While the book became a popular sensation, it is widely criticized or dismissed by mainstream academic historians.
: The vast majority of scholars maintain that Jesus was a real historical figure, citing early independent sources like the letters of Paul and non-Christian references from Josephus and Tacitus. The Jesus mysteries : was the "original Jesus" ...
: For a defense of the historical Jesus, retailers like Penguin Random House or Strand Book Store offer the book, while scholars like Bart Ehrman (in Did Jesus Exist? ) provide counter-arguments to the mythicist position. While the book became a popular sensation, it