Friday, November 8, 2013

U-Predict Blog – The Covert Messiah – Jesus Christ did not exist 11/05/2013

Authors write for many reasons – some to entertain, some to inform.  Some write with the idea of promoting their own agenda.  I have to admit that I wondered if this was the case with Joseph Atwill, who presented a symposium on October 19, 2013 on the concept that Jesus Christ never existed.  Atwill believes his discovery came to him while he was studying “Wars of the Jews” by Josephus (the only surviving first-person historical account of first-century Judea) alongside the New Testament.  Atwill claims that “I started to notice a sequence of parallels between the two texts.  Although it’s been recognized by Christian scholars for centuries that the prophesies of Jesus appear to be fulfilled by what Josephus wrote, he saw dozens more. What seems to have eluded many scholars is that the sequence of events and locations of Jesus ministry are more or less the same as the sequence of events and locations of the military campaign of Titus Flavius as described by Josephus.”   

Based on this belief that the stories of this campaign resulted in the creation of Jesus Christ, Atwill wrote the book, Caesar’s Messiah.  The book was also the basis for a video that Atwill released.   Joseph Atwill is not alone; every few years someone steps forward and claim they have proof that Jesus never existed.  This made me wonder what the tarot would say about Atwill and Jesus Christ himself.  The readers for today’s show included: Ivy Lieberman, Jean Maurie Puhlman, Kea Hypnosis, Joanne Matthew, and ReeNee Cummins.    

So we began with the question “what is more important, the personage of Jesus Christ and belief in him; or belief in his message?”  Across the board, all readers got that the message of Jesus is the most important.  Ivy read that "the message was presented expecting to change the world at the time.”  Considering how the Romans treated captive nations, it is easy to see how this message would have had a big impact.  The captives were urged to take care of each other; to grow into a family of spirit and love.  This message is ageless; despite the fact that we are a free nation, it is still valuable advice. 

I then ask about Joseph Atwill.  Was he just using his theory to make money, or was he sincere with his writings.  The cards showed a man who was sincere.  He truly believes that he has made an important discovery.  The Reading Room then asked about using holy books as history.  The cards stated that the books were more about parables or stories that may give direction as to how to live; to considering these books as factual is problematic.  Joanne Matthew said “Sometimes the bible reminds me of the game, rumor----some stories that just went viral and grew and grew.”  The cards agreed.

In turning to the synchronicities in the cards, the three Major Arcana cards had a complete message.  We had The Magician, The Star, and the World.  The synchronicity stated that the message of the “Magician” brought hope to the world.  This is not a statement that one religion is better than another, it is stating that loving and caring for others is a message that applies to the whole world, no matter the culture or their beliefs.  The Magician is an interesting card in this reading.  It could allude to the idea of a master miracle worker which the Bible claims Jesus Christ had the power.  It also speaks of our personal decision to practice these ideas; that we have the ability to change the world through our power of compassion. 

When we move into the Minor Arcana we start with the Ace of Swords and the 5 of Swords.  Swords deal with air – with concepts and ideas.  The Ace speaks to a new idea, or an idea whose time had come.  The 5 of Swords is about how the idea has been torn apart and misused.  This part of the reading was surrounded by Pentacles.  It is hard not to look back through history and see how the personage of Jesus has been used to make money; in some cases control governments.  History is riddled with death and misery when people claim the message without practice.  The cards agree.

Speaking of the Pentacles, we received synchronicities on the Queen of Pentacles, 4 of Pentacles, and 10 of Pentacles.  In additional to the material the Reading Room derived an additional meaning for the Pentacles – that they also represent the root of a belief.  This adds another dimension to the reading.  How much more secure (10 of Pentacles) would we all be if “love your neighbor as yourself” was the cornerstone of all society.  The 4 of Pentacles could stand for the idea that one wouldn’t have to horde if society was sharing.  The Queen of Pentacles is the business woman.  The idea of the mother/nurturer sharing the wealth across society. 


We also had synchronicities with the Knight of Wands and the Queen of Wands.  The Queen again speaks of the root of belief, taking things back to the simple, the root of the belief.  The Knight is about making it happen.  Taking our power (back to the Magician) and using it to love others and share what we have.  Now how much better would society be?  You Predict…

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