Ancient Tablet Evidence of Jesus Myth?

[logician]

Originally Posted by cardero

Ancient Tablet Evidence of Jesus Myth?


An ancient Hebrew tablet is creating a stir after certain scholars identified it as containing a pre-Christian account of the awaited Jewish messiah's death and resurrection after three days. If this artifact is genuine, from the era claimed, and actually says what is asserted, the discovery clearly demonstrates that the idea of a messiah, savior or divine redeemer dying and rising after three days existed decades before the alleged advent of Jesus Christ. This dying-and-resurrecting motif is one of a number that various writers and scholars have claimed demonstrate Jesus to represent not a "historical" personage but a mythical concept found in religious ideologies and mythologies long prior to the so-called Christian era.

(full story here)

What do members think? Smoking gun, genuine article, misrepresented fraud, non-threatening artifact?

It doesn't take this tablet to know that the supposed Jesus is just a rehash of many other pre-existent mythlogies - such as Mythraism. The "virgin birth", "ressurected god" motif was reworked many times.

[Jordan St. Francis]

Considering that Christians believe Judaism to have anticipated in various respects the coming, suffering and resurrection of Christ, (ie. from the prophecies of Isaiah to the sacrifice of Isaac) this could actually work to prove that the the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus made even more sense to Jews in its original milieu than scholars previously assumed.

The understanding that Jesus was not a historical, but rather mythical figure is widely believed to be very weak by credible scholars across the board. Even the most ardent of non-Christian Jesus specialists acknowledge two basic facts about Jesus in common with Christians:

1. He lived as a historical personage
2. He was crucified and died.

[Jayhawker Soule]

Originally Posted by logician

It doesn't take this tablet to know that the supposed Jesus is just a rehash of many other pre-existent mythlogies - such as Mythraism.

I really hate pompous ignorance. Read Clauss and come back when you know what you're talking about.

[Jayhawker Soule]

Originally Posted by Jordan St. Francis

1. He lived as a historical personage
2. He was crucified and died.

1. Probably.
2. Possibly.

[rocketman]

Originally Posted by cardero

What do members think? Smoking gun, genuine article, misrepresented fraud, non-threatening artifact?

Non-threatening artifact, at least for those who actually look into it and ignore any Dan Brown style spin that is bound to surface.

We should ignore Knohl's biased interpretation of what may be meant by the tablet (nobody can read missing letters and words) and leave it in the hands of unbiased scholars. According to Moshe Bar-Asher, president of the Israeli Academy of Hebrew Language and emeritus professor of Hebrew and Aramaic at the Hebrew University: "There is one problem: In crucial places of the text there is lack of text. I understand Knohl’s tendency to find there keys to the pre-Christian period, but in two to three crucial lines of text there are a lot of missing words."

Even if it turns out to be as Knohl so obviously hopes, it still will not trouble thinking Christians. As Talmudic culture expert Daniel Boyarin of the University of California–Berkeley said: “Some Christians will find it shocking—a challenge to the uniqueness of their theology—while others will be comforted by the idea of it being a traditional part of Judaism. ” After all, similar precursor allegories to Jesus already exist in the Old Testament and Jesus himself even made reference to one. See Hosea 6:2, Matt 12:39-41.

[Father Heathen]

Originally Posted by Jayhawker Soule

Speaking of someone who would never allow evidence to taint his bigoted opinion ...

Scathing!

[Rolling_Stone]

Originally Posted by Ringer

I'm quite familiar with that theory but I believe otherwise.

I agree. Funny, isn't it? I wonder what's so difficult to understand about the cross-fertilization of ideas in the evolution of religion on Earth?

[Ringer]

Originally Posted by logician

It doesn't take this tablet to know that the supposed Jesus is just a rehash of many other pre-existent mythlogies - such as Mythraism. The "virgin birth", "ressurected god" motif was reworked many times.

A snippet from a reviewer of the book that Jay suggested:

The prevailing wisdom is that Mithraism is nearly identical to Christianity.
After reading this work of Professor Manfred Clauss, you will think otherwise.

Mithraism has very little in common with Christianity. The reader will find interesting the sacred rites of Mithraism and the seven levels of it's priesthood. Mithraism has a curious history. In the second and third centuries AD it was a competitor for adherents with the various pagan religions along with Christianity. Mithraism was a religion open only to men and the elect. An adherent had to endure several initiation rites. Mithraism could also be considered an ancient secret society (in my opinion).

If you enjoy reading about the early Christian era or The Roman Empire, this book is a valuable resource.

Since I see so much of this Christianity = Mithraism, I think I'll pick up the book and start a thread with my findings.

[Jayhawker Soule]

Originally Posted by Ringer

A snippet from a reviewer of the book that Jay suggested:

Since I see so much of this Christianity = Mithraism, I think I'll pick up the book and start a thread with my findings.

See here.

[BalanceFx]

Originally Posted by Jayhawker Soule

I really hate pompous ignorance. Read Clauss and come back when you know what you're talking about.

As opposed to pompous superiority and argument from obscure authority? Clauss is not exactly Webster or Britanica let alone say a Dawkins or Coulter... Its so obscure to the layman the fact that you have read something you find both interesting and apperantly factual you feel the need to portray your superiority in a pompous nature towards someone who is stating their opinion.

Have you seen Zeitgeist? Have you read Dawkins? Do you know the history of each christian holiday?

I would never insult you and tell you to go away until you have read such but nor do I regard any as authorities... more theory, proposals and ideas. Even evolution is a theory that could be disproven. A suggestion of an alternate theory might have been more tactful.

I could not imagine Jesus speaking towards others in such a tone but then again my image of Jesus is imaginary and only a theory. I have no proof it isnt a Ra rewrite.