- Question
What are the fringe theories around Jesus Christ?
For the two billion Christians worldwide, Jesus of Nazareth is the son of God - a first century messiah who performed miracles before being crucified to atone for the sins of mankind. However, some claim that Jesus was something else entirely, and have developed conspiracy theories claiming he was anything from a hypocrite to an alien. Who, or what, was Jesus?
Jesus Christ was a family man
This position catalogues the fringe theory that Jesus was a family man. Popularised by works like The Da Vinci Code, it claims he married Mary Magdalene and fathered children whose bloodline survives — recasting the 'Holy Grail' as that lineage rather than a sacred cup.
Jesus Christ was an alter-ego
This position catalogues the fringe theory that Jesus Christ was an 'alter-ego' — a disguised version of someone else. Among its claims is the idea that Jesus was in fact an Ancient Greek philosopher. The encyclopedia records it as an example of the genre, not as established history.
Jesus Christ was an alien
This position catalogues the fringe theory that Jesus Christ was an alien — an extraterrestrial from another planet. Its claims include that the star at his birth was a UFO and that his ascension was a return to his home world. The entry records it as an example of the genre.