Over at CFI Forum a thread was started under that title, regarding the historicity of Jesus. That is, was Jesus once an actual flesh and blood person? It reminded me of an article Tanner wrote Nov 15, 2025, There’s No Real Evidence for Jesus. Truth or Myth? I read it a couple weeks ago and it keeps coming back to mind. The two have rekindled my interest in trying to formulate and share a comprehensible Earth-centrist’s perspective on Jesus.
Why did Jesus become and remain the ultimate superstar for so many?
What to make of the evidence regarding Jesus of Nazareth’s physical reality–in relation to all the stories added onto his memory (long after his life was finished), that increasingly deify Jesus?
To give the “moral of this story” substance, I need to start by sharing some background. Being an Earth-centrist I can’t relate to the obsession with theological writings & debates. It is all too much talk for talk, for me. That doesn’t mean I’m oblivious to Christianity and Jesus. Still, the last time I actually wrestled with Jesus’s meaning was as a teen and 20s. After that, Earth and her evolution took over my heart and soul, and there was no looking back for me.
Tanner’s story fascinated me, it felt convincing. He added substance to my instinctual feelings developed decades ago. He also reminded me of when I fell in love with Jesus–which started thanks to spending sixth and seventh grade attending Tabor Lutheran Church (Missouri Synod) grade school in Chicago. It was small, at the time with 100-ish students in classrooms containing two grade levels each.
With kinder teachers who had more time I received the attention that rekindled my love for learning and helped me to better cope with my dyslexia issues. There I fell in love with Jesus the Savior, with an innocent passion only preteens can muster. I mean, there was a short window there, when I thought I could become a priest.
Then we moved to the San Francisco Peninsula and we were back to public school, and started attending Trinity Lutheran Church, Missouri Synod — I remember it feeling odd, how they always made a big deal about that last half, with an attitude implying other Lutheran sects were somehow beneath us of the Missouri Synod.
It only took another couple years for me to become acquainted with the back stabbing factionalism that religions are famous for. From there it wasn’t long before my love of Jesus, started getting separated from my increasing contempt for the church and the people who were the religion.
By and by, for me, Jesus the Savior, became Jesus the person, perhaps a spiritual counselor, but no God. Son of God? Well, sure, okay. But then, I am also a son of “god,” so that meant little to me.
It was the stories about the person Jesus of Nazareth that remained with me. Oh and then Jesus Christ Superstar the rock opera came along and bowled me over. Besides the impeccable awe inspiring music, it presented me with the first humanist look at Jesus. Not the idealized pictures religions offered up, but a flesh and blood person dealing with a crazy unforgiving world populated by predators and parasites. Full of people committed to, and trapped by their particular roles, all doing the best they could with what they had.
Yes, it is also myth, but a myth that harmonized better with my sensibilities. It gave me a realistic impression of Jesus as moral mortal man, an image that satisfied all my needs in that regard, and let me move on with my life religion free.
Thus, allowing me to get back to an earlier conception that had already implanted itself in my heart long before my awareness of Jesus, waiting for the appropriate time to reassert itself into my life. “A spect of dust that wanted to be more.” (But that is another story for another time.)
Later, in my tramping days on the road, and in the cold lonely nights, I’d occasionally meditate on Jesus stories — I remember imagining if I met Jesus on the road, or in camp, we’d probably get along quite well. Kindred spirits and all that. I envisioned long interesting conversations, exchanging ideas, and parting as friends.
By and by the decades passed, life got complicated, successes, but also mistakes and failures, some grievous, though none malicious. Still our actions have consequences. Tough times were had. Life goes on. We live and learn, as more decades slid by.
Thanks to that baggage, a couple decades back I believe I was able to figure out why Jesus became such an enduring superstar.
It was because in many ways Jesus is the ideal human, an example and standard to live up to. Add to that, people who develop a dialogue with Jesus have a friend, and coach, who is literally there, ready anytime they reach out. I mean what can be cooler than that?
Sure, it’s all in our mind, and where else do you think it should reside?
Though, I do believe, at least as important, is the Passion of Jesus. It provides a guide to help navigate our own worst moments. When we need to face the harshest realities of loss, mistakes, and sins. When the time arrives to burn on the cross of our own guilt, or circumstance.
The Stations of the Cross provide a perfect metaphor, with Jesus offerings his example as hope to cling to during times of crisis. For those who honorably and faithfully do their steps and the penitence, learn some lessons, and endure burning on the cross of our own guilt, we can come out the other end, reborn, enlightened. Older but wiser. Awakening to a new perspective on life, and the stirrings of hope built on a solid foundation.
Don’t get me wrong, it is not for everyone, definitely not for me. Still, I know many who do need him, and I can’t knock them for it. Just wish some wouldn’t be so hubristically certain they are connected to some actual God of light and matter, life and love, who has a personal interest in them.
This brings it all back to that most profound fundamental, appreciating the Physical Reality ~ Human Mind divide. Understanding Jesus resides within one’s heart and mind, and not out in the realm of our physical biological reality.
Thinking one is actually connected with some personal God of Creation, that is simply unhinged and dangerous.
What to make of the evidence regarding Jesus of Nazareth’s physical reality–in relation to the stories that were added onto his memory and that morphed him into Jesus the Savor, long after he had lived and died?
The concept of the, Physical Reality ~ Human Mind divide, is my guide.
Understanding where our imagination & consciousness resides—and where solid matter, natural laws and biology reside.
It seemed to me Tanner’s article put together a solid argument that Jesus probably actually lived and died. It makes plenty of sense. People being people, it’s easy to imagine Jesus as one heck of a charismatic public person. A man who spoke well and inspired the love and adoration of a certain group of people. People who were shocked by his untimely death. People who dedicated their lives to keeping his memory alive.
And by gum, they pulled it off.
Jesus’ myth speaks to our loneliness and the fears in our hearts, he can be the perfect companion.
The Passion of Jesus is a spiritual guide for helping some through their own darkest moments of loss and guilt.
For others, the ruthless manipulators, Jesus is the road to power and wealth.
All follow the figments of their individual imagination, tailored to their specific wants and expectations.
Nothing wrong with that.
The problems arise when we cannot tell the difference between what’s happening in our mind — and what’s happening in the physical world that we were born into as biological animals, and depend on for our survival.
And in not owning that reality.
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