New evidence for a 'Celestial Jesus'

His thesis, in scrupulous detail, presents Jesus (at best) as being a mortal Judean preacher - like scores of others - but one who was later deified. No Roman or Jewish writers, official or civilian, provide any reliable evidence around the time Jesus was supposed to have lived.

Richard Carrier and other historians conclude that Jesus was created as a 'celestial figure' - in exactly the same tradition as pagan and Greek gods before him. And like many other gods he was later "written into history" - with the customary Virgin Birth and other miracles. All the Gospel stories were then gradually embellished, from late in the first century, as demonstrated by what remains of the original archive.

The evidence is overwhelming. With high levels of education, social advancement, and dramatic discoveries in science, the Western world is finally coming to recognise the Jesus myth is exactly that. It accounts for plummeting rates in church attendance - just eight percent of adults - and the rising phenomena of priests rejecting God and joining The Clergy Project.

But the sky will not fall, nor will humanity cease - as graphically demonstrated by the advanced nations of Western Europe. Scandinavian countries in particular - which are more than 80% secular - illustrate how successful progressive societies flourishes without the ancient dogmas of man-made religion.

Australia too must shed its social and political dependence on supernatural myths. We need to disengage from centuries of religious divisiveness and move into the 21st century with raft of social policy reform that has been consistently thwarted by the Christian lobby -- voluntary euthanasia, marriage equality, getting religion out of schools, and a score of others.

The doctrines of all religions need to be consigned to the dark tumult of mythical history. It's time for this country to advance and evolve with clear vision, sound reason, and the unity of shared secular and humanitarian values.

Ground breaking research provided by Dr Richard Carrier, and others, will pave the way to finally decoupling Australia from the repressive myths of a Christian doctrine that is conclusively shown to be fabricated. It is a faith built literally on fiction.