To me, the question of whether Caesars invented Jesus is like asking whether the Republican Party invented Jesus. The answer is, of course, "yes", the Republican Party did invent their Jesus, but there are other Jesuses. Their Jesus is not the dominant one in the world.
Now, did Caesars destroy all other Jesuses by destroying other books that portrayed him differently? Possibly. I mean, didn't Constantine have that council where he ordered some guys to figure out who Jesus was?
And the Bible sure reads like some manifesto on how to oppress people by imposing ideas that people must obey their rulers and never question them and that kings are chosen by God.
The New Testament is replete with statements that preach support for the elite under the guise of love, peace, and humility, like Matt. 5:44 "Love your enemies ... and pray for them which despitefully use you"; Luke 6:35 "Love your enemies! Do good to them!"
The New Testament urges individuals to love their opponents, obey their masters, serve them faithfully, and respect their leadership. One of many examples is this verse: 1 Peter 2:18-20 "You servants must submit yourselves to your masters and show them complete respect, not only to those who are kind and considerate, but also to those who are harsh. God will bless you for this, if you endure the pain of undeserved suffering because you are conscious of his will. For what credit is there in enduring the beatings you deserve for having done wrong? But if you endure suffering even when you have done right, God will bless you for it.
As a side note, it is fascinating how much some real people can not only get distorted by mythology but also how the majority of people believes (and wants to believe) mythology instead of reality. One of modern examples is Lee Harvey Oswald. Oswald has evolved from being the lone killer to being part of a conspiracy to being an innocent patsy to being a hero who vainly tried to save the President by warning the FBI of the plot.
Now, did Caesars destroy all other Jesuses by destroying other books that portrayed him differently? Possibly. I mean, didn't Constantine have that council where he ordered some guys to figure out who Jesus was?
And the Bible sure reads like some manifesto on how to oppress people by imposing ideas that people must obey their rulers and never question them and that kings are chosen by God.
The New Testament is replete with statements that preach support for the elite under the guise of love, peace, and humility, like Matt. 5:44 "Love your enemies ... and pray for them which despitefully use you"; Luke 6:35 "Love your enemies! Do good to them!"
The New Testament urges individuals to love their opponents, obey their masters, serve them faithfully, and respect their leadership. One of many examples is this verse: 1 Peter 2:18-20 "You servants must submit yourselves to your masters and show them complete respect, not only to those who are kind and considerate, but also to those who are harsh. God will bless you for this, if you endure the pain of undeserved suffering because you are conscious of his will. For what credit is there in enduring the beatings you deserve for having done wrong? But if you endure suffering even when you have done right, God will bless you for it.
As a side note, it is fascinating how much some real people can not only get distorted by mythology but also how the majority of people believes (and wants to believe) mythology instead of reality. One of modern examples is Lee Harvey Oswald. Oswald has evolved from being the lone killer to being part of a conspiracy to being an innocent patsy to being a hero who vainly tried to save the President by warning the FBI of the plot.
teachings of the Bible are so muddled and self-contradictory that it was possible for Christians to happily burn heretics alive for five long centuries. It was even possible for the most venerated patriarchs of the Church, like St. Augustine and St. Thomas Aquinas, to conclude that heretics should be tortured (Augustine) or killed outright (Aquinas). Martin Luther and John Calvin advocated the wholesale murder of heretics, apostates, Jews, and witches. - Sam Harris, "Letter To A Christian Nation"
