Tellurian

Was the Roman crucifixion of Jesus a lie? According the the records of the Sanhedrin as recorded in the Babylonian Talmud's Sanhedrin section 43a, Jesus (or Yeshu) was sentenced to death by stoning, but after 40 days spent trying to find someone to speak in his defense, the Sanhedrin took him out and hanged him.

So how do we know which story is true, or whether or not either story is true?

Toto

There is no hard evidence outside the gospels for the Roman crucifixion of Jesus - no court transcripts or official records. It might be a lie, but the Babylonian Talmud does not prove that it is.

The Babylonian Talmud is a religious document, and does not include records of the Sanhedrin in any legal sense. The final version was written down around 500 CE. You can read more about it in Did Jesus Live 100 BC?

GakuseiDon

Mostly (b), with a little (a). They are disengenious with their explanations.

Let's look at the three points:

1) A mask representing Dionysus was hung on a wooden pole. Yes, that's because Dionysus was also a god of theatre - it has nothing to do with his death, since he was cut up and eaten by the Titans as a baby (but he gets better - Zeus reforms him). But notice that F&G don't say WHY a mask was hung on a wooden pole - they want the reader to "join the dots".

2) In his myth, Dionysus was dressed in purple before his execution. Again, F&G seem to be claiming this, but notice they never say "dressed in purple before his execution". Have a look - they never say in that section that it is connected to his death, or how he dies! Just that he was "dressed in purple", which is a symbol of royalty.

3) In his myth, Dionysus was given vineger and gall to drink before his execution. Again, F&G never actually claim that. That's the impression, but look closely again at what they actually say: Again, the implication is that it has something to do with Dionysus's death - but THEY NEVER TELL YOU IN THAT SECTION HOW HE DIES! This is dishonesty, in my opinion, and not isolated examples.

Here's a classic that Pervy mentions: I love it! The "large cross" probably represents the ceremonial knife that the Titans use to carve the infant Dionysus up, so it is indeed "an omen of his ultimate fate". But not quite the fate that F&G is trying to make you believe.

To anyone who has the book - here's a challenge: Read through it, and see if you can find any information about how Dionysus dies. In fact, see if you find where they explicitly say how ANY god (other than Jesus) dies. You'll find that there's lots of talks about stakes, wooden poles, trees and torches, with the implication that the gods' deaths were related to such, but do F&G actually EXPLICITLY say how any of the gods die?

joedad

Looking at the picture, you could be right about that being a dagger, but I've got a better challenge. Have a look at Bede's amulet that in Aramaic is supposedly inscribed, "Jesus M" and tell me how you get "Jesus Messiah" out of this. There is no cross in Bede's amulet either, save that thing at the head area that makes no sense whatsoever. How can one be crucified without a cross?

Also, as far as the tree motif goes, the arms of our floating diver look more branchlike than anything, right down to stick fingers. Sure wish I knew what this thing was, but it ain't no crucifixion.

I think the greater challenge is to find something uniquely christian anywhere in the christian legend. The Oxford Illustrated History of Christianity shows on page 54 a supposed Jonah emerging from the whale, this to represent christian resurrection in 3rd century Greece. By this time I would think the symbol of christian resurrection would be something far different.

Therefore, Freke and Gandy's misrepresentation is quite christian in this sense, and I do not mean that as a slur against christianity. There was simply much borrowing and syncretism.

As I recall, the earliest depictions of Jesus on the cross show him fully robed, and this is seventh century. Earlier depictions of a supposed crucified christ contain no cross.