Ancient Tablet Evidence of Jesus Myth?

[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?

 

[Willamena]

Whether an actual person or not, Jesus Christ is most useful as a myth, anyway.

 

[cardero]

Whether an actual person or not, Jesus Christ is most useful as a myth, anyway.

I agree but I think Superman also serves a useful purpose as a myth but I did not think that DC offices are in any danger of having to close their business doors.

 

[Father Heathen]

Christians have never allowed facts and evidence to get in the way of their faith before, so I don't think this discovery will matter much.

 

[cardero]

Christians have never allowed facts and evidence to get in the way of their faith before, so I don't think this discovery will matter much.

The author of the article has also anticipated this.

Acharya S. said... Thanks, David. That's why I headed off that unscientific assessment by saying that it is not prophecy but a blueprint used by the creators of the Christ myth, a contention I have made in detail in my several books.

But, of course, I am well aware of the "No, it's not" retort when blind believers are confronted with scientific analysis. It's all they have in their last resort.

 

[sandandfoam]

Non threatening artifact. There'll probably be an hour long special on the Discovery channel in a year or two starring a mysterious black-market antiquities dealer, straight after a re-run of the one about Jesus' tomb.

 

[Ringer]

I guess I'll have to wait until the experts give us their opinion. My guess is that it will have no significant impact on Christianity either way. For my sake, I hope it's not the real deal. If Jesus and his death/resurrection is based on mythology and not actual events, as Paul would say, my faith is in vain and I should be pitied above everybody else. But for now, I'm putting my trust in Paul and the Bible...

1 Corinthians 15:3-8: "For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born."

 

[Father Heathen]

I guess I'll have to wait until the experts give us their opinion. My guess is that it will have no significant impact on Christianity either way. For my sake, I hope it's not the real deal. If Jesus and his death/resurrection is based on mythology and not actual events, as Paul would say, my faith is in vain and I should be pitied above everybody else. But for now, I'm putting my trust in Paul and the Bible...

Well, the fact that the whole Christ fable is a derivative amalgam of older pagan myths is not exactly breaking news.

 

[Rolling_Stone]

Like one of the commentators said: "Regardless of the authenticity of the tablet, common sense will tell us that the mythos of the life, death and resurrection are imminently more powerful in the human psyche than a historical fact ever could be." To liken it to a "Superman" myth shows about as much depth of thought as I'd expect from a sponge.

 

[Ringer]

Well, the fact that the whole Christ fable is a derivative amalgam of older pagan myths is not exactly breaking news.

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

 

[cardero]

Like one of the commentators said: "Regardless of the authenticity of the tablet, common sense will tell us that the mythos of the life, death and resurrection are imminently more powerful in the human psyche than a historical fact ever could be."

To the human psyche possibly but to human tradition, doctrine and ritual it should have devastating results.

Rolling Stone writes: To liken it to a "Superman" myth shows about as much depth of thought as I'd expect from a sponge.

Blasphemy!

 

[Father Heathen]

Like one of the commentators said: "Regardless of the authenticity of the tablet, common sense will tell us that the mythos of the life, death and resurrection are imminently more powerful in the human psyche than a historical fact ever could be." To liken it to a "Superman" myth shows about as much depth of thought as I'd expect from a sponge.

there, there. It's alright. It'll be okay. No need to stoop to resorting to ad hominems, kid. It betrays your emotional insecurity. Take some deep breaths, relax, then return with a rational rebuttal if you disagree so strongly.

 

[Ringer]

Christians have never allowed facts and evidence to get in the way of their faith before, so I don't think this discovery will matter much.

So you're already assuming that story is presenting "evidence" and "facts"?

 

[angellous_evangellous]

See also: http://www.religiousforums.com/forum/abrahamic-religions/67652-gabriels-vision-precursor-jesus.html

 

[cardero]

See also: http://www.religiousforums.com/forum/abrahamic-religions/67652-gabriels-vision-precursor-jesus.html

My apologies, I was not aware this topic was already brought up.

 

[Father Heathen]

So you're already assuming that story is presenting "evidence" and "facts"?

No, I'm saying that if it does turn out to be legit, the religious folk will still ignore and dismiss the discovery regardless.

 

[Willamena]

No, I'm saying that if it does turn out to be legit, the religious folk will still ignore and dismiss the discovery regardless.

I doubt it. I get the feeling, though, that what would be ignored is the conclusion you think should be drawn from the "facts and evidence".

 

[Guitar's Cry]

I guess I'll have to wait until the experts give us their opinion. My guess is that it will have no significant impact on Christianity either way. For my sake, I hope it's not the real deal. If Jesus and his death/resurrection is based on mythology and not actual events, as Paul would say, my faith is in vain and I should be pitied above everybody else. But for now, I'm putting my trust in Paul and the Bible...

I wouldn't let it ruin your faith. An archetypal myth has power enough.

 

[Ringer]

I wouldn't let it ruin your faith. An archetypal myth has power enough.

I don't see how it would have any power in my life. My faith is rooted in what I perceive to believe to be true. If somehow it was proven beyond a shadow of doubt that Christianity is false and what has been claimed as truth turned out to be myth or false, I don't see how it would be a useful part of my life from that point on. I'd have to start looking into Girls on Trampolines.

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

Christians have never allowed facts and evidence to get in the way of their faith before, so I don't think this discovery will matter much.

Well, the fact that the whole Christ fable is a derivative amalgam of older pagan myths is not exactly breaking news.

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