Newly Discovered PROOF: Jesus Was an Illusionist

[@user-yg2gw4je8d]

😅 This reminds me a gag in Red Dwarf (set in the future) where an archiologist discovers the heretofore lost first page of the Bible. It begins: "This is a work of fiction. Any similarity to persons living or dead is coincidence."

[@rodbuchanan7631]

😂

[@aubreyleonae4108]

Go London Jets ! ❤👍

[@animefurry3508]

Note to self, never make a ground breaking discovery early April!😂

[@cicco5833]

Jesus says to Peter…pick a card…any card

[@MrDalisclock]

Peter: What do I do with the card? Jesus: Keep it. I've got 51 left.

[@ZdravNaukKJV]

The devil In Bart D. Ehrman! kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZpuUY6BnfbCDbqMsi=SEqftLIaBqz3sjqw

[@aspektx]

Jesus: You are a rock-head and upon your gullibility I shall build my fanbase.

[@dsego84]

LOL XD

[@matheuscostapinto5807]

LMAO

[@johnthekeane]

Being an 'April fool ' is better than being a fool the rest of the year!😉

[@stevebeeney9022]

😅

[@PhantomMagician1846]

I call it the holiday we celebrate those who think the moon landing was fake

[@cooterhead_jones]

Why? Most people, myself included, are completely comfortable in our foolishness. Proof? Cause we keep doing the same foolish things year round.

[@Rhewin]

Bart claiming "PROOF" was more than enough to make me suspicious lol.

[@lostfan5054]

Yeah that's not a very "Bart" word.

[@lorrilewis2178]

It's terrible that scholars don't want to write books for the general public. It holds progress back because people are denied knowledge.

[@MrDalisclock]

​​@tawan20082008pretty much. I've been reading Mark S Smiths books on Biblical Monotheism. They're really good but very dense and hard to recommend to a casual reader. They don't do much to hold your hand.

[@lupooflunarorigin120]

I doubt it is that they don't necessarily want to write books for the public. It's more that they are experts writing for experts because they want to advance knowledge

[@KimF6269]

Hi

[@tonedumbharry]

There's a problem with scholars writing popular books and the public reading works of scholarship. Most of the public (moi included) can't read the source materials in the original. Actually, that's probably the only real barrier to comprehension. The ideas aren't complicated, they're just in different languages.

[@lorrilewis2178]

@@tonedumbharry They can write about what's in the source materials.

[@Sxcheschka]

I knew it was an April Fool's joke the moment I saw PROOF in all caps. I was also like, sometimes vids like these are a day late as well. Bart's face of "I'm totally serious right now" had me giggling.

[@Tasby12]

I knew from her first sentence that it was a joke. She talks of a “newly-discovered” 1st century document that Bart was going to discuss, with neither of them displaying skepticism.

[@davidk7529]

The title gives it away first, because Bart just doesn’t pop up with grand claims like that 🤭

[@SergeantSkeptic686]

I mostly fell for it, but when Megan implied the crucifixion was a trick gone bad I was like Whaaaat.....

[@jwcarlson]

They found Jesus's magic wand and top hat?!?

[@stein1919]

And the Easter bunny inside

[@arthurmartinson4370]

Or his set of Marshall Brodein's TV Magic cards? 🙂

[@sootuckchoong7077]

When God helped Moses to make the stick into a snake, the Pharaoh's magician can do it too.

[@Mr.snamor]

Yea, Ron Wyatt found them in a cavern under the place where Jesus was crucified right on top of the Ark of The Covenant's Mercy Seat where he would find them when he comes back to do more magic. I can't wait.

[@noonesomeone669]

I think it would be interesting for Bart to have on an academic who specializes in magic in the ancient world. It is such an underappreciated field of study. Putting the figure of Jesus and his later following within the broader picture of the intersection of religion and magic would be beneficial for his audience and highlight an academic whose work is not usually viewed by the public.

