National Survey of 1,000 Adults Conducted April 20-21, 2011 By Rasmussen Reports

1. National Survey of 1,000 AdultsConducted April 20-21, 2011 By Rasmussen Reports Sampling error=+- 3% 1* Do you believe the person known to history as Jesus Christ actually walked the earth about 2000 years ago? 83% Yes, 8% No, 9% undecided 2* Do you believe that Jesus Christ was the Son of God who came to earth to die for our sins? 78% Yes, 13% No, 9% undecided 3* Do you believe that Jesus Christ rose from the dead? 74% Yes, 14% No, 11% undecided

2. Did Jesus Exist? James A. Cox, Ph.D.

3. Bible Literalists: --- if it is in the Bible, it happened --- emotional YES! • Some atheists(e.g. Christopher Hitchens, Richard Dawkins): emotional NO! • Historians examining evidence: • We shall see… Viewpoints

4. Arguments against Existence

5. No mention in Biblical books until 20 years after death • No mention by ANY histories until 40 years after death • Even then, Roman histories focus on followers rather than Jesus himself. • Josephus reference could be fabricated (earliest copy from 10th century), certainly embellished: Now there was about this time Jesus, a wise man, if it be lawful to call him a man, for he was a doer of wonderful works, a teacher of such men as receive the truth with pleasure. He drew over to him both many of the Jews and many of the Gentiles.He was the Christ, and when Pilate, at the suggestion of the principal men among us, had condemned him to the cross, those that loved him at the first did not forsake him. For he appeared to them alive again the third day. As the divine prophets had foretold these and ten thousand other wonderful things concerning him. And the tribes of Christians so named from him are not extinct at this day." Antiquities XVIII, 3:2 Historian references

6. When was Jesus born? • During reign of Herod the Great (before 4 BC)? • Or when Qurinius Governor of Syria (after 6 AD)? • Did his ministry last one year (Synoptic) or three years (John)? • History indicates no census, no slaughtering of innocents. • Archaeology indicates no settlement in Bethlehem (in Judea) at that time. Gospel Disagreements

7. Miraculous birth (Horus, Mithras, Perseus) • Virgin mother (Perseus[of Danae], Attis[of Nana]) • Human Mother/Divine Father (Perseus,Hercules,Theseus,Pan,Dionysius) • Raise from Dead (Osiris,Dionysius) • Ascent to heaven (Mithras,Parmenides) Graeco-Roman Hero motif

8. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNf-P_5u_Hw Video

9. Arguments for Existence

10. Why expect contemporary Writings?

11. Jesus Death ca. 30 AD (26-36) • Apostolic period: Peter, James the Just, and John “pillar” of church (30-64) • Conversion of Paul (ca. 33-36), then spread of Christianity through Roman empire in three missionary journeys • Origin of credal hymns cited by Paul (ca. 30-40) • Council of Jerusulem (ca. 48-50 ) cited by Acts, Paul, and early church fathers. • Epistles of Paul (1 Thessalonians ca. 51 – Romans ca. 55-58) • Q? (<70) • Destruction of Jewish temple in Jerusalem (70) • Gospel of Mark (ca. 70) • Gospel of Thomas (ca. 40-70, or ca. 100-140) • Gospel of Matthew (ca. 75-85) • Gospel of Luke and Acts of the Apostles (ca. 75-95) • Final version of Gospel of John written (ca. 85-95) • Clement letter (ca. 95-97) quotes 676 passages from 25/27 books in NT Alfred Hagner’sThe Use of the Old and New Testaments in Clement of Rome, Leiden, E.J Brill, 1973. NT Timeline

12. The passage contains vocabulary which is different from that of the surrounding context. • The passage is written in poetic form, that is, it exhibits rhythmical patterns and careful structure. • The content of the passage interrupts the context. • The name of the deity is absent and is replaced by a relative clause or a participle. • Words are used in the passage which are found nowhere else in the New Testament. • The cosmic role of God or Christ is emphasized. • Theological concepts and christological doctrine are expressed in exalted and liturgical language. Characteristics of New Testament HymnsDehsen(1984): “Hymnic Forms in the New Testament”

13. Philippians 2:6–11 (“Third” Missionary Journey, ca. 52-54) Though he was in the form of God,[a]      he did not think of equality with God      as something to cling to.7 Instead, he gave up his divine privileges[b];      he took the humble position of a slave[c]      and was born as a human being.   When he appeared in human form,[d]8 he humbled himself in obedience to God      and died a criminal’s death on a cross. 9 Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor      and gave him the name above all other names,10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,      in heaven and on earth and under the earth,11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,      to the glory of God the Father. [New Living Translation] • 1 Corinthians 15:3-4: For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: 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. • Colossians 1:15–20 • Ephesians 1:3–14 Examples

14. Historical Claims of Existence

15. As a consequence, to get rid of the report, Nero fastened the guilt and inflicted the most exquisite tortures on a class hated for their abominations, called Christians [or Chrestians] by the populace. Christus, from whom the name had its origin, suffered the extreme penalty during the reign of Tiberius at the hands of one of our procurators, Pontius Pilatus, and a most mischievous superstition, thus checked for the moment, again broke out not only in Judaea, the first source of the evil, but, even in Rome, where all things hideous and shameful from every part of the world find their centre and become popular. In accordance, an arrest was first made of all who pleaded guilty; then, upon their information, an immense multitude was convicted, not as much of the crime of firing the city as of hatred against mankind. Mockery of every sort was added to their deaths. Covered with the skins of beasts, they were torn by dogs and perished, or were nailed to crosses, or were doomed to the flames and burnt, to serve as a nightly illumination, when daylight had expired. Tacitus, AnnalsXV.44 (ca. 117, citing three different primary sources) Fire of Rome (64 AD)

