I have dedicated an entire website to responding to the Jesus Myth. But why bother? Will it even make a difference?
It is unlikely that we will ever change the mind of a diehard Jesus Mythicist. I have debated some Mythicists online, but would never consider a live debate.
They are so entrenched that it is almost impossible to change their minds. I’m a Christian and so I believe nothing is completely impossible, but it is not likely to happen through debate.
The most movement I have seen is a Mythicist acknowledging that there may have been a historical Jesus upon which all the mythical material has been laid upon.
So why respond to the Jesus Myth?
The reason I respond is to provide another voice to those who are considering the Jesus Myth. What Mythicists lack in historical fact, they make up for with rhetorical flourish. People can be caught up in this.
These are the people who need to hear about the historical evidence for Jesus and the reliability of the Gospels. These are the people who need to hear about the differences between the claims of the Mythicists and what the ancient myths actually say.
Can this make a difference?
I know for a fact that it can. I once talked to a person who was on the verge of giving up on historical Christianity until he read the book, Unmasking the Pagan Christ. That book rebuilt his faith in a real Jesus.
And that is the point of responding to the Jesus Myth.
Hi Stephen, There definitely is a need and in spite of the difficulty encountered in trying to change someone’s mind that is already firmly set, to the denial of evidence, opposing their position or opinion, that oppositional evidence still needs to be heard. Making a case for, is vitally important, otherwise, there is but one voice to be heard.