Dear Alex, You have helped me to open my eyes and mind in other directions but here you totally lose me. Are you playing devil's advocate or do you really believe Jesus was a mythological character based on Atwell's theories? Yes, of course the biblical Jesus was used by political entities. There's Constantine, the Dark Ages, the Crusades, the Inquisition and Reformation wars and on and on... Geez, even now Conservatives hold up the bible and their interpretation to rationalize a conservative political agenda.
Atwell's proposition that Jesus was a Roman created figure is contradicted by a much larger historical record. He bases his 'evidence' on Josephus's "War of the Jews". circa 73-75 AD. I am posting all of Josephus writings here
http://www.josephus.org/
Atwell himself has no historical account or document to back him up. Only the connections he makes from his reading of the 'War of the Jews', Hence he admits "Many of the parallels are conceptual or poetic, so they aren't all immediately obvious".
His proposition is Flavian Romans created Christianity, through Josephus who was a Flavian but Roman historians Tacitus as well as Suetonius writes Nero (54-68) was persecuting Christians in Rome in 64 AD and there were "immense multitudes of Christians in Rome". Ten years before Josephus wrote 'The War of the Jews'. The Romans hated the Christians, who were undermining their own gods. How come there were so many Christians a mere 25-30 years after Jesus's death? Could there have been a movement even before the 4 Gospels were written?
Oh, because of people as Paul, who wrote at least 4 letters between 55 and 58 AD. Known because of connections made in the letters themselves. Hey, he interacted with the brother of Jesus and Peter and was also killed by Nero. Paul, no doubt was only one of many Christian evangelists at the time.
Another in-congruent timeline is since the Romans had already completely destroyed Jerusalem in 70 AD. Why would they strong arm Josephus to fabricate Jesus in 73-75 AD when the Jews had ceased to be a threat.
Also isn't it strange and highly irrational that political propaganda in the form of the 4 Gospels would refute the authority that created them? It doesn't make sense and why write the gospels in Greek? Why not in Aramaic, SINCE THEY WERE INTENDED TO SUBDUE JEWS.
Roman historian Pliny the Younger writes of Emperor Trajan (98-117AD) wringing his hands over Christians living in Rome and having to kill so many people including women and children, because they refused to worship Caesar. So much so he offered pardon to those who paid homage. The Christians also were forbidden from having illicit sex and Roman slaves started to refuse sex to their masters. You mean to tell us all this was a creation by the Romans?
Last but not least, your statement about all Roman historians claim Titus was the messiah is probably true. At least for that time where he was either the son of the Emperor Vespasian or the Emperor himself. It doesn't matter whether they claim biblical prophecies say so. Why wouldn't they? After all they were non-Christian Romans and worshiped the emperor as well as other gods. It was required by law and non-compliance was punishable by death.
I'm sorry but this game is definitely over, at least for me.