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To: AnAmericanMother

You may recall that after the 4th Century there was a great market for religious articles, Christian ones in particular. The "True Cross" the handkerchief of Veronica, ect ect.

Later, during the Crusades, "the lance that pierced Jesus' side" was discovered, based on a strong need, and a "vision", but recent tests showing it dated to the 11th century. The "Grail" was discovered, but pawned to finance some venture, and now lives in Spain.

Of course, I think the archeologists are being careful, and bringing out the information very slowly.

I personally believe that Paul's letters point to a philisophical Jesus, which some didn't think would fly, so they used Mark's cover story for the special recipe for the magic Mushroom as the basis for inventing a physical Jesus, per John Allegro's book "The Sacred Mushroom and the Cross".

In many ways Jesus was a modernization of the Mithra cult that got a great bonus when the pole star moved from Taurus, thus slaying "the great bull". Someone was moving the heavens, and Mithra was as good an explanation as any.

Joseph Smith Jr, in like manner, made up his holy books based on the fictional manuscript he stole when hired as a well digger.

Islam? The Quran was written hundreds of years after Mohammed, and they put in what would justify the recent bout of Arab agression. Alas, high taxes had made the Eastern Roman empire poor and weak, and battles over religious orthodoxy had made many look to Islam (which had no holy book to fight over as yet!) as the next best thing to liberation.

Your mileage may vary.


41 posted on 02/23/2007 6:15:43 AM PST by donmeaker (The speed of light is 186,234 miles per second. Not just a good idea, its the LAW!)
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To: donmeaker

The Holy Grail isn't in Spain, It's at Castle Arrrrrrrrrrrrgh


62 posted on 02/23/2007 6:27:36 AM PST by massgopguy (I owe everything to George Bailey)
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To: donmeaker
I personally believe that Paul's letters point to a philisophical Jesus, which some didn't think would fly, so they used Mark's cover story for the special recipe for the magic Mushroom as the basis for inventing a physical Jesus, per John Allegro's book "The Sacred Mushroom and the Cross".

What writings of Paul's point to a "philosophical Jesus"? Is it writings like 1 Corinthians 15:17- " and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins". Or Romans 4:25-"He who was delivered over because of our transgressions, and was raised because of our justification."?

If you want to read books on sacred mushrooms and believe them, that is fine by me. But if the author of that book seriously thinks Paul's writings point to a "philosophical Jesus", then it is obvious he has not read any of them (unless he was on some really good mushrooms at the time).

136 posted on 02/23/2007 7:21:00 AM PST by Sans-Culotte ("Thanks, Tom DeLay, for practically giving me your seat"-Nick Lampson)
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To: donmeaker

I read some chronicles of the First Crusade when the Lance was basically found in the cellar of a castle that was being beseiged. It was quite hilarious. A guy has a "dream," goes and digs up a Lance where the dream told him to dig, and no one questions that it looks like all the other lances they have. "See, Jesus is with us, and uh, here's the Lance that pierced His side!" Yet somehow they won (was that in Tyre, I forget). It goes to show that all people need is something to believe in.


191 posted on 02/23/2007 11:19:18 AM PST by Cyclopean Squid (Patron Saint of Mediocrity)
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To: donmeaker

"The speed of light is 186,234 miles per second. Not just a good idea, its the LAW!"

Depends on where you're looking at the light.
That's only the law in one single jurisdiction.
Other jurisdictions have different laws for the speed of light.


197 posted on 02/23/2007 11:35:07 AM PST by Vicomte13 (Et alors?)
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To: donmeaker

Jesus is no myth. Even from a secular point of view. There are extra-biblical writings about a man named Jesus stirring things up with the local Jewish leaders and ultimately crucified. If I recall correctly it was Pliny the Elder (though there are other accounts).


265 posted on 02/24/2007 4:18:29 AM PST by brewer1516
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