: Scholars typically point to the Roman historian Tacitus and the Jewish historian Josephus as early external sources, though Humphreys and other mythicists like Richard Carrier often dismiss these as later forgeries or hearsay.
: He suggests that the Jesus story is a "peeled onion" that reveals nothing at its core, composed of elements borrowed from other figures like Apollonius of Tyana or Titus Caesar . Jesus Never Existed
is a book by Kenneth Humphreys , which is also the name of his associated website that critiques the historical existence of Jesus. Humphreys argues that the character of Jesus is a composite fictional creation. Key Arguments from the Work : Scholars typically point to the Roman historian
: Humphreys emphasizes that there are no neutral, contemporary historical records from the 1st century that mention Jesus, his trial, or his execution. Humphreys argues that the character of Jesus is
: Humphreys and other mythicists, such as R. G. Price in Deciphering the Gospels , argue that the Gospels are anonymous fictional allegories rather than eyewitness accounts. Historical Context & Scholarly Consensus
: The work highlights parallels between Gospel stories and older pagan myths. For example: Turning water into wine mirrors the god Dionysus . Healing miracles are compared to those of Asclepius . Calming the storm is seen as an echo of Poseidon .