The Incredibly Stupid Things (Few, Hopefully) Atheists Say

[JuliaL]

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I was able to escape this list only by remaining completely silent.

I'm happy that the conversation in that thread happened the way it did this time around. I was a little shocked when I first joined this site at how similar the all out denial of the possibility of an historical Jesus looked to, say, evolution denial. It was definitely more turbulent, but at least it was honest.

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Personally I tend towards there being a David Koresch type charismatic leader who was talked up by his surviving followers.
This is mainly because of the manner of his death which was that of a common criminal and the contortions understaken to explain it as gods will and his crowning moment etc when it is nothing but abject failure.

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I cannot buy that the best way to do anything is to get publicly killed then come back and trot about for a few days then bugger off again.

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Makes sod all sense.

I disagree here.
It makes lots of sense if you see it in context as a useful and effective survival strategy for the religion (via its adherents.)

And if stuck to, unassailable.
The apostles lost their meal ticket.  They had to do something to eat with their guru gone.
Things not going the way you want them to? Make up a (fictional) narrative that says, it was all planned that way.
Similar argument as a frustrated child in error, "I meant to do that!"
All they had to do to carry on the scam was stick to the talking points.


The Jews have spent thousands of years profiting from a similar strategy.

1. We are God's chosen people (so we deserve all the good stuff and can rationalize any nastiness we exhibit.)
   
2. Objection: you got trashed by the (fill in the blank with: Egyptians, Assyrians, Babylonians, Persians, Greeks, Romans.)
   
3. We had a king that didn't (pick one) honor/tithe/sacrifice to God properly and were "chastised."
   
4. We're still God's chosen people.
   

It's a stubborn kind of trick, but a good one.  It works.