[shunyadragon]

Quote by: Zhavric Sounds like the book is pretty close to what actually was going on back then.

I believe the book offeres insight into the culture, beliefs, and political situation of 1st century Judea under Roman rule. The conclusions of the book are somewhat open to debate. Apologetic Christians on other sites found this book and the discussion unsettling.

It's important to understand the context of that era. The Romans had just put down a Jewish rebellion and were taxing individuals in the region in question just for being Jewish. Claiming to be a Jew meant higher taxes. Renouncing Judaism meant lower taxes.

Correct context is important, and the schism in Judaism between the establishment Hellenists and the traditional factions that rejected Roman and Greek influence and control are important to this discussion.

To make a very long story summarized, Christianity came from a movement to "re-judify" Judea. What we would consider to now to be early Christians were actually Jews who were trying to invent a new branch of Judaism based on "Yeshua ha Notzrim" which people would want to follow... even if they were persecuted.

I believe this touches on some issues in the discussion, but it is a little too simplistic.