Self-Professed ‘Bible Scholar’ Makes Explosive Allegation About Jesus... (Yeah Right)

The Blaze via Yahoo ^ | October 10, 2013 | Billy Hallowell

[Idaho_Cowboy]

On Oct. 19, self-professed Biblical scholar Joseph Atwill is planning to make public some very flammable allegations. At a day-long symposium called "Covert Messiah" in London, England, he's set to unveil purported evidence that Roman aristocrats manufactured Jesus Christ - a claim that, if substantiated, would devalue the core of the Christian faith.

The only problem? Most Biblical experts disagree with the scholar's pronouncements.

A press release announcing the purported new evidence claims that Atwill has discovered "ancient confessions" that purportedly prove that Romans invented Jesus Christ in the first century. He has long argued that the faith system was used as a political tool to control the masses -- something he says is still going on today.

"I present my work with some ambivalence, as I do not want to directly cause Christians any harm, but this is important for our culture," he said of the alleged debunk - one that he believes will eventually be universally accepted.

[tnlibertarian]

A press release announcing the purported new evidence claims that Atwill has discovered "ancient confessions" that purportedly prove that Romans invented Jesus Christ in the first century. He has long argued that the faith system was used as a political tool to control the masses -- something he says is still going on today.

So, he's long argued that Jesus was made up and now, just happens to find evidence that proves the very thing he's argued all along. How conveeeeeeeeenient.

[bkepley]

I’m pretty agnostic about a lot of things but I never have understood why atheists want to insist that there never was a Jesus. It seems like they leave occams razor aside when it comes to this.

[Alex Murphy]

On Oct. 19, self-professed Biblical scholar Joseph Atwill is planning to make public some very flammable allegations. At a day-long symposium called "Covert Messiah" in London, England, he's set to unveil purported evidence that Roman aristocrats manufactured Jesus Christ - a claim that, if substantiated, would devalue the core of the Christian faith.

Ping for later

[count-your-change]

“If substantiated”? Well....that clears things up! The Alien Autopsy would fit under that umbrella too....JFK is being kept alive in Area 51....Amazing “If substantiated”.

There is much foolishness in this world.

[Gamecock]

Roman aristocrats manufactured Jesus Christ

Now why would they do this? So they would have Christians to feed to the lions?

[a fool in paradise]

Why didn’t he spend his time debunking the myth about Mohammed riding his horse into heaven?

[fidelis]

"On Oct. 19, self-professed Biblical scholar Joseph Atwill is planning to make public some very flammable allegations..."

Gasoline and brake cleaner are "flammable". Allegations are not. I think the word we are looking for here is "inflammatory". But I quibble. Why anyone would give nut-jobs and sensationalists like this even their 15 minutes of fame is almost beyond me. I say "almost" because, sadly, there are enough saps gullible or ignorant enough to buy his book to make it worthwhile.

[Resolute Conservative]

I put more blame on the Jews, that said the blame actually lies on us (humans) He had to be sacrificed so we could live, that was the plan all along.

Can you imagine if He had not come in human form and was not sacrificed for our sins. We’d still be having to depend on Jewish elders to tell us what to do and making animal sacrifices etc... I am glad things turned out the way they did and that the Father loves me (us).

[Steve_Seattle]

"I’m pretty agnostic about a lot of things but I never have understood why atheists want to insist that there never was a Jesus."

I don't think most atheists claim that Jesus never existed, but that he is not who or what Christians claim he is. Some think he was an admirable man, so do not, and some think he was crazy.

[Idaho_Cowboy]

Gasoline and brake cleaner are “flammable”. Allegations are not. I think the word we are looking for here is “inflammatory”.

---

Very true. No one ever accused them of being great journalist.

[Skooz]

I do not want to directly cause Christians any harm

No problem. You and your laughable theory are incapable of doing so.

[I want the USA back]

The media will grab this and run with it, and many mushbrain low information voters will believe it.

[Steve_Seattle]

"Gasoline and brake cleaner are "flammable". Allegations are not. I think the word we are looking for here is "inflammatory". But I quibble. Why anyone would give nut-jobs and sensationalists like this even their 15 minutes of fame is almost beyond me. I say "almost" because, sadly, there are enough saps gullible or ignorant enough to buy his book to make it worthwhile."

Pretty much anyone who comes out with a radical reinterpretation of Jesus or Christianity immediately becomes a media darling - Dan Brown, Bart Ehrman, Elaine Pagels, Matthew Fox, and many others. Defenders of traditional orthodoxy rarely get a hearing, even if their work breaks new ground or clarifies some ancient controversy or conundrum. However this guy apparently has no scholarly credentials, so he might not get much more than the minimum 15 minutes of fame.

[DManA]

Jesus was a Pharisee.

What sources have you for that?

[The Great RJ]

I bet Mohammad was a creation of Middle Eastern merchants.

[Gamecock]

DO WHAT?

[DManA]

"When the Romans had exhausted conventional means of quashing rebellion, they switched to psychological warfare,"

Basically, what this guy is doing is projecting stuff going on in our American empire onto the first century Roman empire. Roman rulers weren't that subtle. Unless you consider nailing people to trees is subtle.

[St_Thomas_Aquinas]

I bet Mohammad was a creation of Middle Eastern merchants.

I'm impressed with your intuition.

I just heard about this book by Robert Spencer the other day: Did Muhammed Exist?

[kaehurowing]

Must be heading into the Christmas season. Can’t wait to see the covers on Time and Newsweek! Oh that’s right, Newsweek went out of business.

[huldah1776]

We could pray that he would have an experience like Paul or King Manasseh who sacrificed his kids.