So, I would still appreciate your reply to my second major question: How do you think it all came about. The synoptics, Paul and Peter, the Jerusalem Council, the Apostolic Fathers, Polycarp, Justin Martyr on up...?
You weren't serious about "A few of his drinking buddies got together and cobbled together the gospels over a few gallons of wine.." I don't think.
So what's your likely scenario for the hoax's beginning and development into Christianity today?
> How do you think it all came about.
In an era with very little in the way of accurate and complete written records.... once you've "established" that a person existed, then it's pretty hard to prove that person *didn't* exist. Remember the newpaper reporter about two decades ago who wrote a series of Pulitzer-prize winning articles featuring a (IIRC) 10-year-old heroin addict? Turns out the reporter made the kid up. Didn't exist. I know.... shocking that someone in our media would do such a thing. But if the reporter hadn't fessed up... people would still believe that kid existed. And why wouldn't they?
> You weren't serious about "A few of his drinking buddies got together and cobbled together the gospels over a few gallons of wine.."
Of course not. As I said, hypothetical.
> So what's your likely scenario for the hoax's beginning and development into Christianity today?
Explain the success of Scientology in an era when information is infinitely faster and available than in 50 AD. Explain the rise of Mormonism when based on what sure sounds like a patently silly tale. Explain the success of Muslims finding converts among westerners.
Once a religion gets going, it's hard to stop. And having a shaky or downright fraudulent foundation does not seem to slow down many religions.