Let's pretend Jesus is real

[Donovan]

I believe there is enough historical evidence to prove that he did in fact exist so the thread title is a bit misleading, the question is, was he the son of god and everyone's lord and savior?

In point of fact there is scant outside (non-biblical)evidence to support the existence of the man, but I've already provided helpful links to the most credible. For the purpose of this thread I am starting with the assumption there was a real Jesus, a matter that is clearly under some question, in order to prove my original statement elsewhere: that RELIGION was devised as a way to control large populations, promote civil obedience and secure the power of a few elites, generally monarchy or papal authority, and that corollary data can be found in essentially every organized religion since the dawn of civilization..

Clearly to Jews he wasn't/isn't as well as Muslims, Hindu and every other religion on earth that isn't Christianity. As far as the wealth and control aspects of Dono's theory, I'd have to say that there are people out there who fit Dono's theory so perfectly that they may have well consulted Dono in making the mold. On the other hand, there are surely people out there who are the exact opposite and truly believe they are answering the call of the lord to lead their flock. I think there are people in this world that have a need to believe just the same way there are people who don't. If I were to say that Noah's Ark was actually the best way primitive man could describe aliens extracting DNA to preserve animals and humans prior to a predictable catastrophe, some would say it's logical while others would deem me blasphemous, but does anyone truly believe in their heart that some dude made a boat and filled it with all of the earths species 2 by 2? I think you might need your head examined by a professional if you do.

My hypothesis concerns the origins of religion, not individuals within it today. There are good and kind and selfless people of influence in all walks of life, many of whom gain tremendous influence and become great leaders, and some of whom claim God as their inspiration. This thread has nothing to do with those people, who actually unwittingly serve to reinforce the structure of control for the religion itself by becoming "shining examples" of the best a religion can be, while the opposite end of the spectrum: the criminals and pedophiles etc--Are kept quiet and covered over. My "theory" is simply historical data and verifiable fact. I make no judgments and I am fully aware that I am describing the sun to Plato's cave dwellers.