16. No disputes about originality of: So [Ananus, in 62 AD]assembled a council of judges, and brought before it the brother of Jesus, the so-called Christ, whose name was James, together with some others, and having accused them as lawbreakers, he delivered them over to be stoned. Antiquities XX 9:1 Josephus (ca. 94 AD)

17. Letter from Pliny the Younger to Trajan (c. 110) • Tacitus (Annals, c.115-120) • Suetonius (Lives of the Caesars, c. 125) • Lucian (mid-2nd century) • Galen (c.150; De pulsuumdifferentiis 2.4; 3.3) • Celsus (True Discourse, c.170). • Mara Bar Serapion (pre-200?) Other historical references not ONE questions existence

18. Jesus and Mythology

19. Horus

20. Isis was protector of brother Osiris. She protected him by spells known to her as a “witch-goddess”. One day, the fiend Set killed Osiris by hurling him to the ground during the war of the forces of good vs. the forces of evil. When Isis heard of this, she took the form of a bird, and went out at once to find his body. When she found it, she fanned the lifeless body with her feathers, and the wind produced by that caused the inert members of Osiris body to move, whereupon his “seed entereth her”, wherefrom “Horus-Sept issueth from thee in the form of Horus, dweller in the star Septet” Birth of Horus

21. Isis was the mother of Horus, along with his father Osiris who was the ruler of the living world. Osiris was killed by his brother Set who was incredibly jealous of his power. When Isis and Nephthys discovered this, they brought Osiris back to life with the use of magic. Set was enraged and so he killed Osiris once again, but this time he chopped up his body into many parts and scattered them throughout Egypt. Osiris then became the pharaoh of the dead and the underworld, while the land of the living was ruled by no one. Set was content thinking he would become the pharaoh of the living, but what he didn't know was that Isis was pregnant with Osiris's child. He would become pharaoh of the living because of his birthright. After Isis gave birth to Horus, it was thought he would become the new pharaoh of the living, but once Set found out he became very angry. Set had the child poisoned by a scorpion. Isis was outraged with grief at the death of her child. She called out to Ra and asked him for his aid. He sent Thoth who restored the child to life. From that point Ra would act as an advocate to Horus, just as his father Osiris would have done if alive. Horus lived but later fought Set to see who would become the pharaoh of the living. During the fight Set ripped out Horus's eye and won the battle. This is where the symbol 'the Eye of Horus' is from. Set then became the pharaoh of the living once again. Isis could not stand by and let this happen because her son was the rightful ruler. She went into the underworld disguised and sought out Set. She told him how an evil man took something from her son that was rightfully his. Set ordered to have this corrected, not knowing who she was referring to. Isis revealed herself to Set and he tried to recant, but Ra witnessed the event and made Horus the pharaoh of the living. The majority of the stelarelates to how Horus was poisoned and cured. The ancient Egyptians would also use this cure for their own people who suffered from poisons. The sick would have the spirit of Horus within them and they would be cured just as Horus was. The stories inscribed on this stela, especially the one regarding Isis and Horus are the most comprehensive found on any monument. Metternich Stela

22. Sun god = Son God? In English only. • No reference to: • “Star in the East”, “Three Kings”, or “newborn savior” • Teacher at 12 • Baptized at 30 • Walked on water • Referred to as “Truth”, “Light”, “Lamb of God”, “Good Shephard” • 12 disciples or followers • Never crucified, buried three days, or resurrected Horus falsehoods

23. Mithras virgin birth? From a rock, full grown! • Birth celebrated on December 25-nope • Ascended to heaven without dying. • Bull slaying similar to Christ atonement? • 12 Zodiac signs=12 disciples, err, quite a stretch. Similarity to Mithras Cult

24. Following motifs are true: • Conceptions between Gods and mortals • Miraculous births • Gods brought back to life • Gods ascending to heaven • BUT --- no Roman historian ever suggested Jesus as myth. • Early traditions (Paul & Mark) omit miraculous birth stories, or other mythic tales • Meaning of resurrection changes much between Paul & Mark and later accounts • Why would so many Christians allow themselves to be persecuted over a myth? Another interpretation

25. The Jesus myth theory: the gospels describe a virtually, and perhaps entirely, fictitious person or the Gospel accounts are so filled with legend, myth, and contradictions there is no reliable way to show that any of it including the very existence of the man described is rooted in history. This view is represented to varying degrees by Bruno Bauer, Arthur Drews, G.A. Wells, and Robert Price. • There is enough evidence to conclude that Jesus existed, but the reports are so unreliable that very little can be said about him with confidence. This view is represented by Rudolf Bultmann and Burton Mack. • Historical research can reveal a core of historical facts about Jesus, but he is very different from the Jesus of the New Testament. His miracles, birth, and resurrection are myths. Robert Funk and Crossan represent this view, as well as most New Testament scholarsand historians. • The gospels are reliable historical sources, and critical historiography should not rule out the possibility of supernatural occurrence, a view represented by John P. Meier and N.T. Wright.[18] From Eddy, Paul R. and Boyd, Gregory A.The Jesus Legend. Baker Academic, 2007. Current Scholarly Opinions

26. Separating Myth from Man: Which is which? Next Week