The Origins Of Christianity: A Radical Hypothesis

[poliphilo]

If Jesus died c. AD. 30 how come his name doesn't start appearing in the archaeological record until 100 years later?

There were two Jewish revolts during the reign of Hadrian. Evidence for Jesus  (mostly in the form of fragments of gospels) starts appearing at just this time.

It wasn't that easy to get published in the Roman world. If lots of manuscripts of a given text are in circulation it argues official connivance or even sponsorship.

Christianity is a radically Hellenized version of Judaism- outward looking and friendly to the Empire. Jesus is a God-man on the Hellenic model- like Hercules, Dionysus, Alexander, Mithras, Antinous, etc. The early Christian texts show the Romans in a favourable light  and demonize the Jewish authorities. ("Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites."). 

All this fits with Christianity being a creation of the Hadrianic period- a state-sponsored religion designed to draw adherents away from Judaism.   Its leading personalities- Jesus, the Apostles, Paul- were all "invented" at this time- and placed (conveniently beyond the reach of living memory) in the golden age of the early Empire. The gospels and other early Christian writings are essentially  "black propaganda" aimed against the Jewish rebels and their separatist ideology 
 
This is the barest outline of the hypothesis. The detailed evidence and arguments are here.

Comments

[tinceiri.livejournal.com]

One thing to point out, if I may.

Christianity is a radically Hellenized version of Judaism- outward looking and friendly to the Empire. Jesus is a God-man on the Hellenic model- like Hercules, Dionysus, Alexander, Mithras, Antinous, etc. The early Christian texts show the Romans in a favourable light and demonize the Jewish authorities. ("Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites.").

Judaism and Hellenism were both cultural "borrowers" off of one another and various other influences in the region. Hellenism in particular was heavily shaped by Judaism starting around 200 B.C.E. with the relocation of the capital of the Seleucid dynasty to Antioch. In particular, Zoroastrian notions of "good and evil" both found their way into Hellenism and Judaism.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Northern India was also part of the melting pot. There are provocative posts on the website about the relationship between Christianity and Buddhism.