Origins of Christianity

Dive into the thought-provoking analysis of Willem Christiaan van Manen, a Dutch theologian whose radical critiques of the New Testament have long remained untranslated into English. In The Origins of Christianity, Thomas Whittaker expertly presents van Manen’s arguments to an English-speaking audience, revealing a challenge to conventional beliefs about the Apostle Paul and the formation of Christianity. Van Manen controversially claims that none of the Epistles attributed to Paul were actually penned by him and suggests that the New Testament itself emerged in the second century, postdating the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 CE. Whittaker extends these conclusions, positing that Jesus of Nazareth may be a mythical figure, while tracing the roots of Christianity to a Jewish-Messianic movement. This compelling exploration invites readers to reconsider the origins of one of historys most influential religions. (Summary by JoeD)