New York City Atheists

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Was Jesus Invented By a Committee?

Prof. Brancazio Separates the Myth from the Man

Did Jesus really exist or was he invented? How much of the Jesus story is true and how much is a fairy tale? If he existed, what did he really say—and could this have gotten changed over time into the overzealous stories we now know?

For Professor Peter J. Brancazio, author of “The Bible From Cover to Cover,” an excoriating book that strips bare the inconsistencies and fabrications of the bible, there is no doubt that someone like Jesus historically existed, though he admits there’s very little written evidence for it.

“I think his message is so radical that there had to have been a historical Jesus,” says Brancazio. “If he wasn’t real, somebody had to have said all those things.”

What Was the Real Message?

But what has happened to Christ’s message? “A lot of what Christians believe about Jesus Christ was actually developed 100, 200 or 300 years after his death,” says Brancazio, who will trace how Jesus was transformed by the early Christians into the son of god and a member of the trinity.

It was all done by committee, he insists: “All of the attributes that Christians presently believe about Jesus—the trinity, being the son of god—were actually created by church conferences where people basically voted on what was to become canon.”

But, adds the professor: “What was Jesus’ actual message? What did he really say to people and did this get transformed over time?”

Scientist Turned Bible Scholar

Dr. Brancazio was chosen by Newsday as one of six “Great Teachers in New York” in 1990. He taught for 35 years in the Physics department of Brooklyn College. He created, and has taught for seven years, a now-famous course called “Science and Religion,” inspired by a grant from the famous Templeton Foundation. He now teaches this course at Long Island University, where, according to Dr. Kay Sato, of C.W. Post-Long Island University, “he thoroughly amazes and delights students with his fascinating insights and in-depth knowledge.”

The professor, a scientist turned biblical scholar, confesses to having read both the New Testament and the Old Testament four times, an exhausting and critical study which inspired him to write his book “The Bible From Cover to Cover.” But it also put him in the forefront of bible debunkers and inspired a whole new career in teaching the truth about the bible and the Jesus fables.

Most Popular Speaker

Professor Brancazio is one of the most popular speakers that New York City Atheists (NYCA) has ever had. Last year, his first lecture to NYCA in May on “Demystifying the Bible” was such a success that we had to invite him back in July to demystify the New Testament too. His witty, entertaining presentation of a generally scholarly subject inspired the sell-out of his book (which is now available on Amazon.com).

Come on Thursday, November 19, to hear the personable, dynamic professor talk about his latest debunking subject: How Jesus was mythologized over the centuries into a godhead and saintly figure, and how the man whom many Christians today worship as god may have been just a human being with an entirely different message than that which is being disseminated by the churches now.

EVENT SUMMARY

WHAT:               “Was Jesus Christ Invented by a Committee?”  a talk by Dr  Peter  

                             Brancazio, scientist and biblical scholar.

WHEN:               Thursday, November 19 at 6:30 pm

WHERE:             SLC Conference Center

                              352 Seventh Ave. (bet. 29^th & 30^th Sts.)

                              16^th Floor

COST:                We would appreciate a donation of $5 to cover the cost of

                              the Conference Center. Unemployed exempt.

CONTACTS:

Jane Everhart

Director of Communications

New York City Atheists

212-879-2687

Kenneth Bronstein, president

New York City Atheists

212-535-7425

New York City Atheists Inc. is a 501C not-for-profit  association dedicated to the separation of church and state and to promoting the atheist life style and values. All are welcome, including agnostics, humanists, secularists, freethinkers, skeptics and those who are simply questioning and seeking.