ed45

Occasionally a poster on this Forum will make the statement that all of the teachings of Christianity may be found in other religions. Has there ever been a claim of a unique teaching of Jesus/Christianity that has been supported by an reliable, independent source?

Ed 45

mountainman

No. The basic precepts of christianity had multiple sources
including the OT (and its psalms & proverbs, etc) and the
teachings of the Essenes, or Theraputae, as described by
Philo in the first century.

There are no novel teachings exhibited in the fabrication
of the Galilaeans, it would appear. I asked basically the
same question some time back.
http://www.iidb.org/vbb/showthread.php?t=160799



Pete Brown
AUTHORS of ANTIQUITY
http://www.mountainman.com.au/essene...philosophy.htm

gurugeorge

In addition to what the previous poster said, some scholars (e.g. Burton Mack) have detected Cynic teachings in the first layer of "Q" sayings. Other sayings in the Gospels seem to have a Stoic influence.

The Cynic flavour is particularly interesting in that the Cynics are known to have had a few communities in Judea at the time. The Cynic teachings were sort of antinomian, hippyish, cosmopolitan, "take no thought for the morrow"-type teachings. Cynic philosophers were peripatetic and established little communities all over the Mediterranean and Middle East.

The anti-establishment "Jesus" who appeals to anti-establishment spirits comes from that Cynic-like layer in "Jesus"' teachings.

Family Man

The "uniqueness" argument is one of the most insipid around. All beliefs are unique. No matter how much a belief resembles another belief, there will be variations believers can point to and claim uniqueness. It's a worthless argument.

mountainman

Not according to international intellectual property legislation.
Ideas are essentially able to be discerned as being derived
from earlier descendents, or statements thereof.

NOVELTY and PRIORITY DATE are key issues.


The argument is that there is presented in the new testament
no novel ideas of spiritual import that had not earlier been existent
in the world, is quite sound, and falsifiable.

It should tell us something important about the fabrication
of the galilaeans.




Pete Brown