Many Mythicists use logically invalid methods

[hjalti]

I could go on and on but you get the point.

The point should be: Don't trust John T to accurately represent what Carrier says.

[Leucius Charinus]

.
Conspiracy mentality can throw out the most credible evidence, in favor of imagination.

The narrative of Jesus developed at least half a century after his alleged existence, without credible contemporaneous textural evidence, and without other evidence at the time the narrative was developed - no 1st or 2nd C archaeological evidence; no 1st or 2nd C 'Christian-artifacts'.

It is more plausible that the narrative is mostly, if not all, imagination. The eventual cementing of Christianity as the state religion, by Constantine, to thwart other 'religions' or belief systems such as Arianism, is where conspiracy is more plausible.

When this is examined it will be realised that the conspiracy is not with Constantine, but with the church organisation of the later 4th and 5th centuries who are being used as the sources to construct a history of the epoch of Nicaea and following. Constantine was the sole Roman Emperor. He was the Rightful Pontifex Maximus. He had the power to raise the Bible to the Purple. This is not a conspiracy. It is just political reality. The shit hit the fan.

How was it cleaned up? The [political] conspiracy involves the erasure of the massive political controversy which the Christian Revolution of the 4th century caused. There is ample evidence to support the claim that the 4th and 5th century church conspired to forge their own documents. Hagiography thrived from 360 CE. The letter exchange between Paul and Seneca was accepted as genuine by the most authoritative members of the church organisation of the 4th century.

I have just been rereading sections of Philosopher Jay's book "The Evolution of Christs and Christianities". It is a fascinating collage of information. But it occurs to me that an interesting exercise would be to compare the evolution of christs and christianities before Nicaea to the evolution of christs and christianities after Nicaea. Hopefully Philosopher Jay might like to comment on this. The elevation of the Jesus Story to the status of 'holy writ' IMO caused a massive explosion of many christs and many christianities.


Luke 16:16: The Good News of God's Kingdom Is Proclaimed and Everyone Is Forced into It




LC

[outhouse]

The NT scripture fulfils OT scripture, by way of theology around the central character.

And it should.

Christianity was nothing more then Hellenist embracing Judaism, and later divorcing it after the temple fell.


But this martyred man at Passover generated mythology and lit the match for the divorce. Monotheism and one god was very popular.

Judaism was popular. But Hellenist did not want to be identified with cultural Judaism, only religious Judaism.

[Leucius Charinus]

Monotheism and one god was very popular.

So was Plato. Plato's theology had the "One God". Do a search for "pagan monotheism"

Here is a quote from a 1st century Greek author ...

• “ ‘Tis best to make no sacrifice to God at all,
  no lighting of a fire,
  no calling Him by any name
  that men employ for things to sense.
  
  For God is over all, the first;
  and only after Him do come the other Gods.
  For He doth stand in need of naught
  e’en from the Gods,
  much less from us small men -
  naught that the earth brings forth,
  nor any life she nurseth,
  or even any thing the stainless air contains.
  
  The only fitting sacrifice to God
  is man’s best reason,
  and not the word
  that comes from out his mouth.
  
  “We men should ask the best of beings
  through the best thing in us,
  for what is good -
  mean by means of mind,
  for mind needs no material things
  to make its prayer.
  So then, to God, the mighty One,
  who’s over all,
  no sacrifice should ever be lit up.”
  

LC

[MrMacSon]

Monotheism and one god was very popular.

So was Plato. Plato's theology had the "One God". Do a search for "pagan monotheism"

As was Zoroastrianism and, recently alleged, some ancient Egyptian theologies

[MrMacSon]

The NT scripture fulfils OT scripture, by way of theology around the central character.

Christianity was nothing more then Hellenist embracing Judaism, and later divorcing it after the temple fell.

But this martyred man at Passover generated mythology and lit the match for the divorce. Monotheism and one god was very popular.

Judaism was popular. But Hellenist did not want to be identified with cultural Judaism, only religious Judaism.

Those are simplistic assertions. And mostly conceptually & factually incorrect.

eg. Hellenism was occurring for quite a while before Christianity developed.

Hellenism was initially cultural.

[MrMacSon]

The narrative of Jesus developed at least half a century after his alleged existence, without credible contemporaneous textural evidence, and without other evidence at the time the narrative was developed - no 1st or 2nd C archaeological evidence; no 1st or 2nd C 'Christian-artifacts'.

It is more plausible that the narrative is mostly, if not all, imagination. The eventual cementing of Christianity as the state religion, by Constantine, to thwart other 'religions' or belief systems such as Arianism, is where conspiracy is more plausible.

When this is examined it will be realised that the conspiracy is not with Constantine, but with the church organisation of the later 4th and 5th centuries who are being used as the sources to construct a history of the epoch of Nicaea and following. Constantine was the sole Roman Emperor. He was the Rightful Pontifex Maximus. He had the power to raise the Bible to the Purple. This is not a conspiracy. It is just political reality. LC

There was a series of conspiracies -

• in Judaism, resulting in diversifying branches
• in evoling & proto-Chrsitianity; before Constantine
• around Constantine: Eusebius & Co
• after Constantine

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