they are referred to as faith documents.


-
What is circular reasoning?

It's begging the question.

User avatar
Lotan
Guru
Posts: 2006
Joined: Sun Aug 22, 2004 1:38 pm
Location: The Abyss

Post #12

Post by Lotan »

d.thomas wrote:It's probably just a matter of time for this view to become mainstream. It conficts the least with the historical record as well as the Jewish/ Hellenist culture of the time.
Those are very interesting opinions. Now will you please answer my question...

"Mythical Christ Gains Favour" among whom?
And the LORD repented of the evil which he thought to do unto His people. Exodus 32:14

d.thomas
Sage
Posts: 713
Joined: Sat Mar 31, 2007 12:31 am
Location: British Columbia

Post #13

Post by d.thomas »

Lotan wrote:
d.thomas wrote:It's probably just a matter of time for this view to become mainstream. It conficts the least with the historical record as well as the Jewish/ Hellenist culture of the time.
Those are very interesting opinions. Now will you please answer my question...

"Mythical Christ Gains Favour" among whom?

I'm the only one so far, but just wait, there'll be others.

AB

Re: response

Post #14

Post by AB »

d.thomas wrote:
AB wrote:
d.thomas wrote:
AB wrote:Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness among the people.
- Matthew 4:23

Jesus is actual. He was on the earth. Not a mythical thing.

This conclusion is based on circular reasoning. The only story we have of a Jesus of Nazareth is the Gospels and they are dependent on Mark. The Gospels cannot be corroborated so we can't rely on them as historical, instead they are referred to as faith documents.


-
What is circular reasoning?

It's begging the question.
Ok. Your point is worthless then. Just wanted to make sure.

d.thomas
Sage
Posts: 713
Joined: Sat Mar 31, 2007 12:31 am
Location: British Columbia

Re: response

Post #15

Post by d.thomas »

AB wrote:
d.thomas wrote:
AB wrote:
d.thomas wrote:
AB wrote:Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness among the people.
- Matthew 4:23

Jesus is actual. He was on the earth. Not a mythical thing.

This conclusion is based on circular reasoning. The only story we have of a Jesus of Nazareth is the Gospels and they are dependent on Mark. The Gospels cannot be corroborated so we can't rely on them as historical, instead they are referred to as faith documents.


-

You're welcome.
What is circular reasoning?

It's begging the question.
Ok. Your point is worthless then. Just wanted to make sure.

d.thomas
Sage
Posts: 713
Joined: Sat Mar 31, 2007 12:31 am
Location: British Columbia

Post #16

Post by d.thomas »

You're welcome.

Biker

Post #17

Post by Biker »

d.thomas wrote:
Lotan wrote:
d.thomas wrote:It's probably just a matter of time for this view to become mainstream. It conficts the least with the historical record as well as the Jewish/ Hellenist culture of the time.
Those are very interesting opinions. Now will you please answer my question...

"Mythical Christ Gains Favour" among whom?

I'm the only one so far, but just wait, there'll be others.
Wasn't Freddie boy Nietzsche one also?

Biker

User avatar
Lotan
Guru
Posts: 2006
Joined: Sun Aug 22, 2004 1:38 pm
Location: The Abyss

Post #18

Post by Lotan »

d.thomas wrote:I'm the only one so far, but just wait, there'll be others.
So this your unevidenced opinion as well.

If this view "gains favour" with others, does that mean you'll 'win'?
And the LORD repented of the evil which he thought to do unto His people. Exodus 32:14

User avatar
juliod
Guru
Posts: 1882
Joined: Sun Dec 26, 2004 9:04 pm
Location: Washington DC
Been thanked: 1 time

Post #19

Post by juliod »

If this view "gains favour" with others, does that mean you'll 'win'?
No, that won't happen until we pass a law to have the historicists whipped naked through the streets of Aberdeen.

(BTW, I'll get back to your filthly lies in the other thread later.)

DanZ

d.thomas
Sage
Posts: 713
Joined: Sat Mar 31, 2007 12:31 am
Location: British Columbia

Post #20

Post by d.thomas »

Biker wrote:
d.thomas wrote:
Lotan wrote:
d.thomas wrote:It's probably just a matter of time for this view to become mainstream. It conficts the least with the historical record as well as the Jewish/ Hellenist culture of the time.
Those are very interesting opinions. Now will you please answer my question...

"Mythical Christ Gains Favour" among whom?

I'm the only one so far, but just wait, there'll be others.
Wasn't Freddie boy Nietzsche one also?

Biker
I don't know, but Albert Schweitzer was.

Post Reply