A Christian Response by Stephen J. Bedard
Dates, Theology, and Differences from the Canonical Gospels When modern readers think of “the Gospels,” they typically mean the four canonical texts of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Yet the first two centuries of Christianity saw the circulation of a much wider body of gospel literature. Some of these writings preserve early traditions about Jesus; … Read More “The Five Earliest Non-Canonical Gospels” »
A Literary, Linguistic, and Historical Overview The first century CE stands at a crossroads in Jewish history. It marks the final decades of the Second Temple, its destruction in 70 CE, and the beginning of new Jewish trajectories under Roman rule. Jewish authors responded to these conditions with an extraordinary range of literary activity: historical … Read More “Jewish Texts Written in the First Century CE” »
Introduction Few religious figures illustrate the fluidity of ancient religious ideas as clearly as Mithra. Emerging in the Indo-Iranian religious world, Mithra appears first in Vedic Hinduism, then takes on new theological depth in Zoroastrianism, and finally re-emerges in the Roman Empire as the central figure of Mithraism, a mystery religion practiced largely by soldiers … Read More “The Evolution of Mithra: From Vedic Deity to Roman Mystery God” »
The parable of the Prodigal Son is one of the most famous teachings attributed to Jesus, encapsulating themes of repentance, mercy, and reconciliation. Less widely known is that a story often called the “Buddhist parable of the prodigal son” appears in Mahāyāna Buddhist literature and bears striking surface similarities. These parallels have prompted questions about … Read More “Two Prodigal Sons? A Comparison of Buddhist and Christian Parables” »
Between roughly 400 BCE and 100 CE, India and the Mediterranean world were linked by overland and maritime networks that facilitated trade, diplomacy, and limited intellectual exchange. These contacts occurred during a formative period for both Hindu and Buddhist traditions, when key scriptures were already in circulation and shaping religious life in South Asia. Understanding which … Read More “India and the Roman World: Cultural and Religious Interaction, 400 BCE–100 CE” »
Krishna is one of the most central and beloved figures in Hinduism. Revered as an avatar of Vishnu, a divine teacher, a heroic king, and a playful cowherd, Krishna occupies a place of immense theological, literary, and devotional significance. Yet alongside this religious prominence lies a historical question: was Krishna a real historical individual, or … Read More “Was Krishna a Historical Figure?” »
Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha, stands at the center of one of the world’s major religious traditions. Unlike figures grounded in modern documentary history, the Buddha belongs to a distant oral culture in which biography, teaching, and legend were transmitted for centuries before being written down. As a result, historians approach his existence … Read More “The Historical Evidence for the Existence of Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha)” »
James George Frazer was one of the most influential—and controversial—scholars of religion in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Best known for The Golden Bough (Amazon affiliate link), Frazer helped shape the early academic study of myth, ritual, and religion, leaving a legacy that extends well beyond his own discipline. Biographical background James George Frazer … Read More “Who Was James George Frazer?” »
The French Revolution was as much a war against the Old Regime as it was against the Old Faith. While many factors led to the Revolution of 1789, one of its most distinctive features was the deep strain of anti-clericalism that ran through its politics and philosophy. For some intellectuals, the Church was not just … Read More “Anti-Clerical Attitudes Among French Philosophers During the French Revolution — And Their Role in the “Jesus Myth” Theory” »
The 19th century witnessed a significant transformation in how scholars approached the life and person of Jesus. Known as the “Quest for the Historical Jesus,” this intellectual and theological movement sought to distinguish the historical figure of Jesus of Nazareth from the theological Christ of faith. Rather than simply accepting traditional church doctrines or Gospel accounts at face value, scholars … Read More “The Quest for the Historical Jesus in the 19th Century” »
