I read this book many, many years ago. I found the proposed theory interesting. I am not saying that I believe it.
The problem is that there is no evidence of anyone else being crucified by the Romans for violating Mosaic law despite Jesus not being the only claimant to be the messiah during the Roman occupation of Judea. In fact, Josephus mentions multiple other resistance leaders who he at least implies were claimants to be the Jewish messiah, but not Jesus. (The passage about Jesus in Josephus is almost certainly a later Christian forgery to correct this.)
Yeah, that’s what I’m saying. The evidence points at opportunism taking advantage of a traumatized group, which is a much more believable narrative than magic moon water walker
I think the more believable narrative is that it didn’t happen and was just part of a hagiography of a messiah claimant.
Harsh word drop!
- hagiography - a biography that idolizes or idealizes the person (especially a person called a “saint”)
Exactly. And it’s pretty difficult to argue that the New Testament gospels don’t fit that description.
