Jesus: Mything in Action, Vol. I (The Complete Heretic's Guide to Western Religion Book 2)

Those who do research and then present their findings often discover that there is more work to do. Such was the case in 2010 when David Fitzgerald published a little book called Nailed: Ten Christian Myths That Show Jesus Never Existed. His award-winning foray into mythicist studies left readers clamoring for more, but serious historical investigation takes time. Now, the long-awaited follow-up is finally available. Fitzgerald’s Jesus: Mything in Action is a three-part work that his fans will undoubtedly agree was well worth the wait.In the book’s introduction, Fitzgerald reminds his readers of a salient fact—a matter that, though now axiomatic, needs to be reiterated. Scholars have long drawn a clear distinction between the Jesus of history and the Christ of faith, and only one of those figures merits serious discussion by freethinkers. Regardless of what claims anyone makes concerning the existence of a man behind the myth, the protagonist of the Gospels is undoubtedly a fictional character.In the first volume of his study, Fitzgerald addresses the question of why there seem to be so few historians who are mythicists, and he admits, “We should pay attention to what the experts in the field think” (36). Nonetheless, his ensuing discussion of the situation suggests that the field itself has major problems—in large part because biblical research “remains…dominated by believers,” some of whom (whether intentionally or not) perpetuate an apologetic bias (36). Three problems Fitzgerald has identified receive attention here.First, with only a very few exceptions, arguments advanced in support of the mythicist position rely on negative findings of historical Jesus research concerning which there has been broad consensus for over one hundred years. As Fitzgerald observes, “The final conclusion reached by mythicists may be controversial, [but] not the evidence cited and the methodology employed to get there” (38). So, it is unfair to suggest that mythicists have taken a stance entirely outside the mainstream of historical Jesus research.Second, most experts have now grudgingly acknowledged that the criteria of authenticity used to isolate historical elements within the Jesus tradition have failed to deliver credible results. So, as Fitzgerald explains, even the most conscientious specialists in the field “have not followed sound historical practices” (51). In subsequent chapters, he provides specific examples to help readers understand why scholars have now lost confidence in the criteria of authenticity, and he surveys various historical reconstructions of Jesus that were based on these flawed principles, noting that the inexplicable disparity of the results led scholars to reconsider the longstanding acceptance of the underlying methodology.Third, mythicists have frequently insisted that biblical scholars employed by a church-affiliated institution cannot really afford to voice doubts about the historicity of Jesus, and Fitzgerald has now documented that claim. Of 1,417 “degree-granting institutions of higher education in the United States [that] offer some form of relevant Biblical/Jesus/NT Studies…the majority…have a religious affiliation” (59-60). Of course, not every denominational institution mandates strict faculty adherence to its doctrinal statement, but that is the case for 273 out of 814 schools. And so, as Fitzgerald stresses, many professors have a contractual obligation to affirm the historicity of Jesus (62). For readers who assume that academic freedom is alive and well in other religious colleges, universities, and seminaries, he presents six case studies that summarize how biblical scholars lost jobs for stating views not nearly so controversial as the Christ myth theory (63-79).Of course, no one can use this data to say how many biblical experts might be closet mythicists; that remains a matter of speculation. However, one can infer from this data that the field of biblical studies is not free from a bias toward religious orthodoxy. In addition, one can infer that doctrinal restrictions on academic freedom reinforce and thereby perpetuate religious orthodoxy within the scholarly guild. Furthermore, if (as the data suggests) the field of biblical studies is dominated by believers, it is no surprise that the strongest mythicist arguments quite often come from outside the academy.Fitzgerald’s work has many positive aspects, but several deserve special attention. His engaging conversational style makes Jesus: Mything in Action a pleasure to read, and the non-polemical tone of his approach provides a model that other participants in the ongoing mythicist-historicist debate should strive to emulate. He gives a fair hearing to views that challenge his own, always focusing on the cogency of competing arguments and never resorting to personal attacks against those who still have doubts about the mythicist position.Fitzgerald’s work is well-researched, drawing on an impressive array of scholarship. At the end of most chapters, he provides suggestions for further reading, including various online resources. Like the suggestions for further reading, the endnotes introduce readers to a wealth of research, and that material provides a clear roadmap for anyone who wants to learn more about the issues discussed in this study.David Fitzgerald has depicted his role as that of “a combat reporter, not a front-line soldier of the Jesus historicist/mythicist war” (83). In other words, he makes no claim that this three-part work presents his own scholarly research; instead, what he provides is a comprehensive resource meant to introduce interested readers to what mythicist scholars have written about the subject, while at the same time identifying significant problems associated with historicist position.Let me end my review with a quote that Fitzgerald includes in his study, even though the person quoted remains a historicist. The following statement, by Philip Davies, reflects my own view of the mythicist-historicist debate: “I don’t think…that in another 20 years there will be a consensus that Jesus did not exist, or even possibly didn’t exist, but a recognition that his existence is not entirely certain would nudge Jesus scholarship towards academic respectability.” Like Davies, I am convinced that the historicist view best accounts for the surviving evidence, and I defend that view in my own book,  Jesus Eclipsed: How Searching the Scriptures Got in the Way of Recounting the Facts . Yet, like Davies, I also realize that I may be wrong.So, instead of assuming that the historicist position must be correct, take the time to weigh the pertinent evidence, to consider the competing arguments, and to draw an informed conclusion. Read Jesus: Mything in Action, and see what you think. It is an excellent study!

