maryhelena

aa5874 has got it right. All a mythicist position is, all a mythicist position can be, is that the "Jesus of the NT was non-historical".

Dave31

The mythicist position is far more broad than just Christianity or Jesus. Which is precisely what we needed.

Then simply provide your clearly defined and thoroughly explained mythicist position with proper citation that goes beyond just Jesus. I agree with you that the MJ is a no-brainer but that's not the only thing the new mythicist position is about - it's a position for all religious texts that are based in mythology and tend to have roots in natural phenomena i.e. astrotheology.

Nope, he's narrowly focused only on Jesus. The new mythicist position recently created by Acharya encompasses all religious myths. It is a "mythicist position" not just a narrow MJ position. Understand?

Here's the position again and links to articles, excerpts and an e-book and a video for further reading.

The Mythicist Position:

"Mythicism represents the perspective that many gods, goddesses and other heroes and legendary figures said to possess extraordinary and/or supernatural attributes are not "real people" but are in fact mythological characters. Along with this view comes the recognition that many of these figures personify or symbolize natural phenomena, such as the sun, moon, stars, planets, constellations, etc., constituting what is called "astrotheology." As a major example of the mythicist position, various biblical characters such as Adam and Eve, Satan, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Joshua, King David, Solomon & Jesus Christ, among other figures, in reality represent mythological characters along the same lines as the Egyptian, Sumerian, Phoenician, Indian, Greek, Roman and other godmen, who are all presently accepted as myths, rather than historical figures."

- Christ in Egypt: The Horus-Jesus Connection, page 12

What is Mythicism?

Astrotheology of the Ancients

The Origins of Christianity: Free E-book

The Mythicist Position video

maryhelena

Oh, I understand all right - someone is trying to reinvent the wheel here

aa5874

I am dealing with the mythicist's position with regard to Jesus of the NT.

It must be true that the mythicist's position on Jesus is that he was non-historical.

Fantastic. This is good stuff.


I think the video was very precise and comprehensive.

ApostateAbe

Dave31, I have the perspective that many gods, goddesses and other heroes and legendary figures said to possess extraordinary and/or supernatural attributes are not "real people" but are in fact mythological characters.

I also recognize that many of these figures personify or symbolize natural phenomena, such as the sun, moon, stars, planets, constellations, etc.

I am sure that Adam and Eve, Satan, Noah, Abraham, and Moses are all purely mythical, I am not sure about King David and Solomon, and I am sure that Jesus Christ is mostly mythical but not purely mythical.

Dave31, am I a mythicist? If not, then please tell me how I do not fit the definition given by Acharya S.

avi

That's a subject better suited to private email correspondence.

Writing frankly, I don't care whether Dave, or anyone else, considers you a mythicist, or not.

To me, this valuable resource, FRDB, has nothing to do with personal idiosyncrasies, and everything to do with challenging the prevailing view of many citizens of planet earth, that there exist divine, supernatural creatures, both good and bad.

Your personal beliefs, to me, are utterly irrelevant.

avi

ApostateAbe

I pose the question in order to challenge the definition of "mythicism," not to make sure that Dave31 likes me and we have a happy relationship. Dave31 has been trying to keep the topic of this thread on that definition the whole time, and I am willing to play along.

avi

Thanks Dave, seems well done to me. I enjoyed watching the video.

avi

avi

...and that question cannot be posed absent interjection of one's personal beliefs?

What is wrong with Dave's definition of mythicism? It seems fine to me, someone admittedly not the sharpest tack in the carpet....

avi

Toto

Dave31's definition of mythicism turns out to be astrotheology as promoted by Acharya S. This is an alternative view of religion that appeals to some people. Others find that it does not in fact solve a lot of problems.

Most of the people who consider themselves Jesus mythicists do not base their opinions on astrotheology.