The God of Convenience

[JuliaL]

How could a story like this have possibly the largest influence on the modern western world? Could you say that a large majority of the people that made us what we are today are stupid?

I would never contend that the apostles and their immediate followers
were stupid. I find a more plausible scenario in this, that they were
dependent on their community for support. They had been for at least a
couple of years, following their guru, JC. They put on shows, they
scammed the rubes. Then JC got himself in trouble with The Man.
Sort of overstepped his bounds as a street preacher and tried for a better
deal. The Jewish Ecclesiastic Authorities, and their military cronies the Romans topped him.

Now what are the apostles going to do for their bread and butter? They
covered as well as they could. "He meant to do that. No, really, he had to
die to become......let's see now....Master of the Universe! Yea, that's the
story." Con men, sure, stupid, no. And the gig has gone on for the last 2000 some years.
Fits the facts as far as we know them and much more plausible. No magic.