When we think about where the Jesus Myth started, we probably think of some of the authors who started writing in the second half of the 20th Century. We may even think of the German historians of the 19th Century.
What many people don’t know is that the Jesus Myth actually began near the end of the 18th Century in France.
One of the pioneers of the Jesus Myth was Charles-François Dupuis (1742-1809). Dupuis was not a Bible scholar (although he did study for the priesthood) and was not a historian.
Dupuis was a professor of rhetoric who studied law and dabbled in mathematics and astronomy. He was someone who looked for patterns and connections, especially when it came to signs of the Zodiac.
Dupuis came up with the theory that the story of Jesus was a compilation of previously existing sun god myths. This version of the Jesus Myth is still held by some today.
What we need to know is the historical and philosophical context in which Dupuis wrote. This was in the years of the French Revolution and Enlightenment. There was a conscious rebellion against the old authorities, especially the church. You can read about some of this context here.
It is important to realize that the Jesus Myth didn’t begin with historians noticing the lack of evidence for Jesus. It began within the context of radical thinkers flexing their ideas after finally being freed from the shackles of the church.
Does that mean the Jesus Myth is false? Not necessarily. But it does show that the theory doesn’t have a strong scholarly foundation.
