The Christ Myth

"The Christ Myth" by Arthur Drews is an exploration of the possibility that the Jesus figure in the Gospels may be based on mythology rather than actual history. Drews challenges traditional religious ideas by proposing that the narratives about Jesus are products of the cultures and religions of that period. The book begins by describing the intellectual environment of the time and mentioning numerous thinkers who questioned the historicity of Jesus. Drews points out a change in academic views and a rising doubt of standard theological perspectives that support the historicity of Jesus. Drews gives a broad overview of how ancient religions and philosophies had an impact on early Christianity, implying that the depiction of Jesus is connected to pre-existing myths and traditions, which results in a radically different understanding of his role in religious discourse.