Creative Speculation
Related: About this forumAncient Confession Found: 'We Invented Jesus Christ'
American Biblical scholar Joseph Atwill will be appearing before the British public for the first time in London on the 19th of October to present a controversial new discovery: ancient confessions recently uncovered now prove, according to Atwill, that the New Testament was written by first-century Roman aristocrats and that they fabricated the entire story of Jesus Christ. His presentation will be part of a one-day symposium entitled "Covert Messiah" at Conway Hall in Holborn (full details can be found at http://www.covertmessiah.com).
Although to many scholars his theory seems outlandish, and is sure to upset some believers, Atwill regards his evidence as conclusive and is confident its acceptance is only a matter of time. "I present my work with some ambivalence, as I do not want to directly cause Christians any harm," he acknowledges, "but this is important for our culture. Alert citizens need to know the truth about our past so we can understand how and why governments create false histories and false gods. They often do it to obtain a social order that is against the best interests of the common people."
Atwill asserts that Christianity did not really begin as a religion, but a sophisticated government project, a kind of propaganda exercise used to pacify the subjects of the Roman Empire. "Jewish sects in Palestine at the time, who were waiting for a prophesied warrior Messiah, were a constant source of violent insurrection during the first century," he explains. "When the Romans had exhausted conventional means of quashing rebellion, they switched to psychological warfare. They surmised that the way to stop the spread of zealous Jewish missionary activity was to create a competing belief system. That's when the 'peaceful' Messiah story was invented. Instead of inspiring warfare, this Messiah urged turn-the-other-cheek pacifism and encouraged Jews to 'give onto Caesar' and pay their taxes to Rome."
Was Jesus based on a real person from history? "The short answer is no," Atwill insists, "in fact he may be the only fictional character in literature whose entire life story can be traced to other sources. Once those sources are all laid bare, there's simply nothing left."
http://uk.prweb.com/releases/2013/10/prweb11201273.htm
dixiegrrrrl
(60,011 posts)let the forwarding begin!!!!!!!!!!!!!
fadedrose
(10,044 posts)Last edited Thu Oct 10, 2013, 03:26 PM - Edit history (1)
I like Barbara Theiring's book about Jesus. The reviews are interesting. I read this book 20 years ago or so, and it seems so incredible that it's probably true. It says Jesus was a real historical figure, but that the Jerusalem where the New Testament and Gospels took place wasn't the Jerusalem we know, but was a place on the Dead Sea. These Jews didn't accept much in the real Jerusalem at that time because it was under Roman rule...so the more devout ones moved out to the Dead Sea caves and structures.
Much of the geography in the New Testament doesn't make sense, but it does if you change the setting. Read Jesus and the Riddle of the Dead Sea Scrolls" for an interesting and different interpretation of the Gospels...
Only people who are fluent in reading Greek can attest to the book's "truthiness."
In the meantime, I am always open to "new discoveries."
http://www.amazon.com/Jesus-Riddle-Dead-Sea-Scrolls/dp/0060677821
MrMickeysMom
(20,453 posts)Zeitgeist... There are many links to it, worth a watch just for the comparative religiosity of mythos and humanity...
DRAEGER
(11 posts)movie is very interesting. Although I don't buy into the entire Zeitgeist movement for many reasons. It is very thought provoking in it's concept. On the surface the idea if a Zeitgeist Utopian Society free of war, money, greed all living in a communal existence looks great, but it eerily reminds me of a Fascist or Progressive Socialist society.
I don't believe greed and violence is breed into mankind, but it is a learned response from the reality of the world we live in.
MrMickeysMom
(20,453 posts)That's always been an industry, hasn't it?
Welcome to DU.
DRAEGER
(11 posts)believe in "Organized Religion", but that doesn't mean I don't believe in the possibility of a higher power of sorts. Religion is merely a means to control people, which is why it's the messenger I have a problem with.
I especially liked the first Zestiest Movie for the way it covered Religion, Government and Federal Reserve. Very informative even for those that don't believe what is in the video.
Basically according to Zestiest Movie, Jesus was not even a footnote in history to the Romans and people of the time until around 400 years after Jesus had passed away. Then Romans needed a way to control the mass's and Christianity was created.
I also liked the link of religious history and stories through the ages and the fact that everything was likely based on the solar events and earth seasonal cycles.
The other two videos made afterwards are interesting, but are more "movement" oriented. Another interesting title on NetFlix is "The God Who Wasn't There"
PCIntern
(26,895 posts)Just asking...
Jeffersons Ghost
(15,235 posts)I believe Jesus was a historic individual dedicated to peace. Like every individual truly dedicated to peaceful revolution he died an untimely death. Every culture in history consistently invents Divinity in our own image. While many feel comfortable believing gods or goddesses create us in their image, it is uncomfortable to realize that a glorious afterlife we want to envision is simply a worm-ridden grave. If there is an afterlife, why aren't more people in a hurry to die and enter the "Pearly Gates" of eternity? Hey, the "streets are paved with gold!" Are we truly worshiping "pearly gates," "gold" or our own image? I can name several powerful self-proclaimed Christians I'd like to hurry along to the afterlife; but that is another story.
truebrit71
(20,805 posts)..Jesus, not so much..
agent46
(1,262 posts)Don't you believe Jesus was some kind of galactic hyper-light master superseded only by one who is now incarnated as a psychopathic geek ping pong player?
RKP5637
(67,112 posts)needed escapism for some.
seveneyes
(4,631 posts)The one who weds six year old girls, chopped heads off with a sword and is hailed as a Savior by billions today. One would think they could have used a softer image of him.