[@dukeon]

Any academic in mind? Sounds like it would be a great discussion.

[@welcometonebalia]

Maybe you already know them, but on KZbin I'd recommend the channels Religion for Breakfast (the host's speciality is early christian magic if I remember correctly) and Esoterica.

[@noonesomeone669]

@@dukeon For a general audience an interview with Earl Fontainelle of the Secret History of Western Esotericism would be my choice. He is already a public facing academic which is huge since the study of magic is often looked down upon in the larger academic community. The generalist approach of his public facing scholarship is a plus for a one off episode.

[@brianelza9807]

Didn't Pharaoh's magicians seem to duplicate the "miracles" that Moses and Aaron did?

[@afaegfsgsdef]

Yes. And, if Moses used the magic of Yahweh, then who provided the magic for the Pharaoh's priests?

[@HonkerTonic]

​​@@afaegfsgsdef Voldemort 😊

[@BlockyBookworm]

@@afaegfsgsdef Exodus 12:12, 18:11, Numbers 33:4 Go read those This has been around plainly for a VERY long time

[@exaucemayunga22]

​@afaegfsgsdef an apologist would probably say "demons have power too, but God's power is greater"

[@mcosu1]

I feel so stupid. I totally fell for it.

[@fox0277]

I totally did too 😂

[@hosurosh4846]

He got me the first 5 minutes

[@josh2388]

What joke? They literally went on to argue said ‘joke’.

[@milowadlin]

I got suspicious pretty quick.

[@anthonycraig274]

But it’s 2nd April. 😮

[@Abjiba]

Bart’s pretend serious face in the beginning killed me 😂😂😂

[@raydavison4288]

This is the 2nd time today that I fell for an April fools gag. 😊

[@Vicky_C87]

I read the title and thought 'that makes sense. It would explain how Jesus turned water in to wine.'

[@opinion3742]

I struggle with anyone thinking the bible is literal history - whether they are a believer or not. Two sides to the same idiotic coin.

[@jasonjenkins7295]

Another fantastic episode. Bart, I want you to know how much help you have given me through your writing. I was an aspiring fundamentalist preacher who began struggling with my faith at around age 30. From 30 to 40 I kind of ignored my belief system because it made me increasingly uncomfortable. At around 40 I started reading various books, including many of yours. They helped me transition into de-conversion but I regained my love for biblical studies without the crisis of faith I often had when encountering opinions different from my own. I'm now 44 with a re-ignited passion for scholarship but now as an atheist. Losing my faith was difficult but you helped me through it. Thank you.

[@daroay]

all fundamentalists that leave the faith become atheists. On the other hand, catholics (those who understand it beyond myth) become platonists. Christianity is socratic thought combined with jewish mythology. Now that you know mythology is just that, why not go back to the basics?

[@theotheoth]

I reported this as if it were headline news to two adult friends.... before actually playing the podcast. Thanks Bart and Meg for making me look a total idiot.

[@christiantompkins6423]

Well deserved. Learn from that ;)

[@kemeishMotherfukish]

Think of everything you might have taken in as truth in face value, atheists brag about being free of faith and forever entrenched in the practice of knowledge yet will immediately take anything at face value that matches their own beliefs. What makes them any different from the Christians they call out? By all means are we all bound to our subjectivity, yet we all claim also to be knowing of the ‘truth’ With our emotions attached to these ideas we commit errors. One end isn’t more correct than the other, it’s merely the same thing, a belief. That is why I cannot stand the arrogance of atheists, that is why I am an agnostic because I don’t trust myself in being able to know the absolute truth.

[@davidburroughs2244]

I need nor needed any help in that regard and should be proud to say I "If this be foolery, let us make the most of it."

[@soyevquirsefron990]

Reputable academics don’t toss the word “proof” around, if they say it at all.

