Earl Doherty
Encyclopedia
Earl J. Doherty is a Canadian author of Challenging the Verdict (2001), The Jesus Puzzle (2005) and Jesus: Neither God Nor Man (2009). Doherty argues for a version of the Christ myth theory, the view that Jesus did not exist as an historical figure.
and Latin
, which he has supplemented with the basics of Hebrew and Syriac.
, who has authored a number of books arguing a moderate form of the "Christ myth" theory.
Doherty has used the title "The Jesus Puzzle" for four different works. In 1997, the Journal of Higher Criticism
published his article, "The Jesus Puzzle: Pieces in a Puzzle of Christian Origins." In 1999, his book The Jesus Puzzle: Did Christianity Begin with a Mythical Christ? was published by Canadian Humanist Publications. He uses the title for a website where he publishes additional commentary and responses to reviews and criticisms of his work. He also used the title for a novel which he provides for download on his website.
In all four of these works, Doherty presents views on the origins of Christianity
, specifically promoting the view that Jesus
is a mythical figure rather than a historical person. Doherty argues that Paul
and other writers of the earliest existing proto-Christian Gnostic documents did not believe in Jesus as a person who incarnated on Earth
in an historical setting. Rather, they believed in Jesus as a heavenly being who suffered his sacrificial death in the lower spheres of heaven in the hands of the demon spirits, and was subsequently resurrected by God
. This Christ myth was not based on a tradition reaching back to a historical Jesus, but on the Old Testament
exegesis
in the context of Jewish-Hellenistic religious syncretism
heavily influenced by Middle Platonism
, and what the authors believed to be mystical visions of a risen Jesus.
According to Doherty, the Jesus myth was given a historical setting only by the second generation of Christians, somewhere between the 1st and 2nd century. Doherty claims that even the author of the Gospel of Mark
probably did not consider his gospel to be a literal work of history, but an allegorical midrash
ic composition based on the Old Testament
prophecies
. In the widely supported two-source hypothesis
, the story of Mark was later fused with a separate tradition of anonymous sayings embodied in the Q document into the other gospels; according to Doherty these became interpreted as the literal history of the life of Jesus. Doherty denies any historical value of the Acts of the Apostles
, and refers to works by John Knox, Joseph B. Tyson, J.C. O'Neill, Burton L. Mack
and Richard Pervo in dating Acts into the 2nd century and regarding it as largely based on legend. In 2009 Doherty self-published a revised edition of his book, with a new title of Jesus: Neither God nor Man.
and Richard Carrier
. Frank R. Zindler, former editor of American Atheist
, in a review of The Jesus Puzzle described it as "the most compelling argument against the historical Jesus published in my life-time".
George Albert Wells
, who now argues a more moderate form of the Christ myth and who rejects Doherty's view that the mythical Jesus of Paul did not also descend to Earth, has nonetheless described The Jesus Puzzle as an "important book". R. Joseph Hoffmann
considers that there are "reasons for scholars to hold" the view that Jesus never existed, but considers Doherty "A 'disciple' of Wells" who "has rehashed many of the former’s views in The Jesus Puzzle (Age of Reason Publications, 2005) which is qualitatively and academically far inferior to anything so far written on the subject". Doherty has responded that his work owes very little to Wells.
Writers who do not necessarily support the hypothesis that Jesus did not exist have found merit in some of Doherty's arguments. Hector Avalos
has written that The Jesus Puzzle outlines a plausible theory for a completely mythical Jesus."
Education
Doherty has a working knowledge of GreekGreek language
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
and Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
, which he has supplemented with the basics of Hebrew and Syriac.
The Jesus Puzzle
Doherty was introduced to the idea of a mythical origin of Jesus by, among other things, the work of G. A. WellsGeorge Albert Wells
George Albert Wells , usually known as G. A. Wells, is an Emeritus Professor of German at Birkbeck, University of London. He is best known as an advocate of the idea that Jesus is a largely mythical rather than a historical figure....
, who has authored a number of books arguing a moderate form of the "Christ myth" theory.
