The Jesus Puzzle: Did Christianity Begin with a Mythical Christ?

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Age of Reason Publications, 2005 - 380 pages
A new presentation of the argument that no historical Jesus existed. A full and comprehensive survey of the question through an examination of the early Christian record, canonical and non-canonical, from Q to the Gospels, from the earliest Pauline epistles to the second century apologists, along with Jewish, Gnostic, and Greco-Roman documents of the time. The philosophy of the era, its religious expression in the pagan mystery cults, fascinating glimpses into the historical background of the period, an in-depth consideration of the Jewish historian Flavius Josephus, are only some of the additional topics covered in the book. A richly-detailed, highly lucid and entertaining account of how Christianity began without an historical Jesus of Nazareth, who came to life only on the pages of the Gospels. While based on the author's work for 'The Jesus Puzzle' website, the book is almost entirely an original writing, not a compilation of website articles. Like the website itself, the book has been styled for the general reader, though the scholarly community will find it of value as well.

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About the author (2005)

Earl Doherty is widely recognised as the world's leading Jesus mythicist. In a groundbreaking website (The Jesus Puzzle) established in 1996, followed by three books, The Jesus Puzzle (1999) Challenging the Verdict (2001), and now Jesus: Neither God Nor Man (2009), he demonstrates that Christianity began with a mythical Christ and that the Gospel Jesus was a later, fictional creation. While this view has been a minority position in New Testament scholarship for over a century, Earl Doherty s work is considered the most compelling case to date in support of this controversial theory. His degree in Ancient History and Classical Languages (Greek and Latin), supplemented by two decades of private study and research in all fields of biblical scholarship, is a reflection of a new wave of independent scholars who operate outside the confines of traditional academia. He is gaining an ever-expanding audience on the Web, and increasing book sales through Internet booksellers like Amazon.com. In 2001, Earl Doherty formed his personal publishing house, Age of Reason Publications, and is now issuing all three of his books under this imprint. Its website, Age of Reason, is also recognised as a major voice on the Internet for the promotion of science and rationality, with commentary and reprints on a variety of topics. Its motto, and that of Age of Reason Publications, reads: Dedicated to attaining an Age of Reason in the application of rational thought to society s laws, ethics and beliefs

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