[@germanshepherd2701]

In the words of Obi-Wan, “you have done that yourself!” No but seriously it’s your fault not theirs that you just spread random shit from the internet without checking it like a sheep lol

[@milowadlin]

For 8th grade commencement, we were required to write a speech for a contest about one of 3 topics. I chose the topic of Success, but having never written a speech before, I was stumped on what to write. My mother pointed out some quotes from a book she had by Albert Schweitzer on how to measure success. I completed the speech by turning SUCCESS into an acronym, and summing up with a little brown-nosing of our teachers. Though my only intent was to get the teacher off my back, I won the speech writing contest and had to give the speech at our commencement. I was going to get the book you recommended, but it seems I already have it.

[@jeffryphillipsburns]

Success: “Some people would be happy just to happy just to have one dream come true/But everything we gather is more that we can lose.” (Robert Hunter)

[@JR-yo1fu]

In Spain we celebrate something like the April fools in December, 28th calling it "The saints innocents", remembering the supposed killing of babys described in the Bible. As funny as spooky.

[@Magnulus76]

The Holy Innocents is a different commemoration (December 28th), one more overtly religious in tone, than the Feast of Fools, which was usually around January 1st (and isn't really a thing anymore in most Protestant countries).

[@robinharwood5044]

My favourite non-canonical miracles are (1) Peter resurrects a dead fish in the marketplace, and (2) John and companions go to stay in an inn. John orders the bedbugs out of the room, and next morning the bugs are lined up outside the door waiting to be allowed back in.

[@liannechristian8597]

The first article of faith is the acceptance that this physical being is not all that we are. Whatever form this acceptance expresses itself is irrelevant, as they all play a role on our path to the revelation of our true nature as divine beings. I personally accept Jesus is still always trying to help return us to God, and while I am not a Christian, (because I don't accept that religion's interpretation of the crucifixion, not for our our sins, and resurrection, a demonstration that nothing can destroy truth), I absolutely will always be a follower of Jesus and open to his guidance.

[@OffgridTV]

Well… Jesus is called a magician and sorcerer in the Talmud. You can read how he performed magic with the letters of Gods name in Toledot Yeshu.

[@garyeddings2639]

Megan - how do you pull off the hair color changes?😅 I love thart you change so often...keeping true to yourself is so important..Love it.

[@BrianHartman]

I love how Bart is keeping such a straight face. :)

In these Dark Ages, where idiocy is praised, I really thank you (Both of you) for caring about truth and knowledge so much to spread it

[@felixbors7546]

There are extensive and numerous parallels between Greek-eastern orthodox (eg. Easter) and Masonic rituals. So maybe raising from the dead (eg.) is not related so much to miracles as to the ancient mysteries prevalent thru-out the eastern Europe - middle east. Thank you for this great podcast.

[@sillyrabbit77]

Oh my science the hair on Megan is amazing. Bart should do a color too. Great episode by the way.

[@kuhnemund6523]

My hopes were so high! Especially since the first artistic depictions of Jesus often showed him holding a wand. Did he play weddings and bar mitzvahs?

[@jameswright...]

Jesus was the original April fools joke 😂 Just got a little outta hand 😂😂

[@cmnhl1329]

Well, it got thousands persecuted. And changed the world forever

[@leedoss6905]

Even if you did find proof it was all magic people wouldn't believe it.

[@belaytube9668]

The Israeli bible historiographer Dr.Yigal Bin nun lectured recently on 'Historical Jesus' and mentioned that people in that time also ascribed him as magician among other attributes he listed that people thought of in that time

[@breadfan7433]

Happy April 2nd!

[@SubvertTheState]

I immediately checked the date. But this was one of the best April 1st claims I've seen on KZbin haha

[@nancyhall7697]

OMG, I totally fell for this. Googled trying to find out more. Derp.

