Customer Reviews

The Truth About Jesus, Is He a Myth?

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

This is a good first book to introduce the reader to the idea of Jesus as a myth. It's a difficult concept to grasp because we've all been told that Jesus was a factual person for all of our lives, but few people have ever investigated to see if there's any truth behind the idea. It's true, as Mangasarian points out, that there really isn't any hard evidence at all to show that Jesus ever actually lived, but it's hard for most people to even entertain the idea since we've all taken it for granted from early childhood. Once you begin reading and understanding his arguments in section one of the book, however, you can quickly see that he has some very good points. Seconds two and three seem less related to the central topic, but the book is well worth the price (especially the paperback) just for section one.

The book, being rather old, is written in a style which some may find hard to read, but the information in the book has stood the test of time and the facts presented are well worth making your way through the text.

Let me also mention, however, that since the book is older and has no copyright on it anymore, you can easily find the entire text (even in audiobook form) on the net.

"The church-goer is trained to believe, not to think. The truth is withheld from him under the pious pretense that faith, and not knowledge, is the essential thing." This little book is for those who would rather think critically than believe blindly. Mangasarian's logic is clear and easy to follow. I wish I had read this when I was in my teens, It would have saved me a lot of delusion and dissapointment. Here is another of my favorite quotes: "To send a thief to heaven from the gallows because he believes, and an honest man to hell because he doubts, is that the virtue that is going to save the world?"

I found this book to be incredibly honest, easy-to-read and full of information about the stories of Jesus and the origins of Christianity. I know it's difficult to accept that Jesus was probably a myth because his legend is taught as real and Christian mythology remains a major theme in American films, book and pop culture. Its deeply entrenched in our psyche as a community. Heck, even our year 2010 supposedly marks how old jesus might be, if he were real. Even the people at the History Channel sell Jesus as if the stories were true. In all fairness, it's probably great for ratings at Easter. And I'm sure that some people at that network believe what they are broadcasting is factual. However, its irresponsible television when you consider the information in this book. They should at least make a documentary about this book and the facts within. The author has researched deeply and reveals much. Consider this curious fact: no historian who lived during the times of when jesus supposedly existed ever wrote a word about him. The author lists many people who wrote legitimate news of that time period and finds no mention of anything about Jesus. Also, the books of new testament have much contradiction and were not first-hand accounts of Jesus and read like the mythical literature of that era. They were written many years after Christ supposedly lived - and thats just the beginning. I highly recommend this book because it's captivating. Knowledge and truth is healthy for the mind and soul and blind faith and ignorance is extremely damaging and causes more hurt than help.

I enjoyed this book. If you are close minded and don't want to research about the origins of Jesus or the New Testament, then skip this. If you care about your faith enough to make sure it holds water, then this is a good start. It's simple and direct. The author covers all the bases, but it's up to the reader to take this information and explore it further when the book is completed. I was a Christian for 30 years and it was books like this that helped me realize that, though there may be a God, the Christian faith doesn't hold the keys to understanding that God. If you want to find, you have to look.

This book makes lots of sense. All the morons who gave it one star are stupid brainwashed people that look for something to guide them through life because they're too stupid to go through life on their own. I guess their priests and/or pastors do that for them and they buy their way to heaven by monetary compensations. Yes morons give your pastor your paycheck, too, and make god and jesus happy with your donation. I can't undestand how people become so stupid. That's all I have to say. Read the book and you'll learn something new.

I am now at peace with myself.

Many of you will not get through this book because it is very hard to embrace. It is easy to read, but hard to admit.

I encourage you to read it in its entirety, then make your decision on its validity.

While not emtirely without merit, and the introuction providing a worthy introduction to the 'Jesus-as-a-myth' meme, most of this book is speculation better suited to the Zeitgeist crowd. It would do one better to read Israel Finklestein.

I thought I understood Jesus and the bible and the story of chriatianity. Then I read the bible. It is obvious to me that this is an act of radical defiance. If you read the book you can easily see that what we are taught and what the truth is a very, VERY different things.

One example proves the point. I always believed that when you die you went to heaven to join those loved ones who went before you and to await those who would come later. This is not supported by the bible. Why hasn't anyone made this clear. Probably not a day goes by when preachers console survivors by telling them that their loved one is now "in a better place." Why would they say taht when the bible says that is not true. It says nobody goes to heaven until after Jesus comes again. Nobody. So heaven is empty right now. wow.

jesus is not a myth. just read the bible and u will find out that jesus is not a myth. the bible is a true book. i think this is nonsence. jesus suffered greatly. he felt real pain and humans feel pain. jesus is the savior of the world and my world. he died so we can live. this author is a bunch of crap he dosent know what hes talkin about.

Lots of words, little substance. Not too different from the "scientific atheism" of the former USSR.