Doherty has used the title "The Jesus Puzzle" for four different works. In 1997, the Journal of Higher Criticism
Journal of Higher Criticism
The Journal of Higher Criticism was an academic journal presenting "articles dealing with historical, literary, and history-of-religion issues from the perspective of higher criticism", published by the Institute for Higher Critical Studies. The editor-in-chief was Robert M...
published his article, "The Jesus Puzzle: Pieces in a Puzzle of Christian Origins." In 1999, his book The Jesus Puzzle: Did Christianity Begin with a Mythical Christ? was published by Canadian Humanist Publications. He uses the title for a website where he publishes additional commentary and responses to reviews and criticisms of his work. He also used the title for a novel which he provides for download on his website.
In all four of these works, Doherty presents views on the origins of Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
, specifically promoting the view that Jesus
Jesus
Jesus of Nazareth , commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or simply as Jesus or Christ, is the central figure of Christianity...
is a mythical figure rather than a historical person. Doherty argues that Paul
Paul of Tarsus
Paul the Apostle , also known as Saul of Tarsus, is described in the Christian New Testament as one of the most influential early Christian missionaries, with the writings ascribed to him by the church forming a considerable portion of the New Testament...
and other writers of the earliest existing proto-Christian Gnostic documents did not believe in Jesus as a person who incarnated on Earth
Earth
Earth is the third planet from the Sun, and the densest and fifth-largest of the eight planets in the Solar System. It is also the largest of the Solar System's four terrestrial planets...
in an historical setting. Rather, they believed in Jesus as a heavenly being who suffered his sacrificial death in the lower spheres of heaven in the hands of the demon spirits, and was subsequently resurrected by God
God
God is the English name given to a singular being in theistic and deistic religions who is either the sole deity in monotheism, or a single deity in polytheism....
. This Christ myth was not based on a tradition reaching back to a historical Jesus, but on the Old Testament
Old Testament
The Old Testament, of which Christians hold different views, is a Christian term for the religious writings of ancient Israel held sacred and inspired by Christians which overlaps with the 24-book canon of the Masoretic Text of Judaism...
exegesis
Exegesis
Exegesis is a critical explanation or interpretation of a text, especially a religious text. Traditionally the term was used primarily for exegesis of the Bible; however, in contemporary usage it has broadened to mean a critical explanation of any text, and the term "Biblical exegesis" is used...
in the context of Jewish-Hellenistic religious syncretism
Syncretism
Syncretism is the combining of different beliefs, often while melding practices of various schools of thought. The term means "combining", but see below for the origin of the word...
heavily influenced by Middle Platonism
Middle Platonism
Middle Platonism is the modern name given to a stage in the development of Plato's philosophy, lasting from about 90 BC, when Antiochus of Ascalon rejected the scepticism of the New Academy, until the development of Neoplatonism under Plotinus in the 3rd century. Middle Platonism absorbed many...
, and what the authors believed to be mystical visions of a risen Jesus.
According to Doherty, the Jesus myth was given a historical setting only by the second generation of Christians, somewhere between the 1st and 2nd century. Doherty claims that even the author of the Gospel of Mark
Gospel of Mark
The Gospel According to Mark , commonly shortened to the Gospel of Mark or simply Mark, is the second book of the New Testament. This canonical account of the life of Jesus of Nazareth is one of the three synoptic gospels. It was thought to be an epitome, which accounts for its place as the second...
probably did not consider his gospel to be a literal work of history, but an allegorical midrash
Midrash
The Hebrew term Midrash is a homiletic method of biblical exegesis. The term also refers to the whole compilation of homiletic teachings on the Bible....
ic composition based on the Old Testament
Old Testament
The Old Testament, of which Christians hold different views, is a Christian term for the religious writings of ancient Israel held sacred and inspired by Christians which overlaps with the 24-book canon of the Masoretic Text of Judaism...
prophecies
Bible prophecy
Bible prophecy or biblical prophecy is the prediction of future events based on the action, function, or faculty of a prophet. Such passages are widely distributed throughout the Bible, but those most often cited are from Ezekiel, Daniel, Matthew 24, Matthew 25, and Revelation.Believers in biblical...