[@NovaSaber]

Apologists who use the "the laws of nature prove a lawgiver" fallacy didn't get the memo about how natural laws just are and don't have to be "enforced". They literally say the consistency of natural laws is evidence of a being that can set/break/change them. Which isn't just nonsense, it's entirely backwards; they're literally saying a lack of divine intervention is evidence for god.

[@theoutspokenhumanist]

I can almost hear so many Christians losing their minds. Well done guys.

[@johanmalm8378]

Connected to the last things Bart was talking about, there are Christians both who believe or don't believe in the miracles of Jesus but don't fimd them that important to their faith.

[@tracyfasthorse3992]

What is the Taylor podcast you mentioned? I couldn’t locate it. Thank you

[@Tigerfan50]

Always enjoy Megan and Bart's videos. Most informative!!

[@lostfan5054]

Hahaha you got me!! I was so excited to see new evidence about Jesus

[@spiritualanarchist8162]

New gospel: Jesus : ' Look ladies & gentlemen... He's been dead for two days and now he's alive again ! ' A small donation please ' Onlooker : 'Wait a minute ? ...That's Lazarus !. He was in fine health this morning ...;)

[@rschreck]

I’m disappointed that this *wasn’t* true

[@nabuk3]

How do you know Jesus wasn't an illusionist, or whether the "miracles" were fabricated or exaggerated?

[@rpellicer]

I fell for it, but then again, I had no idea what date ot was 😂😂😂 BTW, whose voice is it who transitions between segments? Is he credited somewhere and am just missing it somehow?

[@JosephBlanchard-m7e]

This topic dovetails nicely with Dr.Lena Einhorn’s theory that Jesus is ‘the Egyptian’ mentioned in Josephus and Acts. I would be interested to know if Dr. Bart read her book?

[@davidburroughs2244]

One of the few announcements (well, of several, actually) that I may find myself willing and completely willingly would buy in on

[@Mapenzi2635]

Prof. Bart, I admire your work. You have increased my faith in God.

[@aprylvanryn5898]

That debate needs to be on yt. I will watch it over in the website eventually, but if it was here, I'd already be watching it

[@T-41]

You shouldn’t forget Dr. Ehrman’s sense of humor. Thanks for another interesting program. We out here in the hinterland are quite fortunate Dr. Ehrman didn’t follow the advice to stay away from the common folk.

[@thescoobymike]

The gospel being found in the Holy Grail is the most incredible part

[@julianmcmillan2867]

Boo! Spoilers!

[@lonelycubicle]

Seeing this late, but wasn’t there recently a discovery of the oldest text about Jesus’s childhood which included Jesus making birds from clay? My first reaction was it being rejected as canonical because did sound a bit like a magic trick and doesn’t at least have the practical effect of supplying wine for a wedding or food for a crowd.

[@Tina06019]

Gotta be April’s Fools. No one would sign up for a pretend crucifixion. I fell for an April Fools story yesterday, so maybe I was expecting it.

[@aprylvanryn5898]

Actually, some Christians do go thru the crucifixion process as a way of demonstrating their faith. I don't understand it, but several people a year do this.

[@carlmally6292]

It is a regular Good Friday ritual in the Phillipines

[@jacemachine]

I hate April Fool's Day. A waste of everyone's time. Sorry Bart.

[@dougjardine8545]

A day late! Blessèd are those who disbelieve without seeing.

[@cezarjipa72]

That's a good one 😉

[@BrianFedirko]

I LOVE her hair and glasses, very creative and so noticeable but quaint at the same time. I did kinda fall for the joke, but I do/have read deep into the illusionist practices of the times. Learning "tricks" wasn't alien to the learned teachers of the Abrahamic educators and priests. To be able to spot con artistry being played on ones flock/tribe was a necessity, and some peoples learned more than others. Physical tricks were common. Even the Pharoahs held competitions for magic tricksters to trick the pharoah upon winning a purse if the could be stumped. (they then would have to reveal the trick). It was a way of gaining education about the natural sciences without having a word for this mental arena in ancient times. Gr8! Peace ☮💜Love

[@stevebeeney9022]

The colorful Megan, the laughing Bart, thank you again.

