The story of Jesus was made up by the Roman Empire

[Elok]

Also, I don't recall what Moon did before he discovered he was Jesus 2.0--nor that Chinese guy who thought he was Jesus's brother in the 19th century--but whatever it was, it didn't seem to hinder them getting followers.

[molly bloom]

Also, I don't recall what Moon did before he discovered he was Jesus 2.0--nor that Chinese guy who thought he was Jesus's brother in the 19th century--but whatever it was, it didn't seem to hinder them getting followers.

P. T. Barnum comes to mind. Oh, and never give a sucker an even break.


Toodles!

[Aeson]

I'm trying to picture how a man who wanted to found a religion would benefit by being dependent on a fictional (and thus always absent) charismatic founder, instead of just running the thing himself, on his own authority. It'd be like Brigham Young inventing Joseph Smith and hoping nobody would call him out on the falsehood of his totally unnecessary narrative.

Well, that's essentially what Joseph Smith did ...

[Elok]

No, Smith was the founder of Mormonism. He claimed to receive revelation from an angel, not another human being. Unless you count the evanescent golden plates as people.

[Ben Kenobi]

whose deeds got inflated by rumor.

When your enemies the Jews claim that his followers *stole* the body, this presupposes the empty tomb.

[Ben Kenobi]

It's more fun making Sister Bendy look an uneducated fool who should be banned from teaching history anywhere, even Texas.

Between the two of us, one of us has a history degree and one of us is claiming the other is an 'uneducated fool'.

[rah]

I think you should demand a refund.

[Ben Kenobi]

I think you should demand a refund.

Why? It's gotten me a good job in a place that I enjoy living. Isn't that the whole point of an education?

[rah]

Well I'm glad actually getting an actual education wasn't your primary goal. Good for you.

[Nikolai]

Oh rah, does it hurt to envy history majors their education this much?

[giblets]

When your enemies the Jews claim that his followers *stole* the body, this presupposes the empty tomb.

Or they're trolling you.

[rah]

Oh rah, does it hurt to envy history majors their education this much?

Well, I was only a poly sci major myself. Thank god I didn't have to rely
on that to make any money

[Aeson]

No, Smith was the founder of Mormonism. He claimed to receive revelation from an angel, not another human being. Unless you count the evanescent golden plates as people.

No. Smith claimed to be bringing back the Church as started by Christ, at the behest of Christ. He may be viewed as a founder by outsiders and less informed members, but within the LDS doctrine he's just another prophet in a long line of them. Christ is at the head of the LDS Church. Thus, "Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints"... rather than "Church of Joseph Smith". "Mormons" is just slang (and was derogatory at first) started from outside the Church.

The only real difference between that and the hypothetical Romans is the Romans would have been dealing with populations far less knowledgeable of Jesus' life, and far less able to communicate their own knowledge (if any) about it.

[Ben Kenobi]

Well I'm glad actually getting an actual education wasn't your primary goal. Good for you.

Why does anyone go to university rah?

[Ben Kenobi]

Or they're trolling you.

Impossible. Nobody in my family is a Jew.