. In the widely supported two-source hypothesis
Two-source hypothesis
The Two-Source Hypothesis is an explanation for the synoptic problem, the pattern of similarities and differences between the three Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke. It posits that the Gospel of Matthew and the Gospel of Luke were based on the Gospel of Mark and a lost, hypothetical sayings...
, the story of Mark was later fused with a separate tradition of anonymous sayings embodied in the Q document into the other gospels; according to Doherty these became interpreted as the literal history of the life of Jesus. Doherty denies any historical value of the Acts of the Apostles
Acts of the Apostles
The Acts of the Apostles , usually referred to simply as Acts, is the fifth book of the New Testament; Acts outlines the history of the Apostolic Age...
, and refers to works by John Knox, Joseph B. Tyson, J.C. O'Neill, Burton L. Mack
Burton L. Mack
Burton L. Mack is an author and scholar of early Christian history and the New Testament. He is John Wesley Professor emeritus in early Christianity at the Claremont School of Theology in Claremont, California. Mack is primarily a scholar of Christian origins, approaching it from the angle of...
and Richard Pervo in dating Acts into the 2nd century and regarding it as largely based on legend. In 2009 Doherty self-published a revised edition of his book, with a new title of Jesus: Neither God nor Man.
Reception
Among authors sympathetic to the view that Jesus never existed, Doherty's work has received mixed reactions. The Jesus Puzzle has received favorable reviews from skeptics Robert M. PriceRobert M. Price
Robert McNair Price is an American theologian and writer. He teaches philosophy and religion at the Johnnie Colemon Theological Seminary, is professor of biblical criticism at the Center for Inquiry Institute, and the author of a number of books on theology and the historicity of Jesus, including...
and Richard Carrier
Richard Carrier
Richard Cevantis Carrier is an American historian. He is best known for his writings on Internet Infidels, otherwise known as the Secular Web, where he served as Editor-in-Chief for several years....
. Frank R. Zindler, former editor of American Atheist
American Atheists
American Atheists is an organization in the United States dedicated to defending the civil liberties of atheists and advocating for the complete separation of church and state. It provides speakers for colleges, universities, clubs and the news media. It also publishes books and the monthly...
, in a review of The Jesus Puzzle described it as "the most compelling argument against the historical Jesus published in my life-time".
George Albert Wells
George Albert Wells
George Albert Wells , usually known as G. A. Wells, is an Emeritus Professor of German at Birkbeck, University of London. He is best known as an advocate of the idea that Jesus is a largely mythical rather than a historical figure....
, who now argues a more moderate form of the Christ myth and who rejects Doherty's view that the mythical Jesus of Paul did not also descend to Earth, has nonetheless described The Jesus Puzzle as an "important book". R. Joseph Hoffmann
R. Joseph Hoffmann
R. Joseph Hoffmann is a historian of religion, and was chair of the Committee for the Scientific Examination of Religion, Associate Editor of the journal Free Inquiry from 2003-2009. He was founding editor of CSER's Review, CAESAR: A Journal of Religion and Human Values...
considers that there are "reasons for scholars to hold" the view that Jesus never existed, but considers Doherty "A 'disciple' of Wells" who "has rehashed many of the former’s views in The Jesus Puzzle (Age of Reason Publications, 2005) which is qualitatively and academically far inferior to anything so far written on the subject". Doherty has responded that his work owes very little to Wells.
Writers who do not necessarily support the hypothesis that Jesus did not exist have found merit in some of Doherty's arguments. Hector Avalos
Hector Avalos
Hector Avalos is a professor of Religious Studies at Iowa State University and the author of several books about religion...
has written that The Jesus Puzzle outlines a plausible theory for a completely mythical Jesus."
External links
- Website of Earl Doherty including a reproduction of his Fall 1997 Journal of Higher Criticism article "The Jesus Puzzle: Pieces in a Puzzle of Christian Origins"