Like so many biblical scholars now days, David Fitzgerald lays out the established facts available to all scholars, that the jesus of Christianity is absolutely a mythical character. For too long, the career theologians and apologists, with their livelihood at stake, have lied to their followers and devised fake arguments for their own paychecks. More than ever, we need more scholars like David who, in telling the truth, presents options for guilt induced victims of religion to find their way to FREEDOM and HAPPINESS. Thank you, David, and keep up the good work!

After reading Nailed, I bought another copy to keep because I didn't think it could be improved upon; I was wrong. With specific examples, David has confirmed my suspicions that the statements about Jesus I often heard from by my former pastors and apologists were desperate attempts to shore up Christianity rather than espousing "objective historical facts" - as they still claim. I am relieved that writers like David have and are helping lay people like myself to escape the echo-chamber I once inhabited, created and run by Christians - pretending that it is only within that chamber that truth and objectivity can reside. If Christianity is true, then it makes no sense that its leaders (both ancient and modern) seem so nervous and harsh about dissenting views - a situation I once associated with cults and religions such as Islam - where apostasy is a capital offense - along the lines outlined in the Bible and perpetrated by Christians not long ago; when heretics were burnt alive - - not much has changed. Thankfully, Christianity has lost the power to burn heretics alive - it can only deny them employment or subject them to ridicule in their echo-chamber. Thanks Dave!

There are about four text formatting problems per page. I find them very distracting. My mind wants to take what is printed like 'Gospelsever' and turn it into ten different phrases ... are the Gospels to be severed or is there a Gospel server website or does this have something to do with forever & ever? Arrgh!

In a most readable (everybody can comprehend him/it) Fitzgerald brings to the fore the so often brushed over or aside details that manifest the fact that the accounts are concocted rather than researched. The all too ready generalization that we all see an accident in different ways does not hold when dealing with a supposed inspired account/text and 'Mything In Action is a most appropriate title for the book.

A detailed and entertaining account of the various stories of Jesus and their inconsistencies. I highly recommend this book for anyone wondering who Jesus was and where the stories about him came from.

A real eye opener for the open minded. It will never change the devout followers which is sad because religion holds back science endeavors

Having previously read many books about the Old and New Testament, including Richard Carrier's book, "On the Historicity of Jesus," I thought I wouldn't necessarily learn much more from this book. Thus, I purchased only the first volume. Being not able to stop myself from reading it, during every spare minute of my day and even into the late hours of the night, I must now immediately purchase the next two volumes! The book goes into a lot of detail, however it's all written with a great sense of humor and an easy to read style! I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of my reading. Even when the book spent a lot of time detailing the stories of how others in the field have been treated by their peers and institutions, it never failed to be interesting.

This book changed many of my assumptions about the New Testament and specifically about what is known about the "real" Jesus (it turns out to be nothing at all that's historically verifiable). Fitzgerald (whose book about Mormons is also a really good read) demonstrates how most of the NT was written a considerable amount of time after Jesus was supposed to have lived and how much of it was plagiarised. There's doubt that St Paul ever existed also, but that's another story...In short, this book is well written in an engaging style and probably won't be read by anyone whose faith depends on believing that the NT is the story of a man-god - but it should be.

This is going to sound the same for the two books in Mything in action. I And II. wonderful simple to read and understand. (Most biblical tomes are hard going, David made it a joy to understand and follow.) with all the reference material stated it’s going to take me some time to catch up! The mark of a good book is the quality of the back up material.

Sehr gutes Buch aus sehr guter Reihe. ich empfehle, die gesamte mything in action Serie und nailed zu lesen, dazu Richard Carrier On the historicity of Jesus. Denn in diesem Buch wird sehr oft auf die anderen eben genannten verwiesen, so dass es gut ist, wenn Mensch sie zur Hand hat, um gleich nachzuschlagen. Es liest sich sehr gut, sehr flüssig, auch für mich als nicht Muttersprachler sehr gut verständlich. Echt gut lesbarer Stil. Humorvoll. Angenehm.

Brilliant exploration of the arguments for understanding the New Testament gospels as non-historical works by anonymous authors. Clearly articulated and compelling evidence provided. Quite a few spelling errors which I hope will be fixed in future additions, but the quality of the argument is what matters. If you're interested in the mythicist perspective then this is a must read.

... merkt man, wie wenig man von dem MANN Jesus darin findet und wieviel verschwurbelte Mythologie darin steckt. Fitzgerald zeigt, daß es sehr wohl möglich ist, daß das Christentum ohne einen Jesus entstanden sein kann.

Se você pensa que o Jesus histórico é fato consumado entre os estudiosos históricos da bíblia vai se surpreender com o que vai encontrar nesse livro. Há muito tempo o Jesus da fé foi desmascarado pela análise literária dos evangelhos. Porém, o Jesus da História era razoavelmente acreditado pelos estudiosos. Não mais. O livro destrincha os estudos de Jesus e mostra como as ideias provenientes de nosso primeiro Evangelho de Marcos são ficções empilhadas sobre ficções. Você vai abrir sua mente ao ler tamanha quantidade de informações sobre a produção literária do primeiro século e o quão diversa ela foi. Aguardo ansiosamente a tradução!!!

Good follow up to Nailed. David goes way more in depth breaking down the reasons why he and growing numbers see Jesus as a myth.

This is a great summary of not only the mythicist position, and the rationale behind it, but also a terrific summation of decades (if not centuries) of Old and New Testament textual criticism.

A very well documented book, and a very clear presentation.

Excellent! Leaves no doubt.