A recent survey in Australia has uncovered some disturbing evidence regarding people’s views of Jesus. You can find the article that reflects on the results here.
The main concern is this:
Two in 10 Australians said Jesus was a mythical or fictional character while three out of 10 didn’t know.
That is mind boggling. To think that almost half are not completely convinced of the existence of Jesus and 20% are pretty sure that he is just a myth. I would love to see more research to see if these results would be duplicated.
Why is this surprising?
Whatever is causing people to doubt, it is not because there is a change of attitudes in the scholarly world. It is still true that you can count on one hand scholars with a PhD in a relevant field, teaching in that field in a recognized university, who reject a historical Jesus.
What we can know is that the 20% that are mentioned in the survey as deny Jesus’ existence, did not get to that place because they read through the relevant scholarly research and based on what historians were saying, rejected a historical Jesus.
So why would there be an increase in doubts about Jesus? Part of it is because of the internet and how it helps the dissemination of conspiracy theories. All conspiracy theories, including the flat earth theory, are on the rise.
I think that the main reason, however, is because of changing views toward the church. I am not an Australian and so I want to be careful what I say about the church in that nation. But I don’t think that I will be too far off the mark.
There is a rising distrust of the church (often labelled “organized religion”) in western societies. The church has lost its position of respect and authority. Not only is it no longer enough the church says its so, it is now a time when the claims of the church require increased scrutiny and skepticism.
The first appearances of those who doubted the existence of Jesus came during the era of the French Revolution. It was a time when the Roman Catholic Church was being dislodged from its influential position. Some saw as it not being enough to just increase secularization, they saw it time to question the core beliefs of the church as a part of the process. For some, that included the existence of Jesus.
Why are so many questioning the existence of Jesus? It is probably not because of a careful sifting of the evidence. More likely, it is because of changing attitudes toward the church. If the church was wrong about so many other things, so it seems, then perhaps they are also wrong with Jesus.
That is my theory. Why do you think that so many people are doubting the Jesus existed?
> Whatever is causing people to doubt, it is not because
> there is a change of attitudes in the scholarly world. It
> is still true that you can count on one hand scholars
> with a PhD in a relevant field, teaching in that field in
> a recognized university, who reject a historical Jesus.
>
> What we can know is that the 20% that are mentioned
> in the survey as deny Jesus’ existence, did not get to
> that place because they read through the relevant
> scholarly research and based on what historians were
> saying, rejected a historical Jesus.
People doubt because the mythicists’ attack is reasonable, and the Christian answer is weak.
If someone told me Canada was south of the USA, I wouldn’t pretend to cite scholars with a PhD in a geography, teaching in a recognized university. I’d show the data. I’d get out a map and point. Canada here. USA here. Boom, done.
Citing “scholars” makes apologists look weak because:
1 It admits the actual evidence is weak. Otherwise, you’d just give the evidence.
2 The form of apologists’ citations suggests they’re making it up. It’s always, “all scholars agree.” It’s never, “In the published survey of scholars, Citation: Author, Title, Journal, volume, issue, date, page, the survey results reveal xyz.”
3. Apologists’ definition of “scholar” is unserious. My impression is that the so called “scholars with a PhD in a relevant field, teaching in that field in a recognized university” consists mainly of Christians teaching at bible colleges where employment requires a statement of faith. I accept that these people identify as “scholars.” The problem is, the pre-ordained opinions of Hillbilly Bible College “scholars” are unpersuasive.
4. Citations to authority are not evidence. They are the assertion that evidence is not needed – because I am too stupid to understand it, and smart people have done my thinking for me. I think if there were persuasive evidence, apologists would just give it. They don’t. There’s not.
> So why would there be an increase in doubts about
> Jesus? Part of it is because of the internet and how it
> helps the dissemination of conspiracy theories. All
> conspiracy theories, including the flat earth theory,
> are on the rise.
Is conspiracy a real thing, do you think? Can you name any real conspiracies that you yourself believe in? Or do people never ever conspire together?
Another reason people doubt is that apologists chant “conspiracy theory”, a term which has in modern times become a slogan for evidence deniers. Have facts you don’t like? Label them a conspiracy theory, mention flat earthers, and move on. People are not persuaded.
West Side Story was copied from Romeo and Juliet. It that a conspiracy theory?
Roman Jove was copied from Greek Zeus. It that a conspiracy theory?
Serapis was copied from Osiris and Apis. Is that a conspiracy theory?
Genesis’ Noah was copied from Babylonian Utnapishtim. Is that a conspiracy theory?
The Jewish idea of God’s having a temple was copied from the pagan idea that gods had temples. Is that a conspiracy theory?
The Jewish idea of killing an animal to make God happy was copied from the pagan idea of killing an animal to make gods happy. Is that a conspiracy theory?