There is a large doubt in my mind about whether the person referred to as Jesus Christ actually really ever lived.
There is not one piece of real evidence to prove that there ever was such a person. In fact, this is the only major so-called “historical figure” in world history who had nothing written about them by their contemporaries. Jesus Christ is the only major “historical” figure in world history of whom we have no written account of by someone who knew him or lived during his time.
The earliest writings about such a person came many decades after his so-called death. Those writings, by people who never actually knew Christ, were secondary accounts at best, or hearsay as they would say in a court of law. That hearsay was written by different people who told somewhat different accounts. Then, those second-hand (or even third-hand) accounts of hearsay were translated from one ancient language to another language and another (most likely losing a little something in the translation each time, as is often the case). Then, kings and popes took those second-hand accounts of hearsay which had been translated from one ancient language to another language and another and arbitrarily altered them to serve whatever purposes they wanted, be they political, religious or personal.
Which begs the question: how accurate are the modern day accounts of this so-called person.
Having said all that, however, even if it is all one big tale, a story line, embellished upon by one person after another after another after another, or whether it’s somewhat accurate or even 100 percent accurate as some claim, it still doesn’t matter, because, accurate or not, it doesn’t detract from the essential message.
If nothing else, it’s still, perhaps, one of the the greatest tales ever devised by humans, about an individual embracing complete psychological freedom, free from all preconditioning by their family and society, to discover the truth for them self and try to share the beauty, depth and profundity of that living, changing truth...and the underlying deep love that is behind real truth...and then paying the ultimate price for doing so.
It’s the story of the struggle of humankind from its inception until the present, with each human being facing the challenge of whether and how to find the truth and the courage and struggles involved, against all of the odds, contrary to all of the influences that seem to condition us against even wanting to know the truth. And how that very innocent act is perceived as some kind of a threat to the powers that be. It’s relevant no matter what historical time frame you’re talking about, including today.
And while the story is about much more than politics, since it’s about life itself, it includes the political aspect of life, as well, but so much more. It involves the human condition, poverty, inhumanity, inequality, strife, anguish, the pursuit of truth, self-doubt, hatred, guilt, humility, love and joy among so many other human traits and conditions.
And despite the fact that it seems highly unlikely to me that this person ever actually really existed (at least as described in the modern day accounts), and that there is no interest by me in being involved with any religious organization or belief system of any kind, the overall tale has great impact whether it’s accurate or complete fabrication.
(My own personal religious beliefs (or lack thereof) are not consequential and it’s not my purpose to proselytize for or against that or any particular religion. In the interest of full disclosure, however, this particular individual does not adhere to any belief system, religious or otherwise, and is neither atheist nor agnostic, preferring no label at all to describe myself other than the term “non-believer,” which comes closest. This is just my own personal take on how, regardless of where this story may have originated or whether it is used to promote one religion or another, the story itself is still powerful and meaningful. In other words, its accuracy isn’t really all that important, it’s the story itself that is profound and enduring regardless.)