[@Plethorality]

I thoight, nah. A liar woukd nit tell us to kove ourselves, our neighbours, ie every one around, and our enemies. That makes me believe Him. Genius. And most unusual.

[@BookHen-xn2bh]

Megan Lewis and Bart D. Ehrman, I have a suggestion for an episode. Do an episode on the Church before Paul started writing letters. How was the Church different or same before Paul?

[@iam604]

There was no “Church” prior to the character Paul believed to have written any letters. The actual so called “Church”, which is the Roman Catholic Church, was established in 590 C.E. With Pope Gregory I even though it was written that the character Peter would build Jesus’s church in Matt. 16:18. In order for the church to establish its power, it had to make Peter a “saint” only and teaches nothing of Peter actually starting the “church” at all. What you are looking for is what were the first so called Christians were like. The truth of that will be a shocker.

[@RLBays]

Just finished listening to this edition on Spotify - great conversation! I love the April Fools bit but may I suggest that you tweak the headline a little to make sure folks know that the subject is really about how the ancient world would have viewed "miracle" claims (miracle in quotes because of my new knowledge of the difference between "miracles" in the Synoptics and "signs" in John - fascinating)!!

[@danbreeden8738]

Thank goodness bart ehrman and Josh bowen are communicating their views to everyone

[@harrythehandyman]

I wonder if there is survivor bias in the miracle stories in all kinds of regions. The people who survived or benefited from the miracle are more likely to write it down or tell other people. The 'failed' miracle stories were less told and documented.

[@spandrel1858]

Come for Megan's hair and glasses and interesting questions, stay for Bart's insight about miracles.

[@Sikader]

April fools' day! There's no way in hell such a gospel wasn't revealed earlier!!!

[@Skeptic78]

Well shit. I wish I hadn't seen the comments first. I would've fallen for it.

[@mikeoveli1028]

Bart, we are so grateful that you have written several trade books. Your lectures and books are so much more interesting than the other videos on the Bible. I mean the "Truth about the shroud of Turin" was not bad when I was 15. At 60 this is far more illuminating and interesting.

[@chrisgmurray3622]

I had to laugh! This recalls the UK magician Dynamo, walking on water, and pouring a huge pile of fish out of a previously empty plastic bucket in South Africa.

[@Pooneil1984]

And I was so looking forward to the Megan and Bart Miraculous Biblical Comedy Hour.

[@soyevquirsefron990]

I knew Dr Bart wouldn’t use the word “proof”

[@wayne-x2k]

elisha gets butt hurt and uses two bears to maul 42 small children by the power of god ......i say bullshit and if god let that happen thru elisha then what a jerk

[@vincentrockel1149]

The difference between a philosophical and religious point of view is who the argument is directed at. Philosophy seeks the approval of the best and brightest. Religion seeks to convince the lowest common denominator and work upward from there. Banking on the herd mentality of many to gain converts.

[@anthonymonge7815]

After 23 years in the military, arthritis is my middle name. Motrin FTW.

[@willowwisp357]

I prefer my Easter to fall on April Fools’ day, it’s more honest that way.

[@hellofranky99]

How Bart and Megan kept a straight face is literally a miracle.

[@shanejohns7901]

Walking on water is easy if it is frozen -- which would probably have blown the minds of the common people who never see temperatures cold enough for ice to form.

[@joshburgess1495]

lol I got the email and was like “wonder if they will carry it the whole episode” lol

[@joemedley195]

I like the new subsegment. Please keep doing it. I can't wait until you get to a book that I haven't heard of yet.

[@mtdouthit1291]

5:41 You’re welcome

[@bysonhunt1642]

What also find amazing is the science behind NDE's and the spiritual connection and such

[@karekarenohay4432]

I knew it was historically impossible. But...

