Scholars' Verdict
Clifford Herschel Moore, professor at Harvard University, remarked
of Jesus’ historicity, “Christianity knew its Saviour
and Redeemer not as some god whose history was contained in a
mythical faith. … Jesus was a historical not a mythical
being. No remote or foul myth obtruded itself on the Christian
believer; his faith was founded on positive, historical, and acceptable
facts.”16
Few if any serious historians agree with Ellen Johnson’s
and Bertrand Russell’s assertions that Jesus didn’t
exist. The extensive documentation of Jesus’ life by contemporary
writers, his profound historical impact, and the confirming tangible
evidence of history have persuaded scholars that Jesus really
did exist. Could a myth have done all that? All but a few extremely
skeptical scholars say no.
Dr. Michael Grant of Cambridge has written, “To sum up,
modern critical methods fail to support the Christ-myth theory.
It has ‘again and again been answered and annihilated by
first rank scholars.’ In recent years ‘no serious
scholar has ventured to postulate the non-historicity of Jesus.’
”17
Yale historian Jaroslav Pelikan declared, “Regardless of
what anyone may personally think or believe about him, Jesus of
Nazareth has been the dominant figure in the history of Western
culture for almost twenty centuries. … It is from his birth
that most of the human race dates its calendars, it is by his
name that millions curse and in his name that millions pray.”18
Did Jesus Really Rise From The Dead?
The greatest question of our time is “Who is the real Jesus Christ?” Was he just an exceptional man, or was he God in the flesh, as Paul, John, and his other disciples believed? (See "Is Jesus God?")
The eyewitnesses to Jesus Christ actually spoke and acted like they believed he physically rose from the dead after his crucifixion. If they were wrong then Christianity has been founded upon a lie. But if they were right, such a miracle would substantiate all Jesus said about God, himself, and us.
But must we take the resurrection of Jesus Christ by faith alone, or is there solid historical evidence? Several skeptics began investigations into the historical record to prove the resurrection account false. What did they discover?
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Was There A "Da Vinci" Conspiracy?
“Mona Lisa’s Smirk” investigates the world’s leading conspiracy theory about Jesus Christ. Were Jesus and Mary Magdalene married? Did Constantine order the destruction of the true records of Jesus Christ reinventing him into the God Christians worship today?
Click here to discover the truth about The Da Vinci Code
Did Jesus Say What Happens After We Die?
If Jesus really did rise from the dead, then he must know what is on the other side. What did Jesus say about the meaning of life and our future? Are there many ways to God or did Jesus claim to be the only way? Read the startling answers in “Why Jesus?”
Click here to read "Why Jesus?" and discover what Jesus said about life after death.
Can Jesus Bring Meaning To Life?
“Why Jesus?” looks at the question of whether or not Jesus is relevant today. Can Jesus answer the big questions of life: “Who am I?” “Why am I here?” And, “Where am I going?” Dead cathedrals and crucifixes have led some to believe that he can’t, and that Jesus has left us to cope with a world out of control. But Jesus made claims about life and our purpose here on earth that need to be examined before we write him off as uncaring or impotent. This article examines the mystery of why Jesus came to earth.
Click here to discover how Jesus can bring meaning to life.
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© 2007 B&L Publications. This article is a supplement to Y-Jesus magazine by Bright Media Foundation & B&L Publications: Larry Chapman, Chief Editor.