This FAQ was made by imagining the type of responses that people may have to the book Jesus Potter Harry Christ. It might seem unnecessarily defensive (even sharp); it focuses mostly on (religious) criticisms I think that will be used against the nature of the book. If you have questions about the meaning or purpose of this book, you might want to read the concept, background, story, or content sections instead.
1. Don’t you believe in God? How can people be good without God?
My views on the historical Jesus are based on the evidence I could – or couldn’t – find about him; they have nothing to do with my personal beliefs. Does God exist for me personally? Maybe; but he’s not a religious God at all. Does he exist absolutely, for everyone? Maybe not. Can people be good without him? Some people probably can’t. If I were a dictator, I might be inclined to keep religion around to give the poor, hard-working populace an afterlife to look forward to after a life-time of suffering.
2. Aren’t you being intolerant? Isn’t it everybody’s right to worship as they see fit?
No, and no. I don’t care about your beliefs. The fact that some people regard Christian history in a way that is completely at odds with the evidence and academic research, should have no influence whatsoever on genuine investigation. Should people be allowed to believe whatever they want? Possibly – although if their beliefs have negative social consequences, and I was in charge of everything, I would probably limit them. Should people be allowed to alter and reinvent a false history and stick to it despite all other indications? Should Neo Nazis be allowed to claim that the Holocaust never happened, or even worse – celebrate it? Should Jews be excused from slaughtering Palestines because God told them to over 2000 years ago?
3. “Christ-Myth theory” has been disproven/debunked a long time ago, don’t you know that?
Has it really? By whom? When? In fact it has simply ‘fallen out of fashion’, as biblical scholars continue to search for a historical founder. Yes, scholars agree that most of the New Testament is mythological literature, and that it was developed from Jewish or Greek theology and philosophy both before and after the appearance of Jesus Christ, who was nothing more than a “personality” somehow linking them together and inspiring a new movement. Could he have been there? Yes – but his name wasn’t Jesus Christ and he did or said almost none of the things recorded in the bible. Is that alleged historical person really Jesus?
4. What’s the point of this book? Who cares about the historical Jesus anyway?
Whether or not Jesus really existed is an absolutely vital point to consider and understand. The fact that most people agree that it is either undecidable or that it has already been absolutely concluded is a fallacy – and a dangerous one. As a continuing, powerful force of social influence that conditions how and what people believe, who Jesus really was and what he represents is crucial to our ability to mature as a society.
5. The evidence for the historical Jesus is inconclusive, why bother looking?
There is a lack of evidence concerning the historical Jesus, it is true. However there is a great wealth of information that does not concern the historical Jesus at all – and so is usually discounted. This information is both relevant and dazzling in the light it can bring to the subject. Many claims have been made, but a satisfactory explanation is still lacking. This doesn’t mean that the answer is impossible to find. Something really did happen 2000 years ago; we got the idea of Jesus from somewhere. It should be possible, even with limited resources, to piece together the most likely scenario which explains the rise of Christianity.
6. What’s Harry Potter got to do with all this?
Harry Potter is relevant because he’s a literary figure that is similar to Jesus Christ. Comparing the “historical” Jesus with the literary Harry Potter can shed light on many important issues. Moreover, while it is true that many other stories combine similar motifs and symbols (Star Wars, for example) Harry and Jesus are linked in a much more intimate relationship because of the precise similarity between them and because of the controversy surrounding them.
7. There is a lot of evidence that Jesus was real. Everybody agrees that he was real.
Biblical scholars (who almost universally go into the field firmly believing in Jesus’ historicity) continue to agree that there was probably a founder behind the movement, but they would also admit that a) very little of this founder can be read from the gospels, b) that the lack of evidence makes it difficult to find answers and c) biblical scholars themselves project into their research the Jesus they want to find. Yes, common public wisdom is that Jesus was real; but I don’t believe in basing my conclusions on public wisdom. Is there really evidence for Jesus? Are biblical scholars correct? Does the fact that everybody thinks Jesus was real mean that he was?
8. If Jesus wasn’t real, how do you explain martyrs/the church?
The existence of the church, as well as the martyrs can be explained without a historical Jesus. The martyrs probably believed very passionately that Jesus was real; hence they died for him. This does not, however, prove that he was real. Other Christian communities thought martyrdom was ridiculous, and that the martyrs “perished blindly” for a story.
9. Why does this book deal with astrology/paganism/mysticism?
There is a great deal of information in this book not exactly related to the subject; and yet, understanding the symbols, meaning and origins of modern religious traditions demonstrates the history of these traditions and is necessary for a full understanding of the evolution of Christianity. I find the symbolism fascinating, I hope you will too.
10. You’re not a religious expert or biblical scholar – what gives you the right to say these things?
What earns someone “the right to speak”? Must I be Jewish to speak of the brutality of the Holocaust? Must I be vegan to approve of being nicer to animals? I’ve read a great deal on the subject, studied comparative literature and literary theory, have graduate degrees in philosophy and theology, spent 5 years in the Mediterranean studying history and culture, and am currently working on my PHD. I’m also a passionate Harry Potter fan. Who has the right to speak? Anyone who can. If they have nothing to say, the crowd will ignore them.