[@therealzilch]

I was only 1/2 taken in for about three seconds. I'm glad this April Fool tuned into you again. Fascinating as usual, thanks.

[@bysonhunt1642]

What I find odd is we have so many unknowns, such as; what is dark matter, dark energy? which makes majority of the universe but yet certain individuals can answer with certainity the most difficult question, does God exist? And get answer of a No. Really?

[@percy888ferry]

CLAIM: Jesus played and defeated Roger Federer in straight sets at Wimbledon. We know that Wimbledon exists. We have seen Roger Federer play tennis. Is it feasible then, that Jesus existed?

[@mhicnanolc]

I totally fell for it, but in my defence I did think, “Has he lost his mind?”

[@myfriend280]

If we’re working off the premise that Jesus did not work miracles, Jesus does not need to be a con artist in order for legends of miracles to perpetuate. Once he’s popularly understood to be a holy man it’s quite conceivable that crowds and even his inner circle could easily attribute any good fortune to his presence. From there a legend of miracles may build with no guile whatsoever.

[@jasonGamesMaster]

Interesting. Tolkien's Elves and his concept of magic makes so much sense now. Very much "powerful acts."

[@zdzislawmeglicki2262]

"Miracle" = "The Power of Placebo"

[@OdjoAdja]

maybe it's not about the power of illusionist but the intended 'out of body experience' which still can interact with human sensory realm..

[@nickydaviesnsdpharms3084]

you wanna be careful someone doesn't clip that first bit lol or hopefully doesn't do what I did and watch up until that bit then run downstairs for dinner, i'm glad i returned to continue this episode tho lol

[@arthurmartinson4370]

I also fell for an Estonian news article that the current PM of Estonia, Kaja Kallas, was the be the next NATO Sec Gen. But, damn, Meghan's hair is still fine!

[@BrentRichards-vp1cg]

Peter was like a gangster Thug

[@AlexLightGiver]

Jesus will never return. He cant create enough miracles to please religion. They'll call him a fraud.

[@MossyMozart]

@AlexLightGiver - And a "Commie".

[@AlexLightGiver]

@@MossyMozart Jesus is lol 😆

[@FatMadt666]

Arrested Development already did the failed to escape from the tomb illusion.

[@freedomtracksrecords4452]

Consider the following: Historians know of several kinds of animals and fish that have given successful virgin births. They also know of several instances where women have had virgin births where the fetus did not survive. It is truly not much of a stretch to believe that God, the designer and Creator of the universe, can cause a human virgin to give a successful birth.

[@ji8044]

The WTF look on Bart's face was great!

[@ounkwon6442]

Did you make clear of what the heck is illusionist in the youtube? I'm going to find out.

[@aleksmuinao2783]

Sir Bart, you are brilliant. You led me to worship none other than this historical man Jesus.

[@sarametheny]

Can we get Bart to speak a little further from his mic? The breath noises and overblown vocals are painful. I want to hear what he says, but it's difficult to make it through a full video like this

[@johnriley5499]

"This guy is good...he should go professional".

[@Purwapada]

interestingly the idea of 'natural law' in science came about from the context of abrahamic divine laws. It caused massive controversy when philosophers such as david hume demonstrated the problem of induction, which completely riled the foundation of the scientific method. Even today people are to scared to talk about it.

[@Purwapada]

in one sense the view of the ancient world in regard to miracles is more reasonable because it doesn't reify abstract laws

[@williamworth208]

Every knee shall bow

[@manuaiipondraken8376]

Jesus perform many miracles. But the two that stands out is the virgin birth and the resurrection. Because, this was prophecied hundreds of years before his birth. And he fulfills those two miracle prophecies, apart from other non miracle prophecies. That is why we believe he is the person whom the prophets said he was, confirm by John the Baptist and he himself claim and made reference to the writings of the prophets concerning himself.