An Alternative Theory of the History of Antiquity
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Analysis of the HJ/MJ (Historical Jesus vs Mythical Jesus) Dichotomy

This article seeks to define the theory space within which
our ancient and modern ideas and conceptions attempt to define
the figure of Jesus.




Historical Jesus Theories

The largely red circle above, on the left hand side, marked HJ
represents the set of theories based upon the postulate of an historical
Jesus. At the centre of all such theories, is an historical core.

This historical core is outside of the scope of myth and fiction, and
essentially represents an unfalsifiable postulate, which it taken for granted.
The politically correct terminology for this situation, is that postulate is
taken as an unexamined postulate that there existed an historical
Jesus, at the epicenter of the religious tradition known as christianity.

However, when one examines the situation carefully there appears a number of
other (presumeably) "unexamined postulates" resident in this historical core
of the class of all HJ theories. In the following list, a number of postulates
are presented which are traditionally accepted "as true" by mainstream opinion:

• (1) Epicenter: the existence of an HJ is viewed as an unexamined postulate.
• (2) Source Language: that the New Testament was written in Greek
• (3) Apostlic lineage: that apostle Paul wrote something preserved to us
• (4) Transmission: that the critical Westcott-Hort transmission is correct
• (5) History: that the christian historiology written c.314 is true and correct

It should be noted in passing, to those interested, that the postulate (5) is
absolutely fundamental to all the other previously listed four postulates.

Mythical Jesus Theories

The largely green circle above, on the right hand side, marked MJ
represents the set of theories based upon the postulate of a mythical (or
indeed a fictional) Jesus. At the centre of these theories, is also
shown a core, the mythical core.

In the centuries past, this diagram would never have been presented in this
fashion for the simple reason that it was expected that all theories of Jesus
necessarily were to be founded upon the historical core, but this was not to be.
For this reason, and for the purpose of generalisation, in the diagram above
the core of the HJ theories is outside of the region of MJ theory space, and the
core of the MJ theories is outside of the region of HJ theory space.

Region (1): Purely Historical

The region marked (1) above, totally in red depicts those theories
which consider themselves to be wholly based on an historical Jesus.
No element of myth is considered existent in this segment of theory space.

Examples of this class of theories are represented on the Early Christian
Writings website, on the page Historical Jesus Theories.

It is notable that all theories in this category will generally accept
the historical core postulate.

Region (2): Mixture - Both Historical and Mythical

The region marked (2) above, totally in yellow/orange depicts those theories
which consider themselves to be a mixture of both history and myth. The
images of Sol Invictus, and the Helios-Christ depictions will find themselves
in this second category.

Examples of this class of theories are also represented on the Early Christian
Writings website, on the same page, prefaced Jesus the Myth.

It is notable that all theories in this category do not generally accept
the historical core postulate, and that their basic postulate is somewhere
between the core historical (unexamined) postulate, and the core mythical postulate.

It should be stated at this point that practically all theories advanced
to date will fall into either Region (1) or Region (2). Those in Region (1)
think of themselves as supporting the unexamined postulate of an historical
jesus, while those in Region (2) depend at least to some degree upon the
notion that there may have been some element of truth to an historical jesus.

These two parties consider themselves to be the two exchange participants
in all dialogue to date. An excellent summary of many positions, theories,
and use of hypotheses in contemporary Biblical Criticism and History is
presented on this Matrix of Scholars' Views on Historical Jesus and
Pauline Authenticity.

Region (3): Purely Mythical or Fictional

The region marked (3) above, totally in green depicts those theories
which consider themselves to be wholly based on a mythical Jesus.
No element of history is considered existent in this segment of theory space.
The entire class of theories involving fiction and/or fraud are in this segment.

It is notable that all theories in this category do not at all accept
the (unexamined) postulate of the historical core, and may in fact have
some other corresponding postulate for the mythical core, such as for example,
the Eusebian Fiction Postulate.

Many of these theories remain entirely unexamined, despite the need to be
thorough in the analysis of all possibilities concerning the history of
antiquity.

The entire class of theories described above in Region (3) remain unexplored.

The reason for this is the intellectual dynamism required to be overcome
in order to momentarily suspend disbelief of the five postulates of mainstream
historical theory space, listed above, such that these postulates themselves
may thus be objectively considered for integrity, and questioned, appears in
general too insufficient.

Perhaps in the future, student of life will understand the importance
of questioning the basic assumptions in a scientific and exhaustive manner.

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