That Jesus is the most mysterious personage in human history is a banality barely worth mentioning, but this mystery derives from three very specific facts:
First, the baffling paucity of information about the physical circumstances of his life have led some to deny his historicity altogether. I shall take the Romans at their word, especially Flavius Josephus and Lucian of Samosata, and grant Jesus historical reality (besides, I should hate to have to give up Lao-tse).
Second, the fact that such a curious congeries of apocryphal words and legendary acts should have inspired the most universal and enduring mass of interlocking religious faiths yet to arise. For this, I have no explanation.
Third, far beyond the mysteries of biography and propagation, is the theological mystagogia of incarnation, atonement, and trinity. As any Sunni imam will tell you, this is very strange stuff.
So where does this leave us? Obviously, with a plan of action, although I will dispense with Huston Smith's recommended works, as they are more than a little dated. I propose to read one more book in the following year on each of the major religions, and at least three on Catholicism (Protestantism and Eastern Orthodoxy appear less attractive to me, intellectually, from Smith's summary). Only in the course of this study will I attempt to frame a critique of Christian belief.
349 days, 49 novels, 48 books of non-fiction to go.
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