The Jesus Problem: A Restatement of the Myth Theory

This volume offers a measured, scholarly survey of the argument that the gospel figure of Jesus emerged as a mythic construct rather than a historical personality. Drawing on decades of comparative mythology, anthropology and the critiques of earlier historians, the author weaves together the work of thinkers such as Frazer, Drews, Strauss and W. B. Smith. Listeners will hear how parallel motifs across pagan traditions and ancient astronomy have been used to question the literal reliability of the New Testament narratives.

The author’s aim is to distill a vast body of specialized literature into a clear, single‑volume presentation, showing why past attempts to extract a factual biography have repeatedly faltered. By tracing the evolution of the “Jesus problem” from early rationalist skeptics to modern myth‑theory, the book maps the intellectual terrain without claiming a final resolution. It serves anyone curious about the crossroads of religion, myth, and historical criticism, inviting further exploration of a debate that continues to shape scholarly discourse.