10 quotes
It is foolish to sigh and complain about mankind's disbelief if one cannot furnish men with the persuasive evidence that the matter demands, based on a healthy reason.
Reimarus: Fragments (1970)
It was entirely possible that Jesus' body was secretly stolen from the tomb at night and that it was buried in another place.
Reimarus: Fragments (1970)
Is that why he came from heaven, to remain incognito? Not to reveal himself as one from heaven?
Reimarus: Fragments (1970)
The apostles strayed completely from their master in their teaching and in their lives, abandoning his religion and his intention and introducing a completely new system.
Reimarus: Fragments (1970)
The first thing that we notice concerning the consistency of the four evangelists is that their stories diverge from each other in almost each and every point of the affair, and each one reads differently.
Reimarus: Fragments (1970)
If only he had manifested himself one single time after his resurrection in the temple, before the people and the Sanhedrin in Jerusalem, visibly, audibly, tangibly, then it could not fail that the entire Jewish nation would have believed in him; thus many thousands of souls plus millions of souls of their descendants would have been saved from destruction, who are now so hardened and stubborn.
Reimarus: Fragments (1970)
Certainly even if we had no other stumbling-block about Jesus' resurrection, this single one, that he did not allow himself to be seen publicly, would itself be enough to throw all its credibility aside, because it cannot agree in all eternity with Jesus' intention in coming into the world.
Reimarus: Fragments (1970)
[Jesus] was born a Jew and intended to remain one.
Reimarus: Fragments (1970)
Jesus left us nothing in writing; everything that we know of his teaching and deeds is contained in the writings of his disciples. Especially where his teaching is concerned, not only the evangelists among his disciples, but the apostles as well undertook to present their master's teaching. However, I find great cause to separate completely what the apostles say in their own writings from that which Jesus himself actually said and taught, for the apostles were themselves teachers and consequently present their own views.
Reimarus: Fragments (1970)
My goodness! How the simple and ignorant allow themselves to be deceived by their leaders, who are themselves blind guides! And how easily great mysteries, even an entire religion, have been hammered out and for centuries have chained human reason and conscience from a few obscure words that people do not understand and whose genuine antiquity is extremely doubtful!
Reimarus: Fragments (1970)