Hello.
I have just finished reading “The Jesus Mysteries: Was the ‘Original Jesus’ a Pagan God?” for the second time. It’s very convincing to me. However several established biblical scholars and historians, including Bart Erhman, have criticised the book as undependable and misguided.
Have you read the book? What is your evaluation? Was Jesus really based on a Pagan God? Is Jesus really just a myth?
Posted: October 10th 2010
Eric_PK
My understanding is that in the first century AD (or perhaps I should say “CE”...) there were numerous religions in the middle east. If Jesus did exist at the time he is supposed to exist, the 30 years that passed before any of the story was written down virtually assures that the story is going to be a muddle of actual events, events from other religions, “enhancements” to the story, etc. You see this in other religions – look at the relationship between the Greek and Roman gods.
I don’t spend a lot of time thinking about it however – I don’t believe in the divinity of Jesus whether or not he existed.
Posted: